Spirit acquire goaltender Lalonde, seventh round pick in trade with Sting
Saginaw, Mich. – Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Tuesday afternoon that the team has completed a trade with the Sarnia Sting. In exchange for their fifth round pick in 2024, the Spirit receive goaltender Nolan Lalonde and Sarnia’s 2025 seventh round pick.
Lalonde was traded from the Erie Otters to the Sting earlier today before being acquired by Saginaw. Currently, he is one of just three OHL goalies under contract to an NHL team (Anson Thornton, BAR, Arizona Coyotes and Dom DiVincentiis, NB, Winnipeg Jets).
The 19-year-old goaltender was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets in October of 2022. He’s played 99 games in the Ontario Hockey League, all of which have come with the Erie Otters. From Kingston, Ont., Lalonde carries 35 wins, two shutouts, a 3.85 GAA and .872 SV% with him into Saginaw.
Like many players on the Spirit roster, Lalonde holds NHL preseason experience valuable to a young player’s development. Appearing in a pair of preseason games with the Blue Jackets in 2022, Lalonde stopped 28 of 30 shots.
A third-round pick by the Otters in 2020, Lalonde’s rookie campaign was a busy one. His 54 games played by season’s end were behind only Flint’s Luke Cavallin (56 GP), and Sudbury’s Mitchell Weeks (61 GP). His performance landed him a spot on the OHL’s First All-Rookie Team and a chance to represent Canada at the U18 World Junior Championship in Germany.
As the Spirit prepare to play the Flint Firebirds on Wednesday, Lalonde will wear #79 with his new team. For more information, visit saginawspirit.com or follow the team on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
For media inquiries, contact Dillon Clark at [email protected].