Hounds land Blair Jarrett in trade

In preparation for the upcoming Ontario Hockey League season, the Soo Greyhounds continue to tinker with their roster as training camp approaches.

On Tuesday, the Greyhounds added another forward to their lineup as they acquired local product Blair Jarrett from the Mississauga IceDogs along with a conditional 10th round draft pick in 2006 in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in 2006 along with the rights to forward Jordan Owens.

Jarrett, a Sault native, provides the Greyhounds with some added size and leadership.

Jarrett spent the previous three seasons with the Mississauga IceDogs, including last season when he helped the Dogs all the way to the OHL Championship before losing to the Guelph Storm in four games.

The overage winger, who said he knew that he was on the trading block in Mississauga, is excited about the opportunity to be a part of the Greyhounds, a team he grew up watching as a young child.

"I knew I was getting moved from Mississauga, but to get moved to your hometown is exciting," Jarrett said. "I grew up watching (the Hounds) play and we had season's tickets when I was a kid."

Jarrett added that he hopes his experience in Mississauga will be an asset with the Greyhounds and he feels that he will be a good fit with the team.

"Using my experience (from last year with Mississauga) will be nice," Jarrett said. "This is going to be a good fit."

Jarrett went on to say that he feels that he will be able to bring a number of things to the table when he suits up for the Greyhounds this season including, leadership, valuable experience as well as a strong two-way game.

Hounds General Manager Dave Torrie, who pulled the trigger on the deal earlier in the day, was pleased to be able to bring in a player of Jarrett's ability.

"Having Blair on the right side, we feel, gives us a top two right winger," Torrie said of Jarrett. "We expect him to bring a lot of leadership both on and off the ice."

His new linemates won't be known until the start of the season, but Hounds Coach Marty Abrams said that Jarrett will see some time alongside Jeff Carter when the regular season opens up in September.

Abrams added that he was pleased that the Hounds were able to add Jarrett as it improves the look of the Greyhounds on the right side.

"I felt we were a little bit weak on the right side, so he fills that need," Abrams said. "Any time you can acquire a guy who can skate and has size (like Jarrett), it's a plus."

Going the other way was Jordan Owens, who was the Greyhounds fourth round pick in the 2002 OHL Priority Selection. Owens spent last season playing Jr. B hockey in Niagara Falls.

The reasoning behind Owens being a part of the deal was that Owens, who was going on advice from his agent, came into his first training camp with the expectation of a guaranteed contract, something the Greyhounds were not willing to supply.

Owens had the same expectation heading into last year's training camp, but did not attend the camp when the Greyhounds again refused to guarantee him a contract.

With Jarrett now a member of the Greyhounds, the Hounds find themselves with four overage players in Jarrett, along with goaltender Kevin Druce, defenceman Brad Staubitz and forward Reg Thomas.

The Hounds expect to start the season with Jarrett, Thomas and Staubitz as their three overage players and they are currently exploring trade options for Druce.

The acquisition of Jarrett provides the Greyhounds with a player who they feel will provide them with a solid season and help them towards a playoff spot where anything can happen.