Trade Deadline has passed and HAWKS roster is set!

TRENTON, ON - JANUARY 10: David Fournier #88 of the Trenton Golden Hawks celebrates the goal with his teammates at the Duncan McDonald Memorial Gardens on January 10, 2025 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Amy Deroche / OJHL Images)

It may go down as the busiest trade deadline day in the history of the Trenton Golden Hawks.

Head Coach and General Manager Derek Smith announced several acquisitions and moves Friday, in preparation for the regular season stretch and the playoff drive.

“Our goal is simple,” Smith stated.  “We want to win a Buckland Cup and a national championship.  That is a massive task, and we want to put ourselves in the best position to do that.”

Isaiah Shantz comes to the Golden Hawks from the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).  The left winger turns 19 next week (January 15) and sits 6’1/175. Coach Smith says, “Shantz knows the program and community already, as his brother Jeriah played with the GHawks in 2022-23.  Isaiah is a 200-foot player and is coming from a deep Moncton team.  He is a hard guy to play against.

Jonathon Pylypuik arrives from the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the BCHL.  “Pylypuik brings experience to the club, through his run to the OHL final last year with the Oshawa Generals.  Jonathon is a high energy, team first player.”  The Ohio native is 6’1/168.

Nate Taylor is well known to Hawks fans, for his time playing with the rival Lindsay Muskies.  There he amassed 63 points in 78 games over two seasons.  The Whitby native comes in at 5’9/165 and will turn 20 this summer.  Smith says, “What I like about Taylor’s game is he is a skilled player that also has been a captain in this league.  That will be great for the dressing room.”

Also coming in from the Muskies is Owen McKinnon.  The D-man has played 78 OJHL games between Cobourg and Lindsay and is in his final season.  “McKinnon is a throwback d-man.  He has a lot of those intangibles that make him a key acquisition.”

Finally, just minutes before the trade deadline Smith acquired the rights to former Peterborough Pete Dylan Woulds.  The 18-year-old defenceman spent the start of the season in Calgary with the Canucks in the AJHL.  “He is a big, strong, smooth skating defenceman.  He comes to us with a lot of experience.”  He comes in at 6’1/196 from Oakville.

“Our goal is to make sure we are getting better every day.  It is important to create an environment of healthy competition.  All the guys that are here, want to be here and push each other and want to win,” Smith finished.