Here’s some brief news bits on the first day of 2015, as the Tips head into the opening game of their six-game swing through the WHL’s East Division on Friday at Prince Albert:
– Everett defensemen Kevin Davis and Tristen Pfeifer are both considered day-to-day because of upper-body injuries. Both Davis and Pfeifer left during the second period of Tuesday’s 4-2 loss at Seattle and did not return. It’s not known whether either will be available for Friday’s game against the Raiders.
– One defenseman who could be available is prospect Jantzen Leslie. Leslie, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2014 bantam draft, is joining the Tips for the duration of the road trip. The 15-year-old native of Lloydminster, Alberta, has been scheduled to tag along during the trip for some time now, and it was not known whether he would get into any games. The injuries on defense increase the chances he may get a chance to suit up. If he did, he would become the second 15-year-old member of the Lloydminster Bobcats midget AAA team to play for Everett this season as his teammate, winger Bryce Kindopp who was a third-round selection, appeared in two games for the Tips earlier this season.
– Tips winger Nikita Scherbak was a surprise omission from Russia’s team for the World Junior Hockey Championships. On Wednesday the Russians were upset by the Czech Republic 4-1 in their final round-robin game, meaning they must face the U.S. juggernaut in the quarterfinals. Russia managed just three goals in its final two round-robin games, the other being a 3-2 loss to Sweden. Think the Russians could have used Scherbak’s offensive firepower?
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