Troops trade Eden to Bulls for pick

Press Release

BRAMPTON, Ont. – The Brampton Battalion has traded centre Branden Eden to the Belleville Bulls for a conditional 15th-round pick in the 2010 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, it was announced Friday.

Stan Butler, Battalion director of hockey operations and head coach, said a logjam at centre precipitated the move.

“I think this is good for Branden. With Domenic Alberga, Sam Carrick, Craig Moore and Thomas Stajan at centre, there really wasn’t a spot for Branden.”

Eden, 17, was a third-round pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection from the North Central Predators minor midgets.

“I’m definitely going to miss the guys here, but I think it’ll be a good thing for me going forward,” said Eden.

Eden said he welcomed the timing of the trade, before the regular season gets under way.

“I was settled in here, but there was nothing major happening in school, so getting traded now is better than playing a game or two and then sitting for a few games. It’s good to start fresh.”

The Bracebridge, Ont., resident played last season with the junior A Brampton Capitals, scoring 10 goals and adding eight assists for 18 points in 33 games. He dressed for five games with the Battalion in December and January, contributing one goal and one assist.

Eden won’t have to wait long to square off against his old teammates. The Bulls visit Brampton on Sept. 25.

“It’s going to be different coming here with the visiting team. But it’ll be exciting.”

The Battalion preseason roster now numbers 28 players, comprising 17 forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)