The Victoria Grizzlies have traded the rights to defenceman Kade Pilton and future considerations to the Surrey Eagles in return for left-winger Stefan Burzan.
Pilton was notified late Tuesday via text from the Eagles and had not heard from the Grizzlies until Wednesday as both general manager and head coach Bill Bestwick and his assistant Craig Didmon are on vacation.
鈥淚 was going to text Didmon to say, 鈥楾hanks for the call,鈥� but he got hold of me today,鈥� a light-hearted Pilton said with a chuckle.
Pilton may never wear Eagles colours though. The 18-year-old rearguard is heading back to the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League next month. So, all-in-all, he was in a good mood.
鈥淭hey [the Grizzlies] knew and that鈥檚 why they traded me,鈥� said Pilton. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be a good situation for me, with a different group.鈥�
Pilton, who stands six-foot-five, left Regina last season to return home to Parksville before joining the Grizzlies. But in May, Pats head coach Pat Conacher stepped down and was replaced by former assistant Malcom Cameron.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be good now with a new coach [in Regina] and a different group. All the younger guys will be a year older and it will bring a different situation,鈥� said Pilton, a former member of the Victoria Royals who turns 19 in November.
鈥淎bsolutely, I鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� he said of the upcoming challenge.
Pilton had one goal and four assists in 12 regular season games with the Grizzlies this past season and added two assists in six playoff games. He had two goals and a helper in 27 games with the Pats.
Burzan is a six-foot-two, 195-pound forward who played two games with Seattle of the WHL two seasons ago. Last year, he had six goals and 10 assists in 51 games in Surrey.
The Grizzlies open training camp Aug. 19. The regular season begins Sept. 6 when the Grizzlies take on the Penticton Vees at the BCHL Showcase tournament in Chilliwack.
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