The Brandon Wheat Kings have already made moves this offseason to get bigger and more experienced up front and on defense. Now they’ve made another to get more experience between the pipes.
The Wheat Kings announced today they had traded goaltender Ethan Eskit and a 2029 seventh round pick to the Victoria Royals in exchange for goaltender Jayden Kraus. Both goaltenders are born in 2006.
“Jayden played in 46 games last year in a starting role,” said Wheat Kings head coach and GM Marty Murray. “He has great size and we believe he has the ability to be a top tier goaltender in our league this year.”
Kraus, a Prince Albert native, seized the starter’s job for the Royals this past season after serving in a backup role the season prior. In 46 games, the 6-foot-2 goaltender posted a 25-8-9 record, a 2.86 GAA, and a .908 save percentage. And in the offseason, he got his first taste of an NHL environment.
“(Jayden) attended Colorado’s development camp this summer and will be heading to Colorado’s rookie camp in the fall,” Murray said. “We expect Jaydem to mesh right in with our guys and to provide a veteran presence in net for us the entire season.”
Eskit, meanwhile, had been the backup goaltender for the Wheat Kings for two seasons behind Carson Bjarnason. Last season, the 5-foot-10 Calgary native had a 12-6-4 record with a .906 save percentage and a 2.85 GAA.
“We thank Ethan for his time and commitment in Brandon and wish him all the best in Victoria and beyond,” Murray said.
The Wheat Kings will play the Royals once this season, welcoming Victoria on Friday, January 16, immediately prior to their United States road trip.
