The Soo Greyhounds made no hesitation in chopping three veterans from the roster in favour of some promising talent.
With the Greyhounds set to begin the Ontario Hockey League regular season on Friday night against the Erie Otters at Memorial Gardens at 7:30 p.m., the team made the roster moves on Monday in order to trim down to 24 players.
Sent home and awaiting trades are veteran defenseman Mike Looby and veteran forwards Brett Connolly and Aaron Lewicki.
The moves leave the Hounds with two goalies in Jakub Cech and Kyle Gajewski, eight defenseman and 14 forwards.
Lobby, a former second round draft pick of the Brampton Battalion, became expendable with the emergence of rookie defensemen Josh Day, Tyler McKinley and Tyler Cuthbert during training camp.
Connolly and Lewicki were also sent packing in favour of younger talent. Both would not have been likely find a spot on the Hounds top three forward lines.
Connolly, a first round draft pick of the Sudbury Wolves in 2002, has never been able to get his career on track despite loads of promise. At 18 years of age, Connolly might get another shot to resurrect his career elsewhere.
Lewicki, a speedy role-playing forward, could not keep his spot on the roster as a 19 year-old centre with the Greyhounds enjoying a ton of youthful depth at the position. The Hounds will employ the services of youngsters Brandon MacLean, Ryan McInerney and Chris Lawrence to go with veterans Jeff Carter and Tyler Kennedy.
Looby was acquired from Brampton last summer while Connolly arrived in October of last season and Lewicki was added right before the trade deadline in January.