Tips deal Hand to Regina, reassign Zipp

Everett made two roster moves prior to tonight's preseason finale against Seattle.

First, the Tips traded defenseman Tye Hand to Regina in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft. Hand, a native of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, was a second-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. However he was squeezed out by the logjam Everett has with 17-year-old defenseman. With the offseason drafting of Mirco Mueller and signing of Griffin Foulk, the Tips had five 1995-born defensemen capable of making the roster. That's too many to have in one age group, and Hand ended up being the one who gave way. Tips general manager Garry Davidson said in the press release that Hand was dealt to Regina specifically to give him a chance to play in the league this season.

Also, the Tips reassigned defenseman Micheal Zipp to the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL. Zipp, from Edmonton, Alberta, showed he is probably good enough to play in the league this season as a 16-year-old. However, with the Tips having so many rookie 17-year-old d-men, and with Ryan Murray coming back at least temporarily, Zipp is probably best served getting regular playing time at a lower level instead of sporadic playing time with Everett. Davidson said Zipp is still very much in Everett's plans going forward.

The two moves leave Everett's roster at 27: 15 forwards (Lucas Grayson is now officially listed as a right wing), nine defensemen and three goaltenders.