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The Greyhounds fortified their blueline in a wide-open Western Conference in exchange for Hunter Solomon and five draft picks
Published Dec 08, 2025 • Last updated 24 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Lukas Fischer debuts as the Sarnia Sting’s captain against the Windsor Spitfires at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ont., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Mark Malone/Chatham Daily News)Article content
The Soo Greyhounds have made it clear to the rest of the Ontario Hockey League exactly where their ambitions lie.
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On Monday evening, general manager Kyle Raftis announced the acquisition of 19-year-old defenceman Lukas Fischer from the Sarnia Sting in exchange for blueliner Hunter Solomon and five draft picks.
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The selections include a 2026 second rounder (from Kingston), a 2027 fourth rounder (from Peterborough), a 2028 fourth rounder, a 2028 sixth rounder (from Oshawa), and a 2029 third rounder.
The move comes less than two weeks after the Greyhounds surrendered six draft picks — and no roster players — to land 17-year-old forward Colin Fitzgerald, a trade Raftis said “helps our team now and it helps our team moving forward.”
This latest deal leans decisively toward the former, with the Greyhounds parting with a substantial collection of assets and a 2026 draft-eligible defender to add an immediate upgrade on the back end in the midst of a career year.
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Fischer, the son of former NHLer Jiri Fischer and a dual Czech-U.S. citizen from Brighton, Mich., was in his second season with the Sarnia captaincy and is playing his fourth and final campaign in the OHL.
Drafted in the second round, 58th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 184-pound defender has three AHL games under his belt with the Springfield Thunderbirds, earned after signing his three-year, entry-level deal in March.
He was expected to be one of the most highly sought-after defenders on the trade market until the Greyhounds swiped him.
“Lukas is a smart defender who competes extremely hard on the defensive side of the puck,” Raftis said in a release. “He can create offence through efficient puck movement and his ability to jump into the rush in transition. We believe he’ll be a strong fit with our group and an important addition down the stretch.”
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With three goals and 18 points in 26 games this season, Fischer brings a two-way element to a blueline that already features offensive punch from Chase Reid and Jakub Winkelhofer, not to mention the potential of a recently debuted Callum Croskery.
The Soo lacked an NHL-drafted, minute-munching blueliner, so the addition of Fischer stands to take significant pressure off of 17-year-old Reid, who has routinely shouldered 30 minutes per night out of neccesity.
The timing is notable. Few teams in the OHL’s Western Conference have made decisive moves toward loading up, leaving an opening for clubs like Sault Ste. Marie to assert themselves.
“As we looked to solidify our blueline and with many teams in the league still figuring out where they stand, we didn’t want to wait when a player like Lukas became available,” Raftis said in the release. “We’re excited to get him into our lineup and work with him to elevate his game as we enter the second half of the season.”
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Clearly, the Greyhounds view themselves as legitimate contenders in a wide-open Western Conference and are positioning themselves to maximize seasons from Brady Martin, Reid, Marco Mignosa, and the rest of their core.
Sting general manager Dylan Seca’s statement on Monday certainly pointed to that.
“Lukas has only half a season left in the league, and he has been a significant player and a leader for us,” Seca said. “This move gives him the opportunity to go to a team that has a chance to win a championship.”
After originally being selected in the 11th round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection because of concerns that he might go the NCAA route, Fischer has recorded 27 goals and 99 points in 192 games played.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Soo,” he said in the release. “I’ve also talked to some past players that spoke really highly of their time there. I’m excited to be a Greyhound.”
Fischer is expected to make his debut on Wednesday when the Greyhounds host the Kitchener Rangers at 7:07 p.m.
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