Seattle Thunderbirds<\/a> general manager Russ Farwell announced the team has acquired 20-year-old defenseman Kyle Verdino from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a conditional fifth round selection in the 2013 Bantam Draft.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n “We are excited to add another experienced defenseman with Kyle joining our team,” said Farwell. “He has been improving every year and will get the chance to step in and play a key role for our team. He has shown he can bring both toughness and offense and we feel he will be a good addition to this year’s team.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Verdino, a left-hand shot, appeared in 67 games last season with the Broncos and had four goals and 16 assists for 20 points. He also had 167 penalty minutes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Verdino is entering his fourth year in the league and has played in 217 games in the WHL with the Broncos and Kelowna Rockets. He has five goals and 39 assists with 351 penalty minutes in his WHL career.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n WHL teams are allowed three 20-year-olds each season. With the addition of Verdino, the T-Birds now have three 20-year-olds on the roster with forward Burke Gallimore and defenseman Cason Machacek being the other 20-year-olds.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The T-Birds will open the 2011-12 regular season against the Everett Silvertips at ShoWare Center on Saturday, September 24 at 7:05pm.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 season will go on sale on Wednesday, August 24, at 10 a.m. and can be purchased online online at the T-Birds website<\/a> and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n