EVERETT, WA - OCTOBER 12: during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. Christ Mast/Everett Silvertips

By Jeff D'Andrea

Raiders and Tips trade

Raiders trade veteran Fonstad to ‘Tips, get back Vitelli and three picks

Oct 13, 2019 | 4:36 PM

In the afternoon of what seemed like it would be an innocent Thanksgiving Sunday in Raiderland, the Prince Albert Raiders pulled the trigger on a big trade.

They sent fourth-year veteran forward Cole Fonstad to the Everett Silvertips in for 2001-born forward Reece Vitelli, second and fourth round picks in the 2021 WHL Bantam Draft, and a conditional third rounder in 2022.

Oddly enough, the Raiders’ next game is on Oct. 19 in Everett against the Silvertips when they begin their road trip.

Fonstad scored 182 points in 219 WHL career games, all with the Raiders dating back to the 2016-17 season. He scored 73 points in the last two seasons, and has two goals and nine points in as many games this year.

The Raiders will add Vitelli to their group of forwards. The 18-year-old from Winnipeg is a five-foot-11, 170-pound centreman that has three assists in eight games played so far this year. He has 40 points in his 144 career games through three years with the Silvertips.

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“We’re excited about adding Reece to our organization,” said Raiders general manager Curtis Hunt in a statement. “Reece is a young centre with a lot of experience. He has versatility that allows him to move throughout our lineup and he plays with a tremendous amount of speed. We think with his style of game, he’ll adapt quickly to our style of play.”

Like Fonstad, Vitelli has a lot of experience in the postseason. In 32 career playoff games, Vitelli scored four goals and seven points.

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW