SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Defenceman Noah Dobson is on the move in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan traded the Summerside native to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on Sunday morning. In return, the Titan receive four draft picks from the Huskies – Chicoutimi’s 2019 and 2020 first-round picks, along with Chicoutimi’s 2019 second-round pick and reacquired their 2021 first-round pick from the Huskies. Rouyn-Noranda acquired the Chicoutimi picks in an earlier trade.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Dobson, who turns 19 on Monday. “They are the top team in the league right now, and they have added some pieces. It’s a great opportunity to have another deep playoff run and win another Cup. That’s my goal.
“You want to play hockey long into May, and you want to be in those big games.”
Rebuilding
Acadie-Bathurst, which won the President Cup and Memorial Cup championships last season, is rebuilding this season and sits last in the 18-team league at 7-31-1 (won-lost-overtime losses). The Huskies, meanwhile, are first in the overall standings at 32-7-1.
Dobson will join his new team later this week as the Huskies make a swing through the Maritimes, including a game against the Charlottetown Islanders at Eastlink Centre on Saturday.
Dobson will be reunited with first-year Huskies head coach Mario Pouliot, who previously coached the Titan.
“Knowing I was probably going to be moved, it’s great to be going to a guy I am familiar with,” said Dobson. “He’s a great coach, and we have a great relationship.
“He coached me for two years (with the Titan), I loved him and we won a championship together. . . He definitely played a factor in getting me there, and I’m looking forward to working with him again.”
Selected 12th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2018 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Dobson registered nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 28 games while serving as the Titan captain this season.
“The Titan would like to wish Noah all the best in Rouyn-Noranda, and thank him for his contributions to the organization and the community during his time in Bathurst,” read a team media release announcing the trade.
Fond memories
Dobson said he leaves the Titan with nothing but fond memories. His parents, Andrew and Jenny Dobson, are from Bathurst, N.B., and he billeted with his grandparents after the Titan selected Dobson with the sixth overall selection of the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft.
“It was two of the best years of hockey of my life,” said Dobson. “I can’t thank everyone in the organization enough who helped me, developed me and got me drafted in the first round of the NHL.
“Bathurst is always going to be a second home to me, and it’s tough leaving saying bye to all the guys. But, at the same time, this is what’s best for me and what’s best for the organization. Bathurst will definitely have a place in my heart forever.”
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Numbers
Noah Dobson’s statistics with Acadie-Bathurst Titan:
2016-17
Regular Season
63 games
7 goals
19 assists
26 points
Playoffs
11 games
0 goals
5 assists
5 points2017-18
Regular Season67 games
17 goals
52 assists
69 points
Playoffs
20 games
3 goals
10 assists
13 points
Memorial Cup
4 games
2 goals
5 assists
7 points2018-19
Regular Season28 games
9 goals
7 assists
16 points
