Frontenacs captain Battaglia heading to Flint in a trade

Kingston will receive a package of draft picks from the Firebirds.

The Kingston Frontenacs have made a move ahead of this Saturday's trade deadline.

The team announced on Monday that they have dealt forward and team captain Jacob Battaglia to the Flint Firebirds.

In return, the Frontenacs receive Windsor's 2026 second-round selection, London's third-rounder in 2027, Owen Sound and Saginaw's fourth-rounders in 2027, Flint's 2028 sixth-round pick, second-round picks from Flint and Niagara in 2029, and a 2029 fifth-round selection from Flint.

The 19-year-old Calgary Flames prospect was playing in his fourth season in the OHL, all with Kingston. In 232 career games, he scored 92 goals and collected 117 assists for 209 points.

This season, Battaglia had 14 goals and 13 assists in 36 games.

"Sometimes, tough decisions need to be made," said Frontenacs general manager Kory Cooper in a news release.

"This trade allows us to focus on the promising young core of current Frontenacs while still recovering a large portion of the draft picks we spent at last year’s trade deadline. We wish Jacob the best of luck moving forward.”

Battaglia joins a Firebirds team that is sitting third in the OHL's western conference though they are tied with conference leader Windsor in points with 56. One of the games he will be suiting up for Flint later this week is against the Frontenacs this Saturday night. 

Kingston is in Saginaw this Thursday night to begin a three-game road trip. You can listen to the game on Upper Canada Fuel and Burner Frontenacs Hockey on New County 98.9 starting at 7:05 with Jim Gilchrist on the call.

Story by Ken Hashizume