Whalers acquire Gilbert from IceDogs

With the Ontario Hockey League trade deadline set for January 11, Plymouth Whalers coach-GM Mike Vellucci decided to get a jump on the annual event.

Vellucci announced the acquisition of 18-year-old defenseman Jay Gilbert from the Niagara IceDogs today in exchange for a fourth round draft choice in 2011. Plymouth acquired the fourth round pick along with a second and an eighth round pick last season in a deal that sent Jeremy Smith and Patrick Lee to the IceDogs. Now, the IceDogs re-acquire the fourth round pick in this deal.

Gilbert – who is 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds – was selected by Niagara in the fourth round (68th overall) of the 2007 OHL draft and has developed into a stay-at-home defenseman. In three seasons with Niagara, Gilbert has two goals with 11 assists for 13 points and 76 penalty minutes over 75 games.

Niagara Press Release

Photo courtesy Aaron Bell/OHL Images