Niagara IceDogs Add Joey Banas In Trade With Brantford Bulldogs

The Niagara IceDogs have acquired American forward Joey Banas from the Brantford Bulldogs in exchange for a 2028 fifth-round pick (OSH), the teams announced Monday.

Banas, 18, joined Brantford last season, splitting time between the Bulldogs and Buffalo Jr. Sabres. He posted just one assist in 12 OHL games in 2025-26, but tore it up at the OJHL level, scoring 61 (23+38) points in 48 games.

The Buffalo-born winger has been fairly productive when in the lineup this season, posting a goal and three assists in five games, but doesn't seem to have a nailed-on starting spot on a deep Brantford roster.

So, a trade to Niagara makes sense, joining an IceDogs squad that's off to a .500 start to this season, but definitely could use some more offensive ability up front.

"Banas will bring a level of offence I feel we could use at this point," IceDogs GM Dale DeGray said in a press release. "He's a smaller, stocky-built player who works hard and competes for pucks."

Where Banas was playing in a bottom-six role with the Bulldogs, Niagara should give him a chance to flash his skill in a bigger role, and help a team that needs some more offensive dynamism.

This is the second trade Brantford has made since the season started, also sending Cameron Hankai to Peterborough last week as the team looks to trim down on excess players that haven't been able to crack their deep roster on a nightly basis.

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