Swift Current prospect and Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers defenseman Mac Gross has shifted from the Junior A level to Major Junior hockey.

The defenseman played the first half of the 2019-20 season with the Kindersley Klippers in the SJHL, but announced on Boxing Day that he had signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement with the Spokane Chiefs.

Gross had a stellar start to his Junior career in west central Saskatchewan. Roaming the blueline for the Klippers, the 2002-born prospect had a goal and 10 points in 37 games.

The performance was good enough to earn a prestigious spot in the CJHL Top Prospects game, which is slated for mid-January. However, upon signing an SPA, Gross is of course ineligible to play in the game down in Hamilton, Ont.

Instead, he's down in the Pacific Northwest already, and looks to grace the Chiefs' lineup tonight.

Gross was initially drafted in the third round (50th overall) by Spokane after a strong draft year (2016-17) with the provincial-champion Bantam AA Broncos. The now-6-foot-2 defenseman had nine goals and 27 points in 29 total games over the course of that season.

The Chiefs currently hold down the third spot in the US Division, owning a 19-10-3-1 record.