Jade Galbraith, a freshman wing for Alaska-Anchorage, has left school for the Western Hockey League after just four games, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Galbraith has joined the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, part of Canada’s Major Junior system.
Galbraith, 18, scored 35 goals and 101 points in 62 games for Drayton Valley in the Alberta Junior Hockey League last season. He had played three of the Seawolves’ four games this season, scoring zero points.
“We thought if he liked school, liked Alaska and liked the college game, he might stay,” said UAA coach Dean Talafous to the ADN. “I guess he decided differently.”
According to the ADN article, Galbraith is the 27th player in Talafous’ four-plus seasons at the school to leave the UAA program before finishing their eligibility.
“I think every year, you realize one or two kids — through lack of playing time, missing home, not liking Alaska, for whatever reason — might leave,” Talafous said in the article. “These things happen. You get an empty feeling because you want things to work out.
“But it’s not new. It happens.”
The departure leaves the team with just 13 forwards.
