Central Jr. A Hockey League

The Pembroke Lumber Kings have acquired top scorer Jacob Laliberte from the Hawkesbury Hawks, coach and general manager Sheldon Keefe announced Monday.

The 18-year-old Rockland, Ont. native currently leads the league with an average of nearly two points per game and sits second overall in Central Junior Hockey League scoring behind his new teammate Kings' forward Andy Starczewski.

In 22 games this season, Laliberte has tallied 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points.

"Jacob is an elite offensive player and we are very excited to add him to our lineup," Keefe said.

Last season he scored 43 goals on his way to a 91-point season with the Hawks while also adding 15 points in 11 playoff games before losing to the Kings in the league semifinal for the second straight year.

He recently returned from Camrose, Alberta where he helped lead Team Canada East to a bronze medal at the 2008 World Junior A Challenge and has also found his name on National Hockey League Central Scouting's early watch list.

His play last season helped him earn a scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, New York. He will join the Engineers next year.

"Kings' fans will be in for a treat as they watch Jacob in action," Keefe said. "His talent level is extremely high and he is a young player with a very bright future."

In exchange for Laliberte, the Kings traded 20-year-old goaltender Eric Levine and 19-year-old Forward Caz Cantwell to the Hawks as well as three prospects and a first-round draft pick.

Keefe admitted that saying goodbye to two players that helped bring the Kings to the top of the CJHL standings was not easy. Both have worked extremely hard and were great teammates, so it was tough telling them about the move.

"The opportunity to acquire an elite player does not happen often so we felt as an organization it was a move we had to make and today we feel we are a better team as a result," he said. "We wish both Eric and Caz all the best in Hawkesbury."