Former Cariboo Cougars goalie Jared Rathjen has another opportunity to crack a Western Hockey League roster.
The 18-year-old was traded Thursday by the Victoria Royals to the Vancouver Giants in exchange for an eighth-round bantam draft pick in 2013. Rathjen has played 22 games with the Royals last season and suited up in four games this season, posting a 2-2 record, a 2.92 goals against average and a .912 save percentage before being shipped to the Whitecourt Wolverines of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
In 11 games with the Wolverines, Rathjen has a 2.99 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. He'll meet the Giants in Edmonton as they embark on an Alberta road trip starting tonight in Red Deer.
The Giants were looking for another goaltender after 19-year-old Liam Liston announced his retirement from major junior hockey last week. Presumably Rathjen will battle Tyler Fuhr for the backup position to 16-year-old Payton Lee.
Earlier in the day, the Royals acquired 18-year-old forward Trent Lofthouse from the Everett Silvertips in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2014 WHL bantam draft.
