Maineiacs blockbuster sends Gelinas to Cape Breton

The Lewiston Maineiacs made a blockbuster deal on Wednesday afternoon sending 18-year old defensemen Eric Gelinas and defenseman Stephen Woodworth to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

In return, the Maineiacs get two 17-year old rookie defensemen back in Ian Saab and Zachary Evans-Renaud, who spent majority of the year in Junior A this season.

Lewiston will also receive a 2012 second round draft pick.

“It’s going to be a little rough, now we are even younger on defense,” said Lewiston Maineiacs’ Head Coach Jean-Francois Houle. “We have to make the most out of it and it’s for the future of the organization. We are going to work with the young kids and make them better.”

Gelinas, a first round pick in 2007 for Lewiston, was the second round pick this past summer for the New Jersey Devils and has scored three goals and 16 assists in 33 games this season with the Maineiacs.

Woodworth, a fourth round selection by Lewiston, is in his first season with the Halifax Lions of the Maritime Junior “A” Hockey League where he has seven assists in 23 games. In five games with the Lewiston Maineiacs this season, he’s scoreless with six penalty minutes.

Saab has spilt time with the Halifax Loins of the MJAHL and Cape Breton this season. In eight games with the Loins, he’s scored two assists.

Evans-Renaud leads the Campbellton Tigers with 24 points including nine goals and was brought into Cape Breton Screaming Eagles’ training camp this season as an undrafted free agent.

With new faces still coming in, practice will becoming repetitive for some players.

“It’s tough with a lot of new faces; I have to go back to my old practices I did earlier this week to get everybody on the same page,” said Houle. “It’s catching me by surprise a little bit, but I will learn from it.”

Houle will have Francis Beauvillier and Samuel Henley back in the line-up as both returned from the World Under-17 Challenge.

“First practice, both had a good practice,” Houle added. “I watched Beauvillier a lot last year in Midget AAA and Henley I watched. I know those two players and what they bring to the table and I think they be a big asset for us in the line-up”

The team also called-up recently acquired goaltender Cody Rodrigue and its unknown if Michal Hlinka will be in the line-up Thursday against Acadie-Bathurst.

“I was pretty impressed, the guys were taking shots and he got this quick twitch I like to call it,” Houle said about Rodrigue. “He’s quick with his glove and pads; hopefully it works out for him. He’s seems like he’s adapting well after the first day”

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