On one level, the goaltender trade this week between the Victoria Royals and Everett Silvertips is what is referred to as a “like for like” swap involving two 19-year-old Western Hockey League veterans.
“Holt has great size, athleticism and control, and that is a rare combination,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price. Holt, from Bozeman, Montanta, played in Everett four seasons with a 42-22-3-2 record in a consistently winning organization. He backstopped the Silvertips to a first-place finish in the Western Conference last season with 24 wins and four shutouts in 37 appearances. Holt was 13-13-1 this season in Everett.
The Giants were without two key players, captain Zack Ostapchuk is with Canada and Samuel Honzek with Slovakia at the world junior championship taking place in the Maritimes. While Ostapchuk scored in Canada’s rout of Germany, the Giants had to be concerned about Honzek, who was hobbled and helped off the ice Tuesday in Halifax as Slovakia upset the U.S.