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Back to News NATHAN SAUNDERS TRADED TO CHARLOTTE CHARLOTTE, NC, November 1, 2008 - Former Moncton Wildcats defenceman Nathan Saunders has been traded from one coast of the United States to the other. The Stockton Thunder of the ECHL sent him to the Charlotte Checkers of the same league.  The Checkers, based in North Carolina, is an affiliate of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL and the New York Rangers while Stockton, based in California, is an affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers.  The 23 year-old native of Charlottetown, PEI, was a fourth round pick, 119th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks.  After four seasons with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Saunders graduated to the pro leagues. He signed a three-year deal with the Ducks in the summer of 2005. He played during the 2005-06 season for the Portland Pirates, Nathan Saunders missed significant time fdue to an injury, appearing in just 20 games with a single goal for his AHL rookie campaign. During the postseason, Saunders saw only nine games of action and was held without a single point. In 2006-07 he played with the Augusta Lynx in the ECHL to aid in his recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in the previous season. In 59 games with the Lynx, he scored a goal and had 14 points with 107 penalty minutes. He saw time in 16 AHL games with Portland, contributing three assists. He was traded to the Boston Bruins in September 2007. He played 13 games during the 2007-08 season with the Providence Bruins of the AHL and 31 with Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL. He is described by Hockey Futures as "a big, physical, defensive defenseman. He plays a very good, simple, game and relies on his positioning and strength to interrupt the oppositions offense. His character and determination are top quality and he’s the type of defender that is willing to do whatever it takes to win, including dropping the gloves to stand up for his teammates or challenge anyone who took a run at his goaltender."