Hitmen trade with Americans

[Hitmen1]

The Hitmen might have found their goalie in Chris Kriedger.

Calgary Hitmen General Manager, Executive Vice President and Alternate Governor Kelly Kisio announced today the acquisition of 17-year-old goaltender Chris Driedger (DREE-ger) from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for a third round pick in the 2012 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Driedger joins the Hitmen with an impressive resume having recently attended Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence goaltending camp where he was one of just 16 invites, including four from the WHL.

The 6’2” 175lbs. Winnipeg, MB product is coming off a solid rookie season in the WHL where he posted a record of 6-6-0-1 with a 3.50 goals against average and a .881 save percentage with the Americans.

Driedger also played in the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge this past holiday season as the number one goalie for Team West.

“We are very excited to acquire an elite up and coming goaltender in our league,” says Kisio. “Chris will help shore up our goaltending and put our club in a strong position for the future.”

Driedger joins fellow goaltenders 20-year-old Michael Snider and 19-year-old Brandon Glover on the Hitmen roster.

http://www.whl.ca/article/hitmen-acq...from-americans

[AlanC]

The Hitmen might have found their goalie in Chris Kriedger.

Hard not to like this move if you are a Hitmen fan. If there is a glaring hole in the organizational depth chart, it's in net, where last year's two incumbents (Snider and Glover) were just "OK" and there was no heir apparent except for maybe 16 year old Mack Shields, who isn't going to be in a position to be the starter for another two years probably.

Driedger may be the best '94 goalie in the WHL right now; certainly he was the only 16 year old goalie to spend the whole season in the league last year. Whether he is ready to be the starter for the Hitmen this coming year at only age 17 is debatable (training camp & early season performance will decide that I guess) but certainly he should be able to play half the games next year which will reduce the team's reliance on the two average-to-below-average incumbents.

Either Glover or Snider (or both) also just lost their job on next year's team as the Hitmen will only keep one of them at most. I'm thinking Snider is done, as moving him out allows the team to pick up another overager at another position.

IMO, I see a Driedger-Glover tandem next year, with Shields being given another season in midget to develop before coming in as a 17 year old in 2012-13 and pairing with Driedger.

[patsdude114]

im surprised it only costed a 3rd rd pick great deal for the Hitmen

[weyburn]

With the Hitmen picking up overager Kenton Miller off waivers from Spokane I think Snider is done in cowtown. Expect the Hitmen to go with Glover and Driedger for the start of the season.