By Matt Stefano
The Soo Thunderbirds hockey club has announced today that they have made their first transaction of the offseason, sending defenceman Brendan Jay to the SIJHL champion Dryden Ice Dogs in exchange for defenceman and Thunder Bay, Ontario product Garrett Giertuga.
Giertuga, who stands 5’9 and 190 lbs, began the 2016-2017 season with the NOJHL’s Elliot Lake Wildcats, where he had 0 points and 28 penalty minutes through 23 games played, before being dealt to the Dryden Ice Dogs, where he scored 2 goals and 2 assists through 30 regular season games, along with 29 penalty minutes.
During the 2017 postseason, the 19 year old had 1 goal and 1 assist through 4 games played, along with 10 penalty minutes and helped the Ice Dogs win the Bill Salonen Cup.
He also recorded 1 assist through 2 games played at the 2017 Dudley Hewitt Cup Tournament, along with a team leading 17 penalty minutes.