Sapurji: Whalers land McGillis...

MOUNTAIN TOP, PA. -- You knew the trade kiss of death was coming for veteran forward Cory McGillis after he was featured in the Sudbury Star yesterday.

Today the 20-year-old was sent from the Barrie Colts to the Plymouth Whalers in exchange for an eighth-round draft choice in 2009 and a third-round pick in 2010.

“Cory is a big, physical power forward who has a nice scoring touch around the net,” Whalers GM Mike Vellucci said in a release. McGillis is 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds and can play center or left wing.

McGillis' arrival sets the Whalers up with two overagers.

Strangely enough, in yesterday's Sudbury Star feature, Colts head coach Marty Williamson is quoted as saying the following:

"We want big-time leadership out of Cory," Williamson told reporter Scott Haddow. "He's in great shape and he plays on our top line. We also want him to score goals for us ... I believe he can score 30 goals this year."

Such great shape and so many goals in fact that it took fewer than 24 hours to trade McGillis to Plymouth.

Go figure.

Who knows, maybe Williamson missed the Colts' general manager's committee meeting? Or perhaps he was out-voted, kinda like the U.S. House of Representatives?

Whatever the case, the Whalers have themselves a versatile forward who can hopefully reach his full potential this season after scoring 18 goals with 21 assists for 39 points in 48 games.

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