Trade catches VanLaren off guard
By Tony Saxon, Guelph Mercury – It wasn’t any easier the second time for Chris VanLaren.
The Guelph Storm’s newest acquisition was completely shocked when told that Sudbury Wolves head coach Mike Foligno wanted to see him a couple of nights before the Ontario Hockey League’s trade deadline last Saturday.
Two years ago, the Kingston native was traded from the Niagara IceDogs to the Wolves.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” VanLaren said of the trade to Guelph after Storm practice Thursday. “We played in Belleville then drove to Oshawa. I got off the bus in Oshawa and they said ‘coach wants to see you. When it’s around deadline time, you know what the coach wants.”
He said “there wasn’t a dry eye in the dressing room,” including his, when his Sudbury teammates were told he’d been traded.
“I think the second time was harder,” VanLaren said.
VanLaren makes his Storm debut Friday when the Owen Sound Attack visits the Sleeman Centre in a key conference match up. Guelph trails the Attack by seven points for the final playoff spot in the conference and has three games in hand.
Owen Sound has lost six in a row at the Sleeman Centre. Their last win there was November 2007.
The second player acquired by the Storm, winger James Marsden, is still recovering from an elbow injury and is a week away from being ready to see game action.
VanLaren said he has discussed coming back as an overage player next year.
“I’ve looked into the OA spot for next year, but with such a talented 19-year-old crop here, it’s sort of an audition for the OA spot.”
Storm assistant coach Chris Hajt said VanLaren is a steady, defence–first rearguard with a bit of toughness in him.
“He’s a solid, stay-at-home-type defenceman who will play physical and stay within his parameters,” Hajt said Thursday. “He’s a character kid, too, and that’s what we expect of him.
Hajt is handling the coaching reigns for the time being after Jason Brooks had back surgery in Toronto Tuesday.
The seven-hour procedure will keep Brooks in hospital this week and likely away from the rink for another week or two.
Hajt said VanLaren will be paired with Ryan Gottschalk in his first Storm appearance Friday against Owen Sound.
His arrival gives the Storm two overage defensemen and four 19-year-old defencemen.
On Sunday, VanLaren’s former teammates, along with the player he was dealt for, Ben Chiarot, visit Guelph in a 2 p.m. start.
Most of the injured Storm players with injuries are now healthy, with Conor O’Donnell and Tim Campbell both ready for action. The only exception is goaltender Cody St.Jacques, who is waiting to have an MRI on his bad back after an X-ray turned up nothing.
