Admirals make huge trade and send top scorer to Lakeshore

The Amherstburg Admirals traded their top scorer from last season Stefan Djordjevic (above) and goalie Landon Dimitrof to Lakeshore last week with goalie Hunter Welk (below) and Dacian Pillon- Vandenbogarde coming to Amherstburg.

The Amherstburg Admirals are re-building.

In a blockbuster trade made last week, the local Provincial Junior Hockey League (Jr. C) hockey club made a huge deal with Lakeshore. 

Heading to the Canadiens are the Admirals top scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, Stefan Djordjevic and promising young goalie Landon Dimitroff. Joining the Admirals for the 2026-27 season will be overaged goalie Hunter Welk and forward Dacian Pillon-Vandenbogarde.

“Stef requested a trade at the end of last season and Dimitroff wanted to be traded,” said Admirals GM Andrew Sykes.

Djordjevic had 38 points including 19 goals during the regular season and he was by far the best player during the post-season as he added 17 more points including 11 tallies. 

Dimitroff, the Admirals 16-year-old last season, posted a .906 save percentage and a 3.57 GAA. He was teamed with Bennett Horrocks who could catch on with the LaSalle Vipers Jr. B team.

“Goaltending is always your number one concern,” added Sykes.

In Welk, the Admirals get a proven winner. The overage player was the sixth best goalie statistically in the entire PJHL last year with a 2.02 GAA, a .917 save percentage and his 14-4-0 record included five shutouts. 

Commenting on Welk, Sykes says, “I like his experience and winning pedigree. I think he will be one of the top goalies in the league.”

On the front end, Amherstburg gets a young prospect in Pillon-Vandenbogaerde  who was in seven games for Lakeshore last year. He played 25 in the Jr. B circuit last year with both Sarnia and LaSalle. The Admirals also receive a player development fee.

With the departure of Djordjevic, and a couple of others who have also requested trades, Amherstburg will rely on a rookie crop along with veteran Cale Marontate and Cory Leach to put the puck in the net. Look for second-year Liam Tiessen to contribute more.

“I really like our forwards. It is not a worry, there is a lot of talent,” said Sykes.

Welk could be busy in net as Freddie McCroy and second-year Cameron Robinet are the only returnees.

“I think we will be good enough to compete. The division from top-to-bottom will be younger. I think we recruited the best Triple A players,” noted Sykes.

The Admirals hit the ice for training camp in Tecumseh Aug. 28-30.

SLAPSHOTS — Amherstburg is hosting a cornhole tournament July 24 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Columbian Club in McGregor.

Admirals make huge trade and send top scorer to Lakeshore

By Fred Groves