Raiders Make Lone Deadline Move

by Tommy Young

Nepean, ON – The Nepean Raiders have completed a trade with the Rockland Nationals, acquiring the CCHL playing rights to 2006-born defenceman Sam Ethier and a 2025 9th-round draft selection in exchange for the CCHL playing rights to 2007-born defenceman Jake Begin.

Ottawa-born and raised, Ethier stands at 6’ even and 192 pounds. He was drafted #48 overall in the 2021 CCHL draft by the Nats, and joined their U18 AAA program. There, he put his name on the OHL’s radar by putting up the first-ever 20-goal season by a HEO U18 defenceman, leading all D-men in scoring with 44 points in 41 games during the 2022-23 campaign. This earned him a 6-game trial with the Jr. A Nationals, scoring once and adding an assist.

Following his record-setting season, Ethier was drafted #10 overall in the 2023 OHL U18 draft by the Owen Sound Attack. Making the team out of camp as a 17-year-old, Ethier bounced in and out of the lineup, only drawing into 11 games with the Attack over the season.

This season, Ethier has been in the OJHL, starting off with the Lindsay Muskies before being acquired by the Pickering Panthers at the OJHL deadline. Through 16 games, Ethier has a goal and five assists. He will continue the rest of this season with the Panthers.

We would also like to thank Jake Begin for his time as a Raider. Acquired at the deadline last season, he has been enjoying a breakout campaign with the EOJHL’s Carleton Place Jr. B Canadians, leading all rookie defencemen in scoring with 25 points. We wish him all the best with Rockland.