An already deep, talented Barrie Colts blueline got a whole lot bigger and better this week.
Earlier this week, the team announced they had acquired six-foot-seven, 216-pound Gabriel Eliasson from the Niagara IceDogs for a third-round pick (2028) and a 15th-round pick (2027).
Barrie also received news that Edmonton Oilers prospect Beau Akey will return from out west next week and will be in the lineup next weekend.
A second-round pick (39th overall) of the Ottawa 67’s in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the rugged 18-year-old Swedish native bolsters an already deep Barrie blueline.
“He speaks outstanding English and is unbelievably excited to be with us and excited to get playing games,” Williamson said of Eliasson, who was taken 12th overall by Niagara in this year’s CHL Import Draft. “There’s a learning curve with him, he’s very raw. But he’s a good raw.
“He’s a guy that’s a second-round pick for an NHL team. With talent and physical play, we think he will fit in really well with us.”
Eliasson, who has been described as a nasty player to play against, joins an already imposing group on the blueline with Kashawn Aitcheson, Grayson Tiller, and Evan Passmore.
“The four of them are hard to play against,” said Williamson. “This is the kind of team that I wanted to build. We’re going to be hard to play against, and yet we’re not giving up anything with our skill level.
“We’ve got power-play guys. We cover a lot of bases with this team.”
Akey, who missed most of last season with surgery to both shoulders, should be one of the league’s top defenders and joins acquisition Triston Bertucci to form a talented offensive duo that will boost a power-play that struggled mightily last season.
“They’re going to keep him right until the doctor’s date when he’s cleared and deemed ready,” said Williamson. “He said he’s ready to start the season.”
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The Colts also made some tough roster decisions on Wednesday, announcing they have released veteran forwards Chris Grisolia and Roenick Jodoin.
“The Barrie Colts would like to thank Chris Grisolia and Roenick Jodoin for all their contributions to our team and community over their three seasons,” announced the team on X (formerly Twitter). “Wishing you all the best Griz & JR!”
Grisolia played 177 games over three seasons with the Colts, racking up 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points. The 19-year-old centre was a second-round pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection.
Jodoin, an eighth-round pick of Barrie in 2020, had 29 goals and 37 assists for 66 points in 154 games over three seasons.
With one too many overagers on the roster, the 20-year-old winger was likely to be the odd man out when overager Beau Jelsma returns from a shoulder injury over the next few weeks.
