Giants visit without Slade

Goaltender Dustin Slade has quit the Vancouver Giants, who visit Spokane tonight for a Western Hockey League game with the Spokane Chiefs.

The Vancouver Sun reports that Slade, 20, was frustrated with splitting goaltending duties this season after being the team’s No.1 goalie last year. He told the team he would be better off trying to find a job in pro hockey, likely the ECHL.

Goaltender Tyson Sexsmith, 17, will take over. Sexsmith was Vancouver’s No. 1 pick in the 2004 WHL Bantam Draft. The Giants called up affiliate player Kraymer Barnstable, 16, to back up, but team officials aren’t ruling out a trade.

“The Chiefs will be without defenseman Jared Spurgeon (week-to-week, knee), but they’ll get back defenseman Evan Haw.