Giants Trim Roster by Sending Austin Vetterl to Kootenay

Press Release

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Just a few hours after the move that saw David Musil go to Edmonton for Mason Geertsen and a 1st-rounder, General Manager Scott Bonner was at it again.

In a move finalized this morning, the Giants have sent 18 year-old Surrey forward Austin Vetterl to the Kootenay Ice in exchange for a couple of Junior A Prospects playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

“Austin is a good kid” stated Scott Bonner. “We felt that he deserved an opportunity to be an everyday player and Kootenay seemed like a good fit.” 

Vetterl is coming off a 17 point season in 60 games last season. Early this season, he’s been in and out of the Giants lineup, playing in only half the games (7) and picking up 2 assists. He is expected to be in the lineup against Vancouver on Saturday when the Giants visit Cranbrook to play the Kootenay Ice.

As for the two prospects involved in this deal, they are a pair of 17 year-olds who were discovered by the Giants’ Director of Player Personnel Jason Ripplinger.

Forward Douglas Morris (6’1, 200lbs) has 10 goals and 12 points in 15 games for the Spruce Grove Saints. “He is a power forward, a big, strong guy, has great hands around the net, is very good on the power play and has an overall offensive touch” said Ripplinger. “He can score some goals for us in the future”

Defenseman Kyle Krabben (6’0, 170lbs) has 2 points through 6 games with the Okotoks Oilers and has also appeared in 2 games with the Kootenay Ice as a call-up. Jason Ripplinger calls him an “offensive, puck-moving defenseman who’s a good skater, possesses a good shot and can skate himself out of trouble.”


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)