Thursday, June 13, 2013

Lakers acquire Pat Saunders to help left side of offence

The Peterborough Lakers have added Pat Saunders in a trade with the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks. In return, KW receives Peterborough's second-round pick in the 2015 Major Series Lacrosse draft and other considerations.

Saunders is a talented lefty forward. He has 19 goals in five games with the Senior B Owen Sound North Stars this summer and potted 55 in 20 CLax games with the Brampton Inferno over the past two years.

Peterborough has leaned on Josh Gillam (12 goals, 13 assists) and Cory Vitarelli (7g, 15 a) on the left side so far this season. With Brian Croswell breaking his wrist in the first game, John Grant Jr. unavailable for most of the season and no final word on whether John Tavares is returning, the Lakers needed some help. No other lefty forward has more than one goal for them so far.

Saunders hadn't appeared in a game for the Kodiaks this summer. He scored 13 goals and 11 assists in 10 games with them in 2012. KW continues to add draft picks to a team that is already built largely on youth and speed.