FORT McMURRAY, AB (September 25, 2014) – The Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League have added 1996-born goaltender Jayden Sittler (Red Deer, AB) to the roster, the team announced today.
“I had numerous discussions with [Kootenay Ice General Manager] Jeff Chynoweth about where Jayden was in his development,” said Oil Barons head coach and general manager Curtis Hunt. “I think it’s an opportunity for Jayden, as well as for us with the uncertainty of our goaltending situation.”
“We’re going to get him right into the fire.”
The 6’0”, 183lb goalie spent the last two seasons with the Red Deer Chiefs Midget AAA team, and was part of the squad that won the Telus Cup in 2013. Last year he posted a 12-4-2 record, a 2.03 goals against average, and .913 save percentage in the Alberta AAA Midget Hockey League. His GAA was fourth best among goalies in the entire league, while he also played the tenth-most minutes of any goalie.
Sittler was in Kootenay Ice camp this year and played in one game for the team as an affiliate last season.
Veteran Oil Barons goalie Jesse Gordichuk (Penticton, BC) had been injured in the team’s September 21st game against Canmore; the team expects his status to be re-evaluated this week.
Sittler will join the Barons for their trip to the annual AJHL Showcase in Spruce Grove this weekend. The team takes on the Okotoks Oilers tomorrow night at 7:00 PM and the Calgary Canucks at 12 noon on Saturday.
Both games can be heard on KAOS 91.1 radio or online at kaos911.com, with pre-game coverage starting 15 minutes before game-time.
Tickets are on sale for the Oil Barons’ next home game, a mid-week Tuesday night classic with the Lloydminster Bobcats on October 7th at 7:30 PM. They are available at the Casman Centre Box Office, by phone at (780) 743-5509, or online at tickets.oilbarons.com.