Spits Acquire Connor Chatham

The Windsor Spitfires have confirmed a trade Sunday afternoon with the Flint Firebirds.

The Spits traded 18-year-old winger Luke Kirwan to the Firebirds in exchange for 20-year-old Connor Chatham, plus a second-round draft pick in 2017 and a fourth-round draft pick in 2017.

Chatham is 20 years old has 29 points in 34 games so far this season.  The trade was first broke during this afternoon's TVCogeco Windsor broadcast where the Spits downed Saginaw 7-1.

.@CKSYChris & @Todd_Warriner announce on @TVCWindsor broadcast that WSR acquires Connor Chatham from @FlintFirebirds #sxsp #cksp #sx (1of2)

— Bob Becken (@BobBecken) January 3, 2016

The team then made it official a short while later.

TRADE: Spits acquire Connor Chatham from @FlintFirebirds along with NIA 2nd in 17 & Flint 4th in 17 for @Lukekirwan44 — Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) January 3, 2016

The trade capped a weekend of roster moves made by the team to begin the 2016 portion of their schedule.  On Saturday, the team released goaltender Garret Hughson and forward Markus Soberg, leaving Bradley Latour as the only overage player on the squad at that particular moment.   The transaction deadline for OHL teams to deal overage players is Thursday.

Spitfires general manager Warren Rychel is confident the trade for Chatham will help the team.

"I think it's a great trade for both teams," Rychel told reporters after Sunday's game, noting that Kirwan would be instrumental on a first or second line on a rebuilding team such as Flint.

"Connor will come in here, a big bodied kid who's fighting for a contract himself," said Rychel.  "He'll be able to chip in in all areas of the game.   It makes us pretty big and tough to handle up there."

Kirwan's name appeared on the roster sheet given to media before Sunday's game but he was not in uniform.  Appearing in street clothes after the game, Kirwan said he will remember Windsor fondly.

"I'm sad to leave Windsor, it's a great organization, great trainers, great staff, great coaching," said Kirwan.  "I'm happy for a new start in Flint...I'm just looking forward to it."

Kirwan had played 31 games for the Spitfires this season, with only two goals, two assists and a minus-10 rating.  He had mostly been used on the team's third and fourth lines.

Kirwan will be with the Firebirds when they visit the London Knights on Friday.  Chatham is expected to be in a Windsor uniform when the Owen Sound Attack visit the WFCU Centre on Thursday.

Luke Kirwan addresses the media after being traded from the Windsor Spitfires to the Flint Firebirds, January 3, 2015 (Photo by Mark Brown)