by Tommy Young
Nepean, ON – The Nepean Raiders have completed a Trade Deadline move with the Ottawa Junior Senators, acquiring 2007-born forward Ben Kozyra, 2007-born defenceman Maxim LeBlanc, and 2007-born goaltender Evan Grant in exchange for 2005-born forwards Carter Williamson and Raphael Tellier.
Kozyra, who stands at 6’6” and 201lbs, is already in his 3rd career CCHL season, scoring 5 goals and 12 points so far this season. In his career with Kemptville and Ottawa, the local native has 13 goals and 30 points in 113 games. A 2023 14th-round selection by the Oshawa Generals, Kozyra has size, experience, and versatility on his side, and we’re excited to have him on our team.
LeBlanc, whom Ottawa acquired this week from Hawkesbury, is in his first season of junior hockey. After a season in the United States with the South Kent School in Connecticut where he registered 10 assists in 47 games, and after he made his Tier 2 debut with the NAHL’s Elmira Aviators, he traveled north to Hawkesbury in early December. He scored his first career goal December 12th against Navan, and the rangy defender has a +4 rating and 10 hits through only 6 games played.
Grant recently took the jump to Jr. A, after a pair of seasons in Jr. B. Joining the Sens out of the GOHL, the 6’2” goaltender is 1-1 with a .891sv% in four games with Ottawa. He started the season with the London Nationals and went 6-4 with an .883sv%, coming back to Ontario after a year in BC. With the VIJHL’s Port Alberni Bombers, he finished 6th among all goaltenders with a .913sv%, adding two shutouts with a 17-6-2 record.
We’d like to thank Carter and Raphael for their time in the Black and Red. Carter is a Nepean local, born and raised through the NMHA, and worked extremely hard to make it to this point. We’re proud to have watched his growth into a top-line player. Raphael, meanwhile, is a recent addition this past offseason but has made a major impact in his brief time in Nepean, sitting 3rd among team scoring with 36 points in 32 games and leading all players with 3 shorthanded points. Two great players both on and off the ice, and we wish them the best of luck heading across town with Ottawa.
Welcome to the Black and Red, Ben, Maxime, and Evan!
