Earning his Wings in EL debut
Defenseman Calum McGill achieved a goal in his debut with the Elliot Lake Red Wings as the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League returned to regular season action following an Ontario government mandated pause relative to the Omicron variant.
McGill scored a goal in his first game in an Elliot Lake uniform as the Red Wings began the 2022 segment of the season with a 6-1 win over the French River Rapids. Elliot Lake is in a closely contested battle with the Espanola Express for the fifth and final playoff spot in the NOJHL’s West Division.
Originally from Ayr, Scotland, McGill was part of a multi-player transaction between Elliot Lake and the Kam River Fighting Walleye of the Superior International Jr. Hockey League at the Canadian Jr. Hockey League’s January 10 trade deadline.
In that deal, Elliot Lake transferred 20-year old forward Dayton Clarke and cash considerations to Kam River for a trio of 18-year old skaters — McGill and forwards Kjell Osborne and Owen Lancaster.
At the time of the trade, Kam River general manager Kevin McCallum told Hockey News North that the deal was “a good one for all parties concerned. We get a player we really wanted in Clarke and Elliot Lake gets three good players as they push for a playoff spot.”
Kam River, which is in first place in the SIJHL, was dealing from strength and depth in making the trade with Elliot Lake.
As for what Elliot Lake general manager Mark Savery was able to obtain in exchange for Clarke: in secondary roles, Osborne had managed three goals, six assists, nine points in 18 games for Kam River while Lancaster had 2-4-6 totals in 15 outings and McGill garnered 1-1-2 numbers in 12 contests as members of the Fighting Walleye.
Now, the trio is part of a playoff push in Elliot Lake.