Blades and Royals make goaltending swap

The Victoria Royals and Saskatoon Blades swapped goaltenders in a midday trade Friday.

Headed to Vancouver Island is Joel Gryzbowski, an 18-year-old 5-foot-10, 172-pound product of Hafford, Sask. Originally drafted by the Blades in the 11th round, 223rd overall, of the 2014 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, Gryzbowski made his debut with the Blades this season, playing in six games.

Through those six games, Gryzbowski had an 0-1-1-0 record with a 4.31 goals against average and 0.841 SV%.

Coming the other way, is 18-year-old goaltender Hunter Arps. The 6-foot-3, 165-pound product of Pleasantdale, SK has yet to make his WHL regular season debut, but has appeared in three pre-season games, sporting a 0-2-1-0 record with a 3.91 goals against average and 0.900 SV%. In 10 games with the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Arps has compiled a 6-1-1-0 record with a 2.48 goals against average, .903 SV% and one shutout.

The Blades confirmed that Arps was set to join the team for practice Friday. Victoria originally acquired Arps from the Brandon Wheat Kings in September of this year in a deal involving Dylan Myskiw.

NEWS: Blades & Royals swap tenders

Details » https://t.co/NzS0gMjcub#RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/BuLPeOOXVE

— Saskatoon Blades (@BladesHockey) December 8, 2017

TRADE: We have acquired 1999-born netminder @JoelGrzybowski from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for goaltender Hunter Arps!

Read: https://t.co/ZEhDpiv9qI pic.twitter.com/6H2sEhvlCa

— Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) December 8, 2017