Significant trade brings Josh Lawrence to Halifax

2022-11-28

Mooseheads General Manager Cam Russell dipped into the trade market in a big way on Monday to add one of the most impactful 20-year-old forwards in the QMJHL. The Mooseheads acquired Josh Lawrence from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in exchange for Halifax’s 2023 second round draft pick and a 2024 first round draft pick.

Lawrence is 14th in the QMJHL scoring race with 32 points after putting up 15 goals and 17 assists in 25 games with the Armada this season. That total would be good for third on the Mooseheads in scoring behind Mathieu Cataford’s 36 points and Jordan Dumais’ 54 points. The Fredericton, NB native was one-of-seven players in the league with at least 100 points last season after he finished with 101 while winning the Memorial Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs.

He was originally selected 15th overall by the Sea Dogs in the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft and played his entire career in Saint John prior to this season. He was sent to Cape Breton ahead of the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft to complete an earlier deal for Connor Trenholm and then flipped by the Eagles on the same day to Blainville-Boisbriand.

“We are very pleased to add someone of Josh’s caliber to our already talented lineup. He brings elite level offense and valuable experience that will help our club tremendously this season,” Russell said.

For his career, Lawrence has collected 224 points in 244 games with 83 goals and 141 assists. The right-handed shooting centreman is 5-foot-9 and weighs 186 pounds. He is the owner of the 19th longest consecutive games played streak in QMJHL history by playing in 221 games in a row. The streak was snapped on Sunday when he was a healthy scratch due to the pending transaction.

20-year-old, overage players and import players can be traded at any time while the QMJHL trading period for the remainder of the players in the league will be held from Sunday, December 18th until Friday, January 6th.

Lawrence will put on a Mooseheads uniform for the first time when Halifax kicks off a Quebec road trip on Wednesday at 8pm in Rimouski. The road trip also includes stops on Friday at 8:30pm in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau on Saturday at 5pm.

Lawrence is set to make his home debut at Scotiabank Centre on Thursday, December 8th against his former team as Blainville-Boisbriand makes their only visit of the season. The Herd will also host the Gatineau Olympiques for the Teddy Bear Toss game in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities on Saturday, December 10th at 7pm. Tickets are on sale now at TicketAtlantic.com