SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals have bolstered their blue-line.
The Caps acquired Olivier Robidas, an 18-year-old Victoriaville, Que., native, for future considerations in a trade announced Wednesday with Ontario-based Carleton Place Candians of the Central Canada Hockey League.
“He has an offensive touch, decent size and is a good skater and we think he’s going to fit in well,” Caps’ general manager Pat McIver said. “We’ve had a number of good reports on him. (He’s) a very good skating, puck-moving d-man.”
⚡️⚡️ BREAKING NEWS! ⚡️⚡️ Caps have acquired Olivier Robidas from the Carlton Place Canadians of the CCHL! Welcome to #CapsArmy Olivier!! pic.twitter.com/GprWTwICe1
— Summerside Capitals (@SsideCapitals) September 23, 2020
The six-foot, 190-pound, left-shot defenceman had 22 points in 52 games last season at A21 Academy, a prep school in Windsor, Ont. Mavrick Goyer, who played with Robidas last year, is trying out for the Caps this season.
“One of his buddies is at our camp and told us he was interested in coming here,” McIver explained. “We reached out (to Carleton Place) and were able to make a move.”
Robidas received his approval to come to Prince Edward Island on Wednesday. He will have to self-isolate for 14 days prior to working out with the team due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic.
The Maritime Junior Hockey League season is slated to begin Oct. 30 with the Capitals opening training camp Oct. 1.
The Caps were in need of some help on the blue-line following the graduation of stalwart defencemen Jacob Arsenault and Brodie MacMillan last year. Zach Biggar and Ed McNeill will also be playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) this season with Acadie-Bathurst and Blainville-Boisbriand, respectively.
Summerside did sign Charlottetown native Chris McQuaid, who played the past four seasons in the QMJHL, and traded for Cody Lehner, but the Prince Albert, Sask., native has decided to remain close to home due to the pandemic.
“We’ve had to rebuild the whole the back end essentially, so there will be lots of opportunities for everybody to show us what they have,” McIver said.
The Caps might not be done making moves.
“We’ve got some irons in the fire and we feel we’re close on a few things (to) bolster the lineup,” McIver said.
