Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >> Jennifer Buchanan / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Everett goaltender Kent Simpson tries to get an elbow on a shot against Portland in September. Simpson and Thomas Heemskerk give the Everett Silvertips two top-notch goalies.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, November 13, 2009 Goaltending a strong point for Silvertips The friendly competition between Thomas Heemskerk and Kent Simpson has helped Everett’s two goaltenders to enhance their skills and elevate their games By Nick Patterson Herald Writer EVERETT — During Everett’s recent swing through the WHL’s Central Division, there were a pair of Silvertips who weren’t just competing against Everett’s opponents. They were also engaged in their own personal game of one-upmanship. On Halloween night, goaltender Thomas Heemskerk recorded Everett’s first shutout of the season, stopping all 41 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory at Red Deer. The next afternoon in Edmonton, Kent Simpson stepped between the pipes and countered in his best anything-you-can-do-I-can-do-better fashion, turning away 37 of 38 shots and also denying all three attempts in the shootout as Everett prevailed 2-1. So how did Heemskerk respond two nights later in Medicine Hat? With yet another strong effort, stopping 25 of 26 as the Tips topped the Tigers 3-1. Indeed, a friendly competition has developed between Everett’s netminders, pushing both to raise their games, and the biggest beneficiaries have been the Silvertips. “They’ve been real good for us,” Everett coach Craig Hartsburg said of his goaltenders. “At the start of the year, I thought we had two guys who could give us that type of goaltending every night. One’s an older guy and one’s a younger guy, so it’s a good combination to have. We feel we’ve got two guys who are capable of helping us win.” Going into the weekend, both Heemskerk and Simpson would be ranked in the top seven in the league in goals against average and top four in save percentage, except that Simpson is 35 minutes short of qualifying. Heemskerk currently ranks third in goals against at 2.33 and second in save percentage at .923. Simpson would be seventh in goals against at 2.49 and tied for fourth in save percentage at .918. Their performances have only improved over time. During the past seven games — all on the road, the pair combined to allow just 11 goals on 221 shots. That’s a save percentage of .950, and it’s the primary reason why Everett finished 5-1-1-0 in those seven road games. Seeing the other play well has been a major factor in the duo’s success as they have fed upon one another’s performances. “It’s lots of fun,” Simpson said. “We both like to compete with each other. It’s just a good competitive atmosphere between us.” The 19-year-old Heemskerk has had more playing time than the 17-year-old Simpson so far, making 11 starts to Simpson’s six. Both would love to start every game, Heemskerk to justify the free-agent contract he signed with the NHL’s San Jose Sharks just after the season began and Simpson to raise his stock for the upcoming NHL draft in June. But Heemskerk and Simpson, who have developed a good friendship, recognize the situation and have settled into a comfortable distribution that allows both to get time without wearing down. “It’s healthy competition during practice and it seems like it’s just followed on to games now,” Heemskerk said. “We push each other because both of us want to be in net. “But after practice or on days off we hang out,” Heemskerk added. “Every road trip we’re roommates. It’s nothing but fun and we get along great.” Expect the current arrangement to continue. The Tips have confidence in both Heemskerk and Simpson, so both are expected to see significant minutes all season long. Hartsburg says he’s ready to play the hot hand when appropriate. That policy means both Heemskerk and Simpson will have to remain at the top of their games, and they realize it will only make them both better. “If you know every day you’re going to get handed the next game it’s kind of just going through the motions,” Simpson said. “But we know we have to battle with each other. It makes it more fun and it makes us both work harder.” And when both are running hot, as they are now, it’s a winning formula for everyone. SLAP SHOTS The Tips are conducting an emergency food drive during Saturday’s game against Seattle. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation to Snohomish County’s Volunteers of America food bank, which has less than a week’s supply remaining. ... University of Minnesota star Jordan Schroeder announced in a press release Wednesday he is remaining in school. Rumors were swirling that Schroeder was ready to leave Minnesota, with Everett one of the possible destinations as the Tips hold his major-junior rights. Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Boy, 16, admits role in Sultan slaying of teen 2. Jet-winged adventurer ditches in Atlantic, unhurt 3. Swift buses ready for fast lane 4. Gunshots injure two Everett men 5. County law could change to allow guns in parks 6. Turkey gets attention, but don't forget the pie 7. Enron and others pay for roles in manufactured energy ‘crisis’ 8. Beach now an enemy of the Silvertips 9. How to make the most of Black Friday shopping 10. Thanksgiving tradition evolves as families evolve 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Ruling in the pool • Archbishop Murphy takes title • A season of performing arts • Budget numbers have official fuming • Wildcats move on to 2A semifinals • Holiday Bazaars & Fairs Calendar • Edmonds’ Westgate Chapel serves up hospitality for holiday • Mavericks fall • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million