B.C. Division, Eastern Division

Victoria Royals and Saskatoon Blades complete goaltender trade

Written by Ryan Sinclair on

On Friday the Victoria Royals acquired goaltender Joel Gryzbowski and in return sent another goaltender in Hunter Arps to the Saskatoon Blades.

Joel Grybowski (1999) is a product of Hafford, Sask. and was originally drafted by the Blades in the 11th round, 223rd overall in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.  Grybowski has seen his first WHL action this season, playing in six games posting an 0-1-1-0 record with a 4.31 goals against average and .841 save percentage. In action this season with the Battlefords North Stars Junior A Hockey Club of the SJHL, he has three wins with a 2.32 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Gryzbowski helped the North Stars to the SJHL Championship last year with a 21-4-1-0 record while tallying a 1.66 goals against, 0.935 save percentage and six shutouts. Grybowski will add some depth for the Royals joining Griffen Outhouse and Dean McNabb.

Hunter Arps’ time with Royals was short, acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings in September of this year in exchange for Dylan Myskiw. Arps was originally drafted by the Wheat Kings in Round 5, 109th overall, at the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. This season through ten games with the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL, he has  a 6-1-0-1 record and 2.66 goals against average and a .903 save percentage. Arps is 6-foot-3 and 165-pounds and hails from Pleasantdale, SK which is just over two hours from Saskatoon. With an injury to Blades number one goalie Ryan Kubic keeping him sidelined for an extended time, Saskatoon has confirmed Arps will join the team and support rookie Nolan Maier in covering the Blades’ goaltending duties.