Oh, the life of a junior hockey player.
Christian Propp will have some stories to tell, especially being one of the few players who could say he was with three different OHL teams within a 24-hour span last weekend.
The 18-year-old Milton, Ontario product was acquired in a trade with the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for local defenceman Brady Lyle who had requested a trade last week.
See related story: Lyle joins Attack as Troops add another new netminder
Propp, practiced with his new team for the first time on Tuesday. But he’s glad to finally be here after a bizarre series of events beginning Saturday night.
“To be honest it was a very surprising day, when I first got the call that I was traded to Owen Sound I was actually on my pre-game walk as Barrie was playing Oshawa at 6 p.m. that night and the last I was told was I was playing so I was not even thinking about trade talks or anything, or any rumours, I was getting ready to play actually,” said the 6’2”, 185 pound goalie.
But not long after being shipped to Owen Sound for draft picks, the news came that he would be on the move again.
“Then I heard about the news to Owen Sound so after I heard the Owen Sound thing I heard that North Bay was really interested in me so I kind of knew that was the spot I was going to land so it was a crazy 24 hours that’s for sure,” he said.
Still sporting the Colts horseshoe on his goalie mask, Propp admits Memorial Gardens was not one of his favourite places to play in the OHL.
“I hated always playing in this rink because when I played with the Colts and we came here it was always a good game regardless of last year when both the teams were not doing so well and the years past when both teams were having success, that rivalry has always been there but it is kind of bittersweet now that I am here with the team and I really think it is a top-notch organization and they treat their players really well so I am looking forward to playing here,” he said.
Now Propp hopes he’s here to stay to help solidify the goaltending situation with the Battalion.
“Obviously we are hoping that Christian can be a number one goalie not just for this year but for the future,” said Stan Butler, Battalion head coach and director of hockey operations.
“Obviously we gave up a good defenceman to get him but without a goaltender, you are left in a pretty tough spot to play well.”
Propp comes in with Mat Woroniuk being placed on waivers and Christian Purboo, who was solid in Sunday’s win, being sent back to the OJHL’s Oakville Blades and will be available as a call-up for the remainder of the season.
That leaves the Troops with Propp and Julian Sime as the goalies for the 2017-18 season.
Propp, who sports a 2.28 goals against and a .923 save percentage in three games so far this year for Barrie, is hoping to bring some quiet confidence with him to the Battalion net.
“I try not to be too active in the net so hopefully my calm play will bring a little steadiness and durability to our defence and just give the boys some confidence that we have got a good goaltender back there and I am going to try to bring a quiet swagger too and hopefully that goes for myself all the way up to the forwards,” said Propp.
The Battalion also welcomed in defenceman Nick King, who came to the Battalion from the Attack as well for draft picks. Butler hopes the big defender can help shore up the top five on his blueline.
“Nick King is a good, solid defenceman, we thought he would be a big help to our team losing Brady, we thought some of our younger D were comfortable playing 6 or 7 but we need a guy that could play in the top five,” stated Butler.
Propp and King are expected to be in the lineup on Thursday night when the Troops host the Windsor Spitfires. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. a North Bay’s Memorial Gardens.
