Four with local ties earn pro opportunities

As the American Hockey League’s Canadian teams open action this weekend and into next week, some familiar faces for local fans have found their way onto rosters.

Roster additions by the Toronto Marlies and Belleville Senators will see four players with local ties earning tryouts with the two clubs.

As the Marlies prepare to open play on Monday, the team announced a number of roster additions in recent days, among them a pair of local products in forwards Cole MacKay and Keegan Stevenson.

Prior to COVID-19 forcing an early end to the 2019-20 OHL season, MacKay had 25 goals and 51 points in 64 games locally with the Soo Greyhounds.

In 171 career OHL games, MacKay scored 57 goals and 126 points.

Meanwhile, Stevenson had a career-year last season with the Guelph Storm.

The 20-year-old forward had 21 goals and 43 points in 63 games with the Storm and won an OHL title with the Storm in 2018-19.

Stevenson played in 179 career games with the Storm through the end of last season, scoring 45 goals and 87 points.

Greyhounds forward Zack Trott is also among the recent newcomers on the Marlies roster.

Like Stevenson, Trott is coming off a career year in the OHL last season.

The 20-year-old scored 25 goals and 66 points in 62 games with the Greyhounds.

On Thursday, the Belleville Senators announced that Greyhounds defenceman Robert Calisti inked an amateur tryout deal with the club.

Calisti broke out offensively with the Greyhounds in 2019-20, scoring 18 goals and 50 points in 64 games with the club.