Weitzel, who signed with the Gorillas shortly after being traded, played with three Central Hockey League teams in 2007-08, scoring 28 points in 50 games.

Before 2007-08, the 5'10", 182-pound forward was a top scorer in the Canadian collegiate ranks, netting nearly a point per game with the University of Regina from 2004 to 2007. During his final year with the Cougars, he scored 43 points in 36 games, which placed him third among all Canada West players in scoring.

Weitzel began 2007-08 with the Oklahoma City Blazers, with whom he played five playoff games during their Ray Miron President's Cup-winning run back in 2001. After scoring 13 points in 19 games with the Blazers, he joined Mississippi in January. Following 13 games with the RiverKings, Weitzel found a home in Rio Grande Valley; he finished the season on a three-game point streak with the Killer Bees.

"Weitzel is a guy that came late to every team he played for last year and was finally able to settle in for Rio Grande Valley," said Coolen. "(Former Rio Grande Valley Head Coach) Paul Fixter was very high on him. He had the second most goals in Canada at the university level in 2007, and ideally will be a very comfortable fit in Amarillo."

The Balgonie, Saskatoon native began his career playing major-junior hockey with the Moose Jaw Warriors. He notched three straight 50-plus point campaigns before his short playoff stint with the Blazers in 2001. Weitzel spent his first two collegiate seasons with Acadia University-an institution Coolen coached at for eight years-before transferring to the University of Regina in 2003.

Weitzel was acquired in exchange for forward Brian Bicek, who was signed by the Gorillas in mid-July.