Storm add to blueline with acquisition of Budnick
The Guelph Storm added to their blueline on Tuesday, picking-up 19-year-old left-shot defenceman Thomas Budnick in a trade with the Kingston Frontenacs.
Budnick, from Petoskey, Mich., was acquired in exchange for Sarnia’s second-round pick in 2026, Kitchener’s third-round pick in 2026 and Guelph’s third-round pick in 2027.
“Tommy plays the game hard, responsibly and is a strong competitor at both ends of the rink,” said Storm general manager George Burnett. “His ability to skate and move the puck effectively combined with his leadership will be a welcome addition to our group.”
A 6-foot-1, 210Ib. veteran of 153 OHL regular season games, Budnick joins the Storm blueline, one that has dealt with recent injuries to both Quinn Beauchesne and Zackary Sandhu. St. Louis Blues prospect Michael Buchinger is currently attending Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in Oakville, hopeful to earn a spot on the final roster.
Originally Kingston’s third-round pick from the Detroit Honeybaked AAA program in 2020, Budnick has 11 points (1-10–11) through 29 games with the Frontenacs, paired with what was a club-leading plus-9 rating.
“My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity to be welcomed into the Guelph Storm community and organization,” said Budnick. “I am grateful for all the work and support from Kingston and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to earn a spot on this team and play an important role and contribute to the success of the Storm.”
Budnick was recognized as one of the league’s top shot blockers last year, coming in third in the Eastern Conference in OHL Coaches Poll voting in that category. He joins the Storm as they head to Owen Sound for a Wednesday night matchup against the Attack, looking to avenge a 3-2 overtime loss to the Bears last week.
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