HOUNDS MAKE SIX-PLAYER TRADE

The Greyhounds have completed a six-player Ontario Hockey League trade with the Erie Otters, SooToday.com has confirmed. In a deal finalized late Monday, the Hounds have acquired overage goalie Adam Munro and 19-year old forwards Scott Dobben and Jeff Doyle from Erie for 19-year old goalie Dwight LaBrosse, 19-year old forward Mike Melinko and 18-year old centre Rob Hisey. Munro, a first-round National Hockey League draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2001, won 24 games with the OHL champion Otters last season. He had struggled this season, though, with a 2-6 record, 3.38 goals-against-average and .887 save percentage. Dobben had 31 goals and 63 points for Erie last season. The fourth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators was 3-5-8 in 18 games with the Otters this season. Doyle, a former first-round pick of the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, had 20 goals, 50 points and 179 minutes in penalties, while playing with the North Bay Centennials (now Saginaw Spirit) and Erie last season. He was 2-8-10 with 49 PIM in 18 games with the Otters this season. "We're getting three players who want to be here and that's important," said Hounds' coach/general manager John Vanbiesbrouck. "We made the trade to improve our hockey club and to improve the atmosphere in our dressing room." LaBrosse, acquired earlier in the season from the Guelph Storm for winger Brett Trudell, posted poor stats with the Hounds. He had a 2-5-1 record with a 4.99 GAA and .861 save pct. Melinko was 5-6-11 after producing 14 goals and 28 points as a Hound last season. The key for Erie in the trade was Hisey, who was leading the Hounds in scoring with 9-16-25 totals after posting 20-33-53 totals as a rookie last season. But Vanbiesbrouck said Hisey requested a trade from the Hounds two weeks ago. "He came in and had a number of complaints. He was more concerned about himself than about the team," said Vanbiesbrouck. "We want players who want to be here and Hisey was blatant about not wanting to be here." The three new Hounds will be in the lineup when the Soo plays host to the Sarnia Sting on Wednesday night. The Hounds also get a fourth-round pick in the 2004 OHL draft as part of the trade.