Belleville Bulls Head Coach & General Manager George Burnett announced late Thursday that the club has acquired three-year OHL veteran Luke Cairns from the Erie Otters. In exchange, the Bulls have dealt overaged winger Michael Curtis to the Otters along with Mississauga's third round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

PHOTO CREDIT - BellevilleBulls.com

Belleville - August 15, 2013 - Belleville Bulls Head Coach & General Manager George Burnett announced late Thursday that the club has acquired three-year OHL veteran Luke Cairns from the Erie Otters. In exchange, the Bulls have dealt overaged winger Michael Curtis to the Otters along with Mississauga's third round pick in the 2014 OHL Priority Selection.

Cairns is a native of Stoney Creek, Ontario and was a third round pick by Erie in 2010. The 6'0", 180 pound centreman had a career high 41 points in 68 games last season. Cairns has 31 goals and 61 assists in 191 career OHL games and has experience in both powerplay and penalty killing situations.

"We like Luke's skill and offensive ability coming to our lineup," said Burnett of the acquisition. "He has great speed suited to our ice surface and has shown an ability to compete at the OHL level."

Going the other way, four year veteran Michael Curtis joins the Otters after 243 games in a Bulls uniform. Curtis had 10 goals and 10 assists in 55 games last season.

"Michael has had four great years in Belleville. He's displayed a strong work ethic and a great attitude throughout his time here and we wish him all the best in Erie," added Burnett.

The trade is the club's second in recent weeks, after the Bulls acquired the rights to 18 year-old forward Jake Marchment from the North Bay Battalion last Tuesday.

The Bulls will open training camp on Wednesday, August 28th at the Yardmen Arena and embark on a new season on Saturday, September 21st at home to North Bay.