The Kootenay Ice have acquired a new defenceman in a trade with the Tri-City Americans, announced general manager Jeff Chynoweth on Tuesday.
Kootenay sent a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2015 WHL bantam draft to the Americans in exchange for Clint Filbrandt, an 18-year-old rearguard who hails from Calgary.
Chynoweth said the trade was necessary to shore up a defensive corps that may be short an important player come next season.
“With the uncertain future of Tanner Muth and whether he will be able to return to our club next year, we felt it was important to add another defence man with WHL experience,” said Chynoweth. “Defencemen are tough to come by at all levels and this trade will give Clint and opportunity to be an everyday player with our club.”
Filbrandt logged 31 games in his rookie season last year, posting a goal and two assists with 17 penalty minutes and a plus-two rating.
“With an abundance of defencemen signed for the upcoming season, I wanted to give Clint an opportunity to continue to play in the WHL,” said Americans GM Bob Tory.
Muth came to the Ice via a trade with Swift Current two years ago, and will be entering in his final year of WHL eligibility if he returns. The Ice defenceman has battled concussion injuries over his career.