Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announces acquisition of OA forward Mason Kohn from the Oshawa Generals

Saginaw Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced in an email press release on Thursday morning that the Spirit have acquired over-age forward Mason Kohn from the Oshawa Generals in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in the 2020 OHL priority selection draft. 

 

“We are pleased to add a player of Mason's experience and ability to our young group of players here in Saginaw,” Drinkill said. “As an organization we felt it was very important to fill our last OA spot with a player that has a lot of experience in this league, a high compete level, and a high work ethic. Mason will come into our locker room and help our leadership group mentor and grow the young players we have assembled here in Saginaw.”

 

With the release of over-age forward Matthew Kreis and the recent trade of backup goal tender Brendan Bonello opening up roster spots; along with the fact that the Spirit are the youngest team in the OHL, Drinkill made the the decision to add the 20 year Kohn, who is in his fifth OHL season, for some much needed veteran depth on the roster.

 

After graduating from the illustrious high school hockey program at Shattuck St. Mary's in Fairbault, MN (a school which has produced NHL talent such as Oscar Dansk, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sydney Crosby) the 6-foot, 185-pound C/LW from Davies, FL was selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the tenth round of the 2013 OHL priority selection draft, where he played under current Spirit head coach Troy Smith.

 

Kohn would go on to play four seasons for the Rangers, before he was traded to the Oshawa Generals in the middle of last season, spending 29 games with the Generals last year and another 10 games this year before coming to the Spirit. 

 

In 250 OHL games, Kohn has 128-points (44-goals, 84-assists) and 206 penalty minutes, with his best year coming in his third OHL season (2015-16) when he had 46-points (16-goals, 30-assists) and 59 penalty minutes. 

 

Compare Kohn's numbers to Kreis, who had 111-points (35-goals, 76-assists) with just 42 penalty minutes in 252 OHL games, with his best year of 41-points (17-goals, 24-assists) and 20 penalty minutes coming in the 2015-16 season, Kohn is a definite upgrade at the position for the Spirit. 

 

Kohn should be in a Spirit sweater when he joins his new teammates as they prepare to take on the London Knights at 7:30 pm at Budweiser Gardens in London, ON tonight.