By @MichaelCaples –
The Muskegon Lumberjacks announced a trade today that sends their captain to Chicago, but it also brings two Michigan natives into their system.
The USHL club has sent Trevor Hamilton to the Chicago Steel in exchange for Grant Gabriele, the rights to Kenny Johnson, and for Maine native Lucas Michaud.
Gabriele, a Brighton native, is in his third season in the USHL. The Western Michigan commit spent two seasons with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program before joining the Omaha Lancers at the start of the season. He was traded to Chicago earlier this year.
Gabriele, who has recorded four goals and nine assists in 38 games this year, is rated a ‘C’ prospect by NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming 2016 NHL Draft.
The Lumberjacks also acquired the USHL rights to Johnson, a Ann Arbor native currently skating for Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota. He is the brother of former University of Michigan star and NHL defenseman Jack Johnson. Kenny Johnson is a Michigan commit, as well.
The Lumberjacks also bring in Michaud, a University of Maine commit, who has recorde four goals and five assists in 36 games during his rookie USHL campaign.
Hamilton had posted 15 goals and 37 assists in 76 games with the Lumberjacks. He is committed to Penn State University.
The two USHL teams also swapped draft picks – the Lumberjacks acquired the Steel’s 2016 Futures fifth-round draft pick, while sending over their third-round pick.