[1]Former Belleville Bulls captain Brendan Gaunce takes part in practice. File photo by Riley Maracle
By Riley Maracle
BELLEVILLE – The Belleville Bulls will play their first game tonight without their former captain, taking on the Mississauga Steelheads at the Yardmen Arena.
Brendan Gaunce, who was in his second year as captain, was traded late Tuesday night. Gaunce is heading to the Erie (Pa.) Otters along with a fifth-round pick in the 2013 Ontario Hockey League draft.
In return the Bulls received Stephen Harper, along with four draft picks: a second-round pick in 2014, a second-round pick in 2016, a third-round pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2016.
Harper was a 12th overall draft pick in the 2012 OHL draft. The 18-year-old has scored 14 points in 22 games this season with Erie.
Gaunce, of Markham, Ont., has been a member of the Bulls for four years. He had 190 points in 215 career games with the team. Gaunce was captain last season as the Bulls went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Barrie Colts.
Harper, the native of Burlington, Ont., will join the team on Thursday as it travels to Peterborough to face the Petes. The Bulls sit at a record of 5-16–4 and are last in the Eastern Conference.