The Barrie Colts have announced today that they have acquired defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, forward Chris DeSousa and goaltender Petteri Simila from the Niagara IceDogs.
Barrie gives up their 2009 first round draft pick Ryan Strome, defenceman Simon Gronvaldt and four draft picks.  Niagara will receive Barrie’s ninth round pick in 2012, their second round pick in 2013 and their second and third round picks in 2014.  The teams also exchanged 15th round conditional draft picks.

“Well we really feel that this is the missing piece of what we are trying to achieve this season,” said Barrie Colts President Howie Campbell.  “This deal will only help with us attempting to win the Memorial Cup this season.  We really feel that it will also help us improve our fan base moving forward as Barrie fans can now watch some of the best junior players in the country.”

Pietrangelo was drafted by the St. Louis Blues 4th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and has played nine games with the Blues this season, scoring one goal and one assist.  The 6’3” King City resident has yet to play a game in the Ontario Hockey League this season and is joining just his second team in the OHL.  Pietrangelo represented Canada for the second straight season at the World Junior tournament this year, winning a silver medal and being named Defenceman of the tournament.

Chris DeSousa is in his fourth year in the OHL and is also joining his second team.  He scored 33 goals for the IceDogs a year ago and has ten goals, 17 assists in 29 games played so far this year, but hasn’t played a game since November 29th.

Petteri Simila was drafted by the IceDogs in the first round of the 2009 CHL Import Draft and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 7th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  Simila is 1-4-3 so far this season with a 4.14 goals against average.

Alex Pietrangelo    D    6’3”    206 lbs

Hometown:  King City, ON

Date of Birth:  January 18, 1990

Regular Season            GP    G    A    P    PIM

2009-10    St. Louis Blues    9    1    1    2    6

2008-09    St. Louis Blues    8    0    1    1    2

2008-09    Niagara IceDogs    36    8    21    29    32

2007-08    Niagara IceDogs    60    13    40    53    94

2006-07    Mississauga IceDogs    59    7    45    52    45

Chris DeSousa    LW    5’9”    190 lbs

Hometown:  Mississauga, ON

Date of Birth:  October 19, 1990

Regular Season            GP    G    A    P    PIM

2009-10    Niagara IceDogs    29    10    17    27    59

2008-09    Niagara IceDogs    67    33    18    51    103

2007-08    Niagara IceDogs    64    23    13    36    103

2006-07    Mississauga IceDogs    10    0    1    1    6

Petteri Simila        G    6’6”    189 lbs

Hometown:  Oulu, Finland

Date of Birth:  April 9, 1990

Regular Season            GP    GA    GAA    W    L    T    SV%

2009-10    Niagara IceDogs    11    38    4.14    1    4    3    .891