FHL: Dayton Devils Exchange Forwards with Danville, Sign Brad Townsend

The Dayton Devils of the Federal Hockey League made a pair of moves Monday, as they signed forward Brad Townsend and sent center Justin Barr to Danville for winger Ryan Pearson. These moves come a day after the expansion Devils signed their first player, goaltender Stephane Cesar.

The trade sees the two clubs exchange a pair of very talented forwards, as Justin Barr makes his return to Dasher Nation, while Pearson could provide a bulk of the offense for the Devils.

Barr, 28, led the Dashers in scoring last season before being dealt to the Cape Cod Bluefins—just before the playoffs—for forward Paul Weisser. In 37 games with Danville, Barr had 21 goals and 28 assists for a team-high 49 points. Following the trade, he played in just one game on the Cape, notching one assist.

After attending the University of Kentucky, where the 6', 187-pound center once had a 102-point season in just 26 games during the 2006/07 season, Barr turned pro, playing two seasons for the Chi-Town Shooters of the AAHA/AAHL, followed by one with the Battle Creek Revolution.

While in Battle Creek, Barr earned his first ECHL call-up, scoring a goal in five games with the Elmira Jackals. His second call to the "E" came this past season when he got into one game with the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Pearson, 23, was a big piece of the 1000 Islands Privateers offense for most of their first two seasons before heading south to the SPHL late in 2011/12. In 81 games in Alexandria Bay, Pearson totaled 22 goals and 54 assists for 76 points, along with a +28 rating.

The Kenora, ON native's rights would be dealt to Danville during a mass exodus of Privateer players but headed straight to the Columbus Cottonmouths on a tryout contract, totaling four points in six games.

After his tryout expired, Pearson was picked up by the Louisiana IceGators where he scored one goal in the final eight games of the regular season and added an assist in two playoff games. Pearson was protected by Danville prior to the FHL expansion draft.  

Townsend, 25, was the Devils second pick (from Danville) in the FHL's expansion draft last month. The 5' 11", 195-pound forward appeared in sixteen FHL games last season, seven with 1000 Islands and nine with Danville, totaling nine goals, four assists and 27 PIM.

Entering his fifth season in professional hockey, the Davisburg, MI native has appeared in 81 games at the single-A level in the MAHL, AAHA, AAHL, SPHL and FHL, totaling 77 points and 178 PIM.

Townsend has also earned call-ups to the double-A level three separate times in his career, logging 18 games in the IHL, CHL and ECHL with the Flint Generals, Dayton Gems and Cincinatti Cyclones, respectively, going scoreless with 17 PIM. The Devils will look for him to provide solid two-way play up front, while bringing an edge to their forecheck.