Hounds add two, deal Fehr at roster cutdown

Listen to Coach Brett speak with Jamie Neugebauer on the bus to North Battleford on Dec. 2, 2022 here about the new pickups, his role with Team Saskatchewan, and more:

The Notre Dame Hounds made three deals as rosters around the Canadian Junior Hockey League were cut down to 25 cards on Dec. 1, 2022.

ND sent 2004-born forward Mathieu Fehr to the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canadian Hockey League in exchange for a Player Development Fee early in the day.

Fehr, from the Ottawa, ON, will be playing closer to home, after he was solid in adding 10 points in 24 games for the Hounds Junior A this Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League campaign.

The additions, 2004-born forward Matteo Speranza from the Weyburn Red Wings of the SJHL, and 2004-born defenceman Isaiah Peters from the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, might have been from two different leagues, but are two players very familiar with each other.

Both from the Langley, BC. area, they both also played for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U18AAA of the BC U18 league in 2021-2022.

“I have watched Fraser Valley over the last couple years at the U18 level,” said Brett Pilkington, the Hounds’ head coach and general manager.

“I know their coach a little bit, and love the program there. Any chance you can jump to get a few of those guys, (you have to really consider it).”

Pilkington also signed former ND Junior A defenceman Trey Taylor from that organization.

Speranza, 18, scored a goal and an assist for the Red Wings in this, his rookie campaign, but posted 45 points in 36 games for the Thunderbirds last year.

The winger also has three games of call-up experience in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Surrey Eagles.

He was acquired in exchange for the SJHL rights to current Moose Jaw Warriors (Western Hockey League) forward Riley Niven, and a pick conditional to Niven playing for the Wings.

“Matteo there, he’s a player that is going to play fast, be hungry on pucks, and pop a few goals when the opportunity arises,” Pilkington said.

Peters, 18, played in 14 games for Drumheller, and scored two goals and four points over that time. He also has a game of experience as a call-up with the BCHL’s Penticton Vees.

“For Isaiah on the back end, he is a fast skater, puck moving, defend-the-right-way kind of type of player,” Pilkington said.

“Anytime you can get a young guy like that, help him in the development model, you have to take those opportunities.”

The Hounds are traveling to face the Battlefords North Stars and Kindersley Klippers Dec. 2 and 3, which you can catch on Hounds Hockey Radio at notredamehounds.ca.