REDBLACKS acquire J.C. Beaulieu from Alouettes

It may not appear like it, but this blog still has a pulse.  There have not been any posts since I added the article about the formation of the (eventual) Ottawa Rough Riders last July but several pages that used to exist on my Capital Region Football website have been restored recently.

I do want to include local football news as well going forward and the trade of Patrick Lavoie seemed like a good place to start. The Redblacks hardly need my help in spreading word of their activities so I'll typically be more focused on the amateur scene in that respect, and history of football in the region in general, but this move was noteworthy.

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS have acquired fullback J.C. Beaulieu from the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for fullback Pat Lavoie, the club announced Tuesday. 

"Pat has been an integral part of the REDBLACKS from Day 1 and our franchise would not have accomplished as much as we have if not for his contributions. We wish him the best in Montreal," said REDBLACKS General Manager Marcel Desjardins.   "We are also excited to acquire J.C. Beaulieu and look forward to seeing him on the field as a member of the REDBLACKS."

Beaulieu has played four CFL seasons, all with Montreal. Last season, the 27-year-old native of Trois-Rivieres rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown while suiting up for 10 games with the Alouettes.

Lavoie has spent the last four seasons with the REDBLACKS after spending the first two years of his career with the Alouettes. The 30-year-old Laval University product had 35 catches for 280 yards last year after winning the Grey Cup with Ottawa in 2016. 

For context, let's add some comments from the Ottawa Sun article by Tim Baines related to this move.

“We’re trying to find a way to maximize our (salary) cap space,” Redblacks general manager Marcel Desjardins said. “We’re really trying to maximize our money, put our money into our starters, not having to invest as much in players who are not necessarily full-time starters. J.C. was a guy we felt would be able to come in and do a lot of things Pat does for significantly less money, and he’s also younger, which never hurts. That’s how it all came about.”

Lose experience, gain youth and save a few bucks. I think this is a locker room loss as well, said from the outside looking in, of course. Lavoie seemed like a popular player among his peers.

With this move, only three players remain from the REDBLACKS expansion draft of December 2013; OL Matt Albright and DLs Zach Evans and Andrew Marshall. Marshall is the only one currently under contract for 2018.