Jeremy Bracco is on the move again. No, he’s not going back to Boston College, he’s heading to Windsor. The Kitchener Rangers were looking to cash in on his talent, and knowing he won’t be back next year and that they can't run with the big dogs of the OHL Western Conference, they made a move to benefit them long term.
General Manager Warren Rychel has acquired right winger Jeremy Bracco from Kitchener, as well as a 2017 8th round pick and a 2018 13th round pick.
In exchange, the Spitfires have sent right winger Cole Carter and defenceman Andrew Burns along with Windsor’s 2nd round picks in 2023, 2024 and 2025 to the Rangers.
The Spitfires also get Kitchener’s 8th round pick in 2017 and Kitchener’s 13th round pick in 2018.
Very long term. The Rangers will be using a draft pick in the year 2015 for a player who is a novice player now. That is assuming they don’t trade the pick between now and then when they’re ready to make a run for the cup.
After being a late cut from Maple Leafs / Marlies training camp, Bracco returned to Kitchener and started his dominance of the OHL. His time in Kitchener was highlighted by passing Steve Downie for 2nd place in the Rangers history books, with the second longest point streak (26 games) in team history.
He joined the Rangers 5 games into his NCAA season with Boston College, and came out swinging, totaling 64 points in 49 games. He was on pace to shatter that number, so far this year he has 51 points in 27 games (1.89 PPG).
Jeremy added ‘Gold Medal’ to his season this year as well, after helping the United States defeat Canada in the final game of the World Junior Championships. With a resume like this, it’s no wonder Windsor jumped at the chance to solidify their scoring for the Memorial Cup in May.
“I think that would be the priority,” Rychel said of wanting to acquire at least one forward.
Bracco will join an under performing Windsor Spitfires team who is looking to bolster the offensive game for the rest of the OHL season, and compete with Erie & London in the OHL Western Conference. There’s nothing that looks worse than the Memorial Cup host bowing out of their leagues playoffs in round one, since they have an automatic berth to play for the national championship.
Windsor GM Waren Rychel and head coach Rocky Thompson mentioned the need for more scoring following a 5-1 loss to the Owen Sound Attack:
“I just look at the gaps in our game,” Thompson said. “The individual side of things, that’s not my responsibility.”
Rychel has made it clear his No. 1 priority is an offensive winger that can help diversify an offence that is averaging just 3.4 goals per game."
With the Spitfires garaunteed a spot in this springs Memorial Cup tournament, it crosses Bracco off the list of potential Marlies call ups when the CHL season comes to a close.
Bracco should make his Spitfires debut on January 12th, when the Kitchener Rangers visit Windsor.
