Trace Elson (along boards) celebrates a goal vs. Seattle. (Vancouver Giants photo)
Right winger Trace Elson has left the Vancouver Giants, general manager Scott Bonner confirms.
The Giants had their first practice after the holidays at their Ladner home base Thursday and Elson, 19, was among the notable absences. Bonner later said that he had opted to not return following break.
Scuttlebutt around the rink was that the 5-foot-10, 181-pound Elson, a St. Albert, Alta., native was going back to play for the Alberta Junior A league’s Whitecourt Wolverines.
Elson had joined the Giants from Wolverines on Nov. 14. He was leading the AJHL in scoring with 30 points, including 13 goals, in 20 games when he left Whitecourt to play for Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge.
In Vancouver, he had two goals, one assist, a minus-eight rating and 11 penalty minutes in 15 games. He was frequently receiving second-unit power play time.
Elson had already given up his NCAA eligibility by playing five games with the Red Deer Rebels in 2011-12.
Also missing from Vancouver’s practice Thursday was centre Alec Baer, 16, and defenceman Dmitry Osipov, 17.
Osipov, a Russian, is having visa trouble, according to Bonner. He’s reportedly told the players that he’s arriving in Seattle Friday afternoon. Vancouver resumes action hosting the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday.
Baer, who’s from Minnesota, had a flight cancelled. He was expected to get into town later on Thursday.
