Trading captain Evan Passmore to the Memorial Cup-host Guelph Storm on Monday was a classic case of the best of both worlds, but it still wasn’t an easy move to make, admits Barrie Colts vice president and general manager Marty Williamson.
While the Colts received an impressive haul in return — including defenceman Patrick Babin, Guelph’s second-round picks in 2028 and 2029, a third-round selection in 2029 (via Brantford), and a fifth-round pick in 2029 (via Brampton) — the deal gives their home-grown leader a genuine chance at OHL and CHL titles while playing close to his hometown of Elmira.
Williamson watched the six-foot-five, 217-pound veteran develop into a premier shutdown defender and team leader over four years and 200 games in Barrie, earning the deep respect of coaches and teammates alike.
A sixth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Passmore set a high standard as a player who worked tirelessly to improve his game and help his team in any capacity. The exact kind of representative an organization loves to have.
“Oh, no,” said Williamson when asked if it is ever easy trading a player like Passmore. “I drafted him in the eighth round, and I’ve had a real relationship with his agent and his family. He’s been a fantastic Colt, getting better every year, and led himself to become captain of our team, so I’m proud of him and his development.
“He’s worked hard to get himself drafted, and I’m excited for him that we’re able to get a deal done with Guelph, close to his hometown, where maybe he can get that ring this year.”
For head coach Dylan Smoskowitz, Passmore’s time in Barrie represents the ultimate story of “a kid who just wanted to get better every single day.”
“You talk about the Cole Beaudoins and the Kashawn Aitchesons who’ve come through here,” noted Smoskowitz. “They’re the big names everyone talks about, but a guy like Evan Passmore just kept to his own business, every day not wasting an opportunity to get better.
“From an eighth-round pick in 2022 to an NHL draft pick and a 200-game OHL veteran, Evan has meant so much to this organization. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”
With a young Colts roster locked into a rebuilding season, an eventual move to a contender made strategic sense. Passmore logged heavy minutes for a Barrie team that reached the OHL finals last year and the Eastern Conference finals the season before.
“He’s got playoff experience and has proven he can gut it out in tough times,” Williamson said of the 19-year-old blueliner. “I think that’s very attractive to the Storm.”
Tasked with mentoring a developing young defensive core — which includes 2026 first-round pick Lucas Matheson, seventh-overall selection Declan McNally (acquired from the Storm just before the season), Aidan Mowrey, and Marc Ruggere —Passmore naturally drew substantial trade interest.
Williamson explained that up to seven teams had inquired about his services over the past month.
“We wanted to pick the right time,” said the Colts GM of when to make the move. “Obviously, with the U17 World Hockey Challenge, we couldn’t do it any earlier. I wanted Dylan to be here, and we wanted the young defencemen we had playing there (Matheson and McNally) to be back, so we felt we were getting pretty close to the right window.
“(Storm GM) George Burnett and I started talking pretty heavily last week at the end of the U17’s. You could see us huddled in the corner, and we were able to hammer the deal out.”
The haul of high draft picks helps restock a cupboard left bare after two deep playoff runs.
“You have to have that kind of currency in this league to be able to do things and grab players at the right time,” said Williamson. “Obviously, our cupboards were absolutely bare after the last couple of years and the runs that we were taking, trading away younger players.
“This is a necessary evil for this year’s team: we need to restock with either picks or young players, and with this trade, we were able to do a little bit of both.”
The Colts also added a mobile defenceman in Babin, who will finally secure steady playing time after spending his first two seasons on championship-calibre rosters loaded with veterans.
A second-round pick of the Brantford Bulldogs, Babin was acquired by the Storm last season for a second-round pick and a third-round pick.
“He reminds me a little bit of a Cole Emerton-type style,” said Williamson of Babin. “He’s got some swag to him, can carry the puck, and we think he fits into that right side for us. With him, Matheson, Mowrey, and Ruggere, it’s like we have four guys there who can all play in this league.
“He got caught behind a veteran Brantford team going for it last year, so he was moved to Guelph, and now Guelph is going for it this year, meaning he hasn’t had a lot of playing time and development. We think we’re a good fit. Finally, he gets to come to a team where he can play and develop, and we’ll see how he does.”
With Passmore’s heavy minutes now vacant, the younger defensive group will shoulder greater responsibility.
“They’ve got to learn through these experiences, and we’ve got some tough weekends coming up with three games in three days, but these are hurdles they have to go through,” said Williamson. “If they don’t go through it, we just live with different problems down the road. We think they’ve all handled it well so far.”
As for further moves, Williamson said nothing is imminent, though he remains open to calls.
“Teams are going to be talking to us about some of our older guys, and if the deal makes sense and we can add more picks or another young player, we aren’t going to be shy about doing it,” he said.
“Right now, we’re in a holding pattern, and we’ll just see how the next month and a half — taking us up to the Christmas break — unfolds.”
The team will meet on Tuesday to discuss naming a new captain.
Colts Pick Up Import Winger on Waivers
The Colts also shook up their forward ranks, releasing centre Phillip Shargorodsky while claiming Russian import forward Gleb Olkhovic off waivers from the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataracts.
The six-foot-three, 197-pound forward recorded one goal in five games with Shawinigan this season. Shawinigan recently picked up import forward Elias Matousek after he was placed on waivers by Barrie.
“We saw him play a few games,” Williamson said of Olkhovic. “He’s a big six-foot-three left winger. We think it gives us a little more depth, and it’s about building relationships with agents. They’re speaking very highly of him, so we’re going to give him a look.”
Colts Staying ‘Flexible’ on Trade Front for Scoring
While the Colts have struggled to find the back of the net this season, Williamson insists help is on the way.
The GM noted the club is positioned to secure high draft picks to address offensive needs in the upcoming OHL and CHL Import drafts.
“We also have some players coming in from the ’09 birth-year group that we selected, like Cannon Thibodeau and Luke Pietila, so we think we’ve got some pieces there,” said Williamson.
Landing high-end young forwards ahead of the OHL Trade Deadline on January 10th requires offering high-value assets, such as established NHL prospects.
“I don’t know if we’re going to be in that market,” said Williamson. “I really don’t even know if that market is out there right now, but things change, and we’re going to stay flexible.”
