Tips sign Fonteyne, Juulsen

Everett added two more 15-year-olds to the fold today when they announced the signing of Matt Fonteyne and Noah Juulsen to WHL education contracts.

Fonteyne, a center from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, was a third-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft. He had 16 goals and 18 assists in 34 games for the Leduc Oil Kings, finishing tied for 10th in scoring in the Alberta Midget Hockey League.

Juulsen, a defenseman from Abbotsford, B.C., was Everett's fourth-round pick in 2012. He had six goals and 19 assists in 35 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Major Midget League.

These are good signings for the Tips. Fonteyne is a little guy (5-foot-8), but he can skate, and he had a very good midget season, particularly for a 15-year-old who's a late birthdate. I'm still puzzling how Fonteyne was left off Alberta's U-16 team. I was impressed by Juulsen at training camp in August, and he appears to have grown a bit since then.

Everett now has four players from last year's bantam draft signed: Fonteyne, Juulsen, defenseman Kevin Davis (first round) and goaltender Nik Amundrud (third round). That's a solid base to work with in the 1997-born age group. Now, if the Tips can get Americans Auston Matthews and Jake Durflinger to commit ...

Davis, Fonteyne and Juulsen have been called up by the Tips and are practicing with the team. Fonteyne is in town this week, Juulsen and Davis will be in town for two weeks. Everett general manager Garry Davidson said he'd like to get the call-ups into a game over the weekend, but that it would only happen if it makes sense with regards to the playoff situation.