The Belleville Bulls made another move towards their future on Friday when they traded leading scorer Matt Tipoff and their first pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft to the Kitchener Rangers for Alex Aleardi and a fifth round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.
Tipoff, who was the Bulls’ second round pick 2006, was leading the Bulls with 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 23 games this season. The 19-year-old from Toronto scored a career-high 13 goals and 40 points in 68 games.
Aleardi, a 17-year-old from Farmington Hills, Michigan, has one goal and nine points to go along with 18 penalty minutes in 22 games this season with the Rangers. He scored five goals and 11 points in 65 games as a rookie last season.
Aleardi was a third round pick in 2008 after scoring 35 goals and 109 points with the Compuware Minor Midgets in Michigan the previous season.
He will make his debut with the Bulls when they host the Plymouth Whalers on Saturday (7:05 p.m. on TV Cogeco and AM 800 CJBQ).
Tipoff made a name for himself by becoming one of the Bulls’ top penalty killers and defensive players as a sophomore during their run to the OHL Championship Series against the Rangers in 2008. He picked up his offensive role last season and this year has been among the league’s scoring leaders. He enjoyed an 11-game point streak earlier this season and was tied with defenceman Shawn Lalonde for the team lead with four powerplay goals this season.
Tipoff brings a wealth of playoff experience to the Rangers after reaching at least the Conference Finals in all three of his seasons with the Bulls.
He joined the Rangers today and will suit up tonight in Kingston against the Frontenacs.
Photos: Aaron Bell/QuinteHockey.ca
