Clippers Acquire Gianni Fairbrother

With the WHL season currently on hold until at least late December, the Nanaimo Clippers have signed elite level 20 year-old defenceman Gianni Fairbrother. Fairbrother is a 3rd round draft pick (#77 overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in 2019, after being ranked as high as #50 overall by NHL Central Scouting. Fairbrother has excelled at all levels. He has 66 points over 137 games with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL in the last 3 seasons. He was a #80 overall draft pick in the WHL entry draft in 2015 and went on to be the CSSHL U16 Top Defenceman the next season. The last year before joining Everett Silvertips, he had 20 points in 36 games in Major Midget playing for the Northwest Giants.

Head Coach Naylor said; “Gianni is another player both Wes and myself are very familiar with from our Burnaby Winter Club days. He also played on some of the same spring teams as several current Clippers. When a player like this is available, we have to jump on it, as he adds instant credibility to a fairly new defence core. Gianni is a tremendous skater and will run our PP. He also plays with an edge and his compete level is through the roof. I am extremely happy to have Gianni come on board and welcome his experience.”

Wes Mussio, owner of the Clippers; “Gianni really took off as an elite level defenceman back in Pee Wee, when I was running the A1 team. He is one of those players that just keeps getting better. He will add an instant boost to our defence core, which, due to inexperience, has struggled at times early in the season. It is not very often we can secure a likely future NHLer.”