Hounds dip into trade market again

In a continuing effort to shore up the team's defensive game, the Soo Greyhounds acquired a 19 year old goaltender and a towering centre on Wednesday. In a deal with the Oshawa Generals, the Hounds acquired goaltender Kevin Druce and six-foot-seven, 229 pound centre Matt Maccarone in exchange for 18 year-old right winger Ryan Kitchen and a seventh round draft pick in the 2004 Ontario Hockey League draft. In two seasons with the Generals, Bruce posted 9-6-0 win-loss-tie record last season with a 3.00 goals against average and a .886 save percentage. In his rookie 2001-02 season, Bruce recorded a 7-12-3 record with a 3.47 GAA and .894 save percentage. Maccarone is entering his fourth OHL season with his third club after spending a little over a season with the Windsor Spitfires. A former first round pick of the Spitfires, Maccarone scored nine goals and 18 points along with 15 penalty minutes last season in Oshawa. In his rookie year last season, Kitchen, who was born and raised in Oshawa, scored three goals and added 12 assists in 62 games along with 22 penalty minutes. The Greyhounds begin on ice preparations for the upcoming season on Monday with the opening of a two-day mini camp before the veterans arrive Wednesday and hit the ice on Thursday. In other recent transactions around the league, the Sarnia Sting added some offensive punch by acquiring Daniel Sisca from the Mississauga Ice Dogs in exchange for defenseman Anthony Butera, a second round draft pick in the 2004 OHL draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2004 draft. Sisca, a overage forward, is entering his fifth OHL season. Last season, Sisca finished third in Ice Dogs scoring with 79 points. Mississauga will get the conditional pick should Sarnia advance into the second round of the playoffs this season. In a minor move, the Peterborough Petes sent a 15th round draft choice to the Ottawa 67's for Chris Hardill.