South Esk was buzzing late into the night after GM Shannon Goodfellow pulled the trigger on another blockbuster deal with the Dorchester Devils, sending shockwaves across the ODBHL landscape.
The Scotsmen, already riding high on the return of fan-favorite goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, made another bold move to bolster their roster for what promises to be a heated run toward the ODBHL Cup.
Coming to South Esk:
Clayton Keller, an original Scotsman now back in the tartan, arrives as a rental piece. The Devils retain two-thirds of his $5.3M contract, leaving South Esk with only a light financial burden for his offensive punch. Keller’s slick playmaking and deep roots with the club are sure to energize the fan base.
Ville Heinola, a former Scotsmen draft pick (Season 7), returns home to strengthen the blue line. Long praised for his puck movement and hockey IQ, Heinola is viewed as a perfect fit for South Esk’s possession-heavy style.
Wyatt Johnston, a highly touted rookie, joins the squad as a key depth piece with potential. Known for his motor and knack for being in the right place, Johnston could be a sneaky X-factor.
Heading to Dorchester:
Samuel Poulin, a long-serving forward and fan favorite in South Esk, will don the Devils’ colors. His grit, leadership, and versatility will be missed in the Scotsmen locker room.
Cam York, a young blueliner with strong upside, heads out as part of the deal, along with journeyman Kaedan Korczak, who provided steady minutes in a depth role.
The cap math? With Dorchester holding most of Keller’s contract, South Esk comes out with just $400K in cap space left to work with. That’s razor-thin, but it keeps the Scotsmen cap-compliant when Yaroslav Askarov returns from injury.
GM Goodfellow was quick to put the move into perspective:
“This is about giving the players every tool to win. Bringing Keller back is a full-circle moment for this franchise, Heinola fits like a glove on our back end, and Johnston is the kind of young blood that we need in the future. It hurts to move Poulin, York, and Korczak — those guys have given everything to this organization — but this is the cost of chasing banners.”
Fans in South Esk are already buzzing at the thought of Keller back, while Heinola’s return is being hailed as “unfinished business.” The move also sets up a fascinating narrative: the Scotsmen are going all-in, but the Devils are quietly stockpiling young talent and depth for their own runs.
With the deadline clock ticking, one question hangs in the air: is GM Goodfellow done, or could South Esk have one more trick up their sleeve before the final push?
The South Esk Scotsmen pulled the trigger on yet another blockbuster, landing Clayton Keller, Ville Heinola, and Wyatt Johnston from the Dorchester Devils while moving out Samuel Poulin, Cam York, and Kaedan Korczak. GM Goodfellow somehow squeezed Keller’s contract into the books—leaving just $400K of cap space heading into the deadline.
Here’s how fans and media across the ODBHL are reacting:
“Goodfellow is proving once again why he’s considered one of the most cunning GMs in the ODBHL. Keller returning to South Esk is a storybook moment for fans, and Johnston could be a franchise face in the making. Cap space is razor-thin, but that’s what magic looks like.”
“This move screams ‘all-in.’ Keller isn’t just a rental—he’s a symbol of South Esk’s history. Add in Heinola’s steady defensive play and Johnston’s youthful spark, and the Scotsmen have the depth to survive until Askarov returns. Poulin and York are tough losses, but South Esk looks scary.”
BagpipeWarrior77: “KELLER BACK IN TARTAN BABY. Pour me a whisky. This team’s going for the Cup and I’m HERE FOR IT.” 🥃🏒
GoalieGuildFan: “400K left in cap space? Goodfellow is playing 5D chess with the cap ceiling.”
York4Life: “Trading Cam York hurts. That kid was solid. But Keller in red and black again?? Goosebumps.”
MelonSmasher89 (Moncton fan): “Oh no… Korpisalo AND Keller back in South Esk? We’ve seen this movie before, and it doesn’t end well for the rest of us.”
DevilInside88: “We just gave South Esk the ammo to win another Cup. WHAT ARE WE DOING???”
FutureFocusFan: “Relax. Poulin and York give us long-term stability. This isn’t a one-season league, people.”
SaltyInmate27: “If Goodfellow calls your GM, hang up the phone. Every. Time.”
“When Askarov comes back, we need to be ready. These moves are about keeping this team compliant, competitive, and in the hunt for another Cup. Keller’s been a Scotsman before—he knows what it means to wear these colors.”
📊 Final Take:
South Esk fans are buzzing, Devils fans are mixed, and neutral fans are shaking their heads at how Goodfellow once again finds a way to stay cap compliant while landing big names. If Keller lifts the Cup in tartan, this trade might go down as one of the defining moments in Scotsmen history.
8/19/2025 - 960 words
