The Greatest Catamount Comes Home

There's no better way to end a career, than to end it where it all began. And for Champlain Athletic, it feels so good.

The club made a MASSIVE trade with the Ottawa Polar Bears just hours after the end of the Bears' Cyber Cup Finals defeat. The A's sent the 5th overall pick to Ottawa, along with their own third round pick (as they also own Chicoutimi's, from last year's Mathieu Perreault trade). In exchange, the team gets a deal that adds much-needed attacking firepower, and a return home.

Martin St. Louis made his name in Burlington, wowing crowds at Gutterson Fieldhouse over four years that saw the core of him, Eric Perrin, and Tim Thomas produce the finest team in UVM history, including the team's first Frozen Four in 1996. Tonight, he returns home, along with fellow scoring ace Paul Stastny, up-and-coming offensive defender Patrick Wiercioch, blue-chip prospect Patrik Nemeth, and depth prospects Chris Brown and Aaron Ness.

St. Louis and Stastny bolster an attack in desperate need of help: the two combined for 165 points last season. St. Louis would have actually led the team in scoring, while Stastny would've been fourth.

"We're so proud to bring Marty home, he's still a UVM guy at heart. He's still a dominant player even at his age and brings our side elite scoring prowess and championship experience," said GM Locria Fox, alluding to St. Louis's Cyber Cup ring from his lone season in Las Vegas in which he was named the most valuable player in the playoffs. "Him and Paul will bring our team some much-needed scoring, while Wiercioch helps us in the back. Nemeth should develop into a solid defender over time if he can rehab from his most recent injury. As for Brown and Ness, they were more or less throw-ins, guys we're taking a flyer on and hoping we can get some use out of. Think Riley Nash circa 2013/14."

Fox was also reportedly pleased with how she was able to get elite players without giving up any of her team's existing major prospects.

"We believe Elias Lindholm and David Pastrňák should be ready for WHL action next year, albeit in limited roles. The additions of Marty and Paul won't affect our plans for them, but it gives them time to develop before stepping into a bigger role, and also gives them veterans to look up to."

St. Louis has also won 3 Lady Byng trophies throughout his WHL career.

Fox says she isn't done making moves this offseason.