Spirit bolster blueline with addition of Haché
The Memorial Cup host Saginaw Spirit added size and experience to their defence corps on Tuesday, acquiring overage blueliner Braden Haché and a conditional 15th round pick in 2027 from the Barrie Colts.
The Colts received 2005-born blueliner Olivier Savard, along with Kingston’s conditional third round pick in 2024 for the 6-foot-3 Haché, who embarks on his fourth OHL season this fall.
“As an organization, we’re thrilled,” said Spirit GM Dave Drinkill. “Braden is one of the league’s top two-way defensemen. He’s got playoff experience, is an NHL draft pick, has been to NHL camps, and is a true leader at the rink and in the community.”
A former seventh round pick of the Florida Panthers in the 2021 NHL Draft, Haché has played in 152 career OHL regular season games between Barrie and Kingston, recording 29 points (6-23–29) and a plus/minus rating of plus-29 in the process. He was a big part of Barrie’s blueline last spring, playing alongside Brandt Clarke as the Colts reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final against North Bay.
Haché, from Newmarket, Ont., has also been a leader in the community over the course of his time in the OHL, earning the Dayna Brons Honourary Award as a Hockey Gives Blood player ambassador in 2020-21.
“Braden is a player that we’ve wanted to acquire for a while now,” continued Drinkill. “To be able to make this deal today really gives our team a boost heading into camp. We look forward to working with him and growing his game during this special season.”
Savard, 18, goes to Barrie having collected 14 points (4-10–14) over the past two seasons. He was originally Saginaw’s second round (29th overall) pick in the 2021 OHL Priority Selection, and plays the game with a physical edge.
“Olivier is a player we feel that is going to fit our lineup very well,” said Colts Head Coach & GM Marty Williamson. “Olivier is a big right-shot defenceman that fits the core of team for the coming years. We’re excited to start working with Olivier here in Barrie and help continue his development.”
The two players will report to their respective training camps next week. Haché helps fill-out a Saginaw overage landscape that also includes Michigan natives Dean Loukus and T-Bone Codd on forward, along with veteran defender Roberto Mancini on the back-end. Savard will be reunited with former Spirit teammate Bode Stewart in Barrie.
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