Predators trade Number 1 goalie
Sun Nov 11, 2007

By: Jason Chamberlain

The Port Hope Predators have traded their top goalie.

The Northumberland News learned on Friday the Preds have closed a deal to send number one goalie Jeff Potvin, as well as defenceman Jody Halas, to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, in return for right winger Garrett Noiles and financial considerations.

Noiles is a 19-year-old native of Carlisle, Ontario, who will play for Brown University in the NCAA next season. He describes himself as a power forward that likes to make plays and create room on the ice for his teammates. He’ll look to make an immediate impact on his new team.

“It’s a new challenge. I’m looking forward to coming home (to Ontario). It’s definitly a better place to play.”

Noiles will make the trip to Port Hope on Wednesday in time for the team’s practice.

Director of player personnel Steve Neal sees plenty of potential for Noiles in his time with the club.

“We are ecstatic to pick up a quality player in Garrett Noiles. With his NCAA commitment to Brown University, he is a quality player and a quality person too. You have to give up good players in order to receive good players. With Garrett and the financial considerations involved we feel we can make ourselves even better.”

Going the other way, Halas has made steady contributions to Port Hope during his time with the club, while Jeff Potvin has been a dominant force between the pipes.

“It’s positive. I’m excited to be going out there. I’ll meet some new people, new faces, new billets,” said Halas of the trade. The Predators acquired Halas from the Collingwood Blues last year. Though he’s excited to move on, he will miss Port Hope. “It was real good, I like this organization,” he said. “They’re all good people. It’s first class here.”

Potvin is equally excited to move on. “It’s good for us to go out there. I wasn’t happy here. We’re going out there for a fresh start.”

Potvin wouldn’t elaborate on what made him unhappy with his Port Hope tenure, but revealed it was neither the town nor the fans. “I like it (in Port Hope). I played 100 per cent. I love the fans here. Thank you (to them). Good luck to the kids here in the future.”

Potvin has set the highest of goals for his upcoming tenure in the AJHL. “I want to win the Royal Bank of Canada Cup,” he said in reference to the national Junior A championship, a trophy his new team, the Oil Barons, last won in 2000.

As for the team they leave behind, Preds coach Brian Drumm is happy with the move. “We’re trying to win. We need to make a major change on our team, and this will allow us to address that situation. With no disrespect to the players that are leaving,” said Drumm. “You can have all the good players in the world, but that doesn’t make a winning team. There are a lot of factors.”

The team’s performance to date is the main reason that Drumm and team brass feel changes are necessary. “Fourth place isn’t good enough,” he said. “That’s why we trade, to get better.”

With over half the season left, the coach is confident his team can turn things around. “I’d like to win every game we play, but that’s not going to happen. Peaking at the right time — it’s a process.”