The Utah Grizzlies have announced that they have signed defensemen Gianni Fairbrother, Chase Hartje, Kyle Pow, James Shearer, and forward Craig Armstrong for the 2024-25 ECHL season.
Gianni Fairbrother’s Career
Gianni Fairbrother is a 6’0″ defenseman from Vancouver, British Columbia. Fairbrother started his junior career in the 2015-16 season and spent all six years of his career in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips. In 160 games played, Fairbrother had 18 goals and 65 assists for 83 points. He had 173 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +37. In 35 playoff games with the Silvertips, Fairbrother had one goal and seven assists for eight points. He had 19 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +11. Fairbrother captained the Silvertips in the 2020-21 season.
After completing his junior career, Fairbrother joined the Laval Rocket in the AHL to finish the 2020-21 season and then played with them the following two seasons. In 28 games with Rocket, Fairbrother had one goal and seven assists for eight points. He had 46 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -12. In the 2023-24 season, Fairbrother signed with the Utah Grizzlies. Fairbrother had one goal and two assists for three points in eight games. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1. Fairbrother spent one game up in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles but did not have any points or penalty minutes and had a plus/minus of 0.
Fairbrother is a defenseman who does not end up on the scoresheet a whole lot, but he can set up a lot of plays and is not afraid to charge the net to make a play. He is also a very physical player who is unafraid to lay hits on guys bigger than him. Fairbrother is not afraid to drop his gloves when needed and will fight any player, with his most notable fight in juniors against current NHL forward Matt Rempe.
The 2024-25 season will be Fairbrother’s second season in the ECHL and second season with the Utah Grizzlies.
Chase Hartje’s Career
Chase Hartje is a 5’11” defenseman from Bemidji, Minnesota. Hartje started his junior career in the 2016-17 season with the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL. In nine games, Hartje had two goals and four assists for six points. He had four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1. Hartje then went to the WHL for the next three seasons, where he played for the Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings, and Kootenay/Winnipeg Ice. In 178 WHL games, Hartje had 13 goals and 60 assists for 73 points. He had 94 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -33. In 11 postseason games, Hartje had two assists with 12 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +1.
After completing his junior career, Hartje joined the University of Manitoba, where he spent four seasons. In 70 games, Hartje had nine goals and 37 assists for 46 points. He had 63 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -39. After completing his collegiate career, Hartje signed with the Coventry Blaze in the EIHL and played 11 games with them. Hartje did not have any points or penalty minutes and had a plus/minus of -3.
Hartje is a solid defenseman who can have really good offensive spurts at times. With this being Hartje’s rookie season, it may take some time for him to settle into his role with the Grizzlies. But once he settles in, he should be a good defenseman for the Grizzlies.
The 2024-25 season will be Hartje’s first professional season in North America.
Kyle Pow’s Career
Kyle Pow is a 6’6″ defenseman from Nanaimo, British Columbia. The 24-year-old spent his junior career in the BCHL (2016-17, 18-19, 19-20), WHL (2017-18, 18-19, 19-20), and the AJHL (2019-20). In the BCHL, Pow played for the Powell River Kings and Trail Smoke Eaters. In 41 BCHL games, Pow had four assists. He had 102 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. In 12 BCHL playoff games, Pow did not have any points and had six penalty minutes. Pow played for the Kelowna Rockets and Winnipeg Ice during his time in the WHL. In 41 WHL games, Pow played in 41 games where he had three assists. He had 53 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -2. Pow played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons in the AJHL. In 17 AJHL games, he had two goals and one assist for three points with 95 penalty minutes. After completing his junior career, Pow played USports at the University of Manitoba, where he spent two seasons. in four games, Pow had zero points and 14 penalty minutes.
Pow spent the 2023-24 season playing overseas for the Whitley Warriors in the NIHL 1 and the Bristol Pitbulls in the NIHL. Between the two teams, Pow played in 34 games, where he had four goals and two assists for six points with 76 penalty minutes.
Pow is more of a defensive defenseman than an offensive, but he is a physical player on the ice who is not afraid to fight to stand up for his teammates or to get the momentum going for his team. Similar to Hartje, it may take a little time for Pow to settle in, but once he settles in, he should be a pretty solid defenseman for the Grizzlies.
The 2024-25 season will be Pow’s first professional season in North America.
James Shearer’s Career
James Shearer is a 5’10” defenseman from Brandon, Manitoba. Shearer spent his junior career in the MJHL with the Steinbach Pistons (2013-16) and the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings (2015-18). In his three seasons with the Pistons, Shearer played in 61 games where he had ten goals and 41 assists for 51 points with 16 penalty minutes. In 14 postseason games, Shearer had two goals and one assist for three points with zero penalty minutes. In the 2014-15 season, Shearer was named to the MJHL All-Rookie Team and was also named the MJHL’s Rookie of the Year. In his three seasons with the Wheat Kings, Shearer played in 166 games where he had 13 goals and 38 assists for 51 points. He had 63 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -5. In 36 playoff games, Shearer had three goals and five assists for eight points. He had six penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -1. In the 2015-16 season, Shearer and the Wheat Kings were the WHL champions.
After completing his junior career, played four seasons of USports with the University of Calgary. In 74 games, Shearer had 11 goals and 21 assists for 32 points with 30 penalty minutes. In 13 playoff games, Shearer had three assists. In the 2018-19 season, Shearer was named to the USports All-Rookie West Team.
Shearer then signed with the Utah Grizzlies where he spent the rest of his 2021-22 season as well as he 2022-23 season. In 67 games, Shearer had nine goals and 25 assists for 34 points. He had 30 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +13. In 13 playoff games, he had zero points with four penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -8.
Shearer spent the 2023-24 season overseas with the Coventry Blaze in the EIHL. He played in 39 games where he had two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. He had 14 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -9.
Shearer is a defenseman who also has a lot of offensive power. He has a nice slapshot that can find its way to the back of the net, but he is also not afraid to crash the net to score or pick up rebounds in front of the net. Shearer also has a lot of speed that can not only help his team get breakaways and odd man rushes, but it can help break up odd man rushes and breakaways for the opposing team. Shearer should be a great defenseman for the Grizzlies that also helps with scoring at times.
The 2024-25 season will be Shearers third season of professional hockey in North America and third season with the Grizzlies.
Craig Armstrong’s Career
Craig Armstrong is a 5’7″ forward from Airdrie, Alberta. Armstrong spent his junior career in the WHL (2018-23) and the QMJHL (2023-24). In the WHL, the 21-year-old played for the Prince George Cougars and Red Deer Rebels. In his five seasons in the WHL, Armstrong played in 220 games, where he had 31 goals and 59 assists for 90 points. He had 173 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -9. Armstrong played in 12 playoff games in the WHL, where he had no points and had 23 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of 0. In the QMJHL, Armstrong played for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. In 67 games in the QMJHL, he had 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points. He had 43 penalty minutes and a plus/minus of -3. In eight QMJHL playoff games, Armstrong had two goals and five assists for seven points. He had two penalty minutes and a plus/minus of +3. Armstrong was an assistant captain for the Sagueneens in his lone season with the team.
Armstrong is not the biggest forward, but he can be pretty lethal on the ice. He has a lot of speed that allows him to be sprung on breakaways easier, and with his smaller size, he is able to squeeze through smaller spaces to gain or keep possession of the puck. Armstrong should be a great addition to the Grizzlies on the offensive side of the game. He may take a little longer to settle in as he is pretty young, but once he settles in, he should be a pretty lethal forward for the Grizzlies.
The 2024-25 season will be Armstrong’s first season playing professional hockey.
