by Tommy Young
Nepean, ON – The Nepean Raiders have completed a Trade Deadline move with the Smiths Falls Bears, acquiring 2005-born forward Travis Ouellette and 2009-born defenceman Cole Stants in exchange for 2005-born forward Luka Benoit and 2005-born defenceman Nicholas Larkin.
Ouellette hails from Winchester, and the veteran forward is in his final season of Jr. A hockey. In his 3 CCHL seasons, all as a Bear, Travis played in 117 regular-season and 29 playoff games, recording a total of 56 goals and 112 points. Before making the jump to the CCHL, the 5’11”, 179lbs forward was a member of the 2023 EOJHL Championship-winning Perth Blue Wings, taking home Rookie of the Year honours with 88 points in 56 games.
Stants, from Ottawa, is comparatively at the opposite end of his career. A protect-round selection this past April by the Bears, the 16-year-old defenceman has only appeared in 25 CCHL games, but has recorded 7 assists and has an astounding +17 rating as a rookie. A right-handed shot, the 6’0” blueliner was an assistant captain with the U16 AAA Ottawa Myers squad last season, scoring thrice and recording 15 assists in 37 games. Cole also was drafted by the Brantford Bulldogs in the 2025 OHL Priority Draft, and brings OHL draft pedigree to our blue line – becoming the 6th Raider drafted to the CHL!
While we are excited to welcome our two newest Raiders to the squad, we’d like to take a moment to thank Luka and Nick for their time in Nepean. With 208 games and 171 points between them, as well as a U18 AAA championship, their careers in the Black and Red are among the best ever. Our captain, Luka Benoit, will finish his career 57th all-time in games played in Nepean and 59th in points scored. Our assistant captain, Nick Larkin, heads to Smiths Falls 50th among all Raiders defencemen in games played and 32nd in points. Two of the best to ever do it, and we thank them for their years of passion and dedication to the Nepean franchise. We wish them the best of luck in Smiths Falls.
Welcome to the Black and Red, Travis and Cole!
