Deacan Knott, Ben Trumble, Cameron Pack, Jackson Webster and others traded prior to OJLL deadline
Deacan Knott (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
This past Saturday evening, the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League transaction wire got extremely busy in the hours leading up to the league’s trade deadline, which included a fairly significant swap between the Peterborough Lakers & Burlington Blaze.
The Lakers sent starting standout goalie Deacan Knott (Philadelphia Wings), Zack Thompson (Newberry College), and Ben Trumble (Colgate University) to the Blaze in exchange for former Peterborough minor goalie Cole Gervais, 2022 first-round OJLL Draft pick Bossy Rice, Kahnawake prospect Teharonhiorens McComber (formerly Onondaga Community College, Haudenosaunee Nationals U21), and a second-round selection in the 2027 OJLL Draft.
Peterborough, who last year went 10-10, qualified for the playoffs and showed much promise, have struggled in the standings this year at just 2-8 and unlikely to qualify for the postseason, especially after this past weekend’s deadline deal.
Although the Blaze are just 3-3 over their last six starts, the talented team is still very much considered a contender for the OJLL crown. Last year, the Blaze finished just behind the Lakers, but turned it on in the playoffs, becoming the first eighth seeded team since 1956 to sweep a number one in the postseason.
Cole Gervais & Dacan Knott (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
The addition of Knott gives Burlington one of the top Junior A goalies in the country right now, a massive boost heading into the second half of their season.
Will the massive move pay off?
A day after being dealt, Knott suited up for the Blaze against the St. Catharines Athletics on Sunday, starting the game in a backup role. Down 4-1 in the first, Knott replaced Cal Leaver-Preyra and went on to make 27 stops on 31 shots. The Blaze won 9-8.
Cameron Pack (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse League)
The still undefeated Orangeville Northmen picked up athletic defensemen Cameron Pack (Ohio State University) and a second-round pick in 2028 from the Athletics for first-round selections in 2026 & 2028. Pack played his first game for the Northmen on Sunday night, helping the team extend their season-starting win streak to 12-0. His addition adds significant depth to a defensive unit many already considered one of the strongest in the country.
The Athletics weren’t done moving top-tier talent, also sending Jackson Webster (Canisius College) to the Toronto Beaches for Sean McMahon (Dartmouth College) and a 2026 first rounder.
Jackson Webster, 2021 OJLL Iroquois Trophy (Photo: Ontario Lacrosse Association)
St. Catharines, who is presently in ownership of a playoff spot if the season ended today (seventh overall, two points behind Toronto, with a game in hand), end this year’s trade deadline by adding three future first-round picks. Since the team’s 2021 OJLL title win during the pandemic shortened season held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, the A’s have invested heavily in trading graduating or soon-to-be graduating talent for first rounders. During last year’s OJLL Draft, St. Catharines selected five times in the opening round, adding: Zackary Toll, Ty Wilson, Cameron Wheelans, Zack Poirier and Noah Simpson.
Also on Saturday, the Brampton Excelsiors traded Curtis Ward and Mason Blacktopp (Stevenson University) to the last-place Kitchener-Waterloo Lacrosse Club for Kaelen Smith.