EVERETT — A hockey team’s fourth line is usually charged with a support role, providing energy and physical play while giving the top lines a bit of a breather.
Of late, the Everett Silvertips have mined an unexpected source for that energy.
With injuries up front leaving Everett short, the Tips have turned to defensemen Carter Cochrane and Jordan Wharrie in recent games to fill the gap.
The 18-year-old Cochrane and 17-year-old Wharrie are both rookies who are considered part of Everett’s future on the blue line. However, with forwards Dawson Leedahl, Remi Laurencelle and Nik Malenica all sidelined because of injuries, the Tips had just 10 forwards available. Therefore, Cochrane and Wharrie were drafted in forward duty on Everett’s fourth line the past two weeks, forcing them to learn a new position on the fly.
“I think it’s a challenging thing to do,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “Based on the fact they’ve had to make that switch from defense to forward, I think they’ve done as good as probably could be expected. Jordan is a great skater, so he’s able to play a pretty physical game because he can get to people with his skating. And on Saturday (a 3-2 shootout victory against Kamloops) both those guys fought. We’re not really a fighting team, but if that has to be done sometimes that’s a nice role that a guy can fill on that line. I think they’ve done very adequately at making the switch from D to forward.”
Neither player has much experience playing forward. Cochrane played some forward during his youth hockey days, but hasn’t played forward since advancing to the midget ranks at 15. Wharrie had never played forward before.
“It’s been a change, for sure,” Cochrane said. “But it’s something I thought might happen, given all the injuries with the forwards up front. It’s been a process, it’s something the coaches have helped me a lot with. I like it up there, it’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Said Wharrie: “Playing forward is actually pretty fun. It brings out the physical side of my game, which on defense you have to be a little more conservative. Being the physical person I am, it was good.”
While Cochrane and Wharrie have succeeded in providing the energy part of playing on the fourth line, the nuances of playing a full 200-foot game at forward has required an adjustment.
“It’s just the forecheck,” Cochrane responded when asked the biggest challenge of making the switch. “When I was younger the forecheck was just skating as hard as you can. Now you have to be in the right position to make sure you’re not giving up any openings. I’ve struggled with that a bit, but the coaches just want me to have a lot of energy, and the details of forward will come.”
Cochrane has had additional duties because he’s been used as a center, while Wharrie has played strictly on the wing — a center has far more defensive responsibilities than a winger.
“I think defensively it’s been a little easier just because centers and D-men play the same kind of role in the D-zone,” Cochrane said. “Taking faceoffs has been a new thing, but other than that I’ve liked it.”
But despite the fact both Cochrane and Wharrie are fine with playing forward, don’t expect it to continue indefinitely. Laurencelle and Malenica are both on the verge of returning from their injuries, and Wharrie spent time this week practicing on defense again.
“I’m not sure that’s where we want to go over the long course of a season,” Constantine said. “I think the fourth line on a team like ours is really critical because we’re much more of a four-line energy team than a three-line skill team. We have some skill up front, and some guys are doing a great job for us. But I still really believe our formula as a team is four lines, spreading the ice time out and playing a highly energized game, and we lose that a little if we can’t roll four lines. So I’m not sure that’s necessarily the long-term answer for us, to keep using D as forwards.”
However, as long as they’re needed, Cochrane and Wharrie are ready to answer the call.
“If we go down with injuries again in the future, I would not mind at all playing forward,” Wharrie said. “I really like my time up there.”
Slap shots
The NHL Central Scouting Service released its November watch list for the 2015 NHL draft Thursday, and Silvertips defenseman Tristen Pfeifer has been added to the list. Pfeifer, an 18-year-old from Arizona who was an unknown going into Everett’s training camp, was listed as a C prospect, which makes him a candidate for the late rounds. Cochrane dropped off the list after being on September’s preliminary list. Defenseman Noah Juulsen remained a B prospect (mid rounds) and defenseman Kevin Davis remained a C prospect. … Victoria is expected to debut its newest member Friday as center Greg Chase has joined the team. Chase, one of Calgary’s top players before requesting a trade, was acquired Wednesday night in a deal that saw defenseman Keegan Kanzig go the other way. … The Royals may be without a key overager as winger Brandon Magee faces a potential suspension after being given a major penalty and game misconduct for spearing at the end of Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to Kelowna. Magee, who served a 12-game suspension at the beginning of the season for a match penalty in Victoria’s final playoff game against Portland last season, is averaging nearly two points per game.
Check out Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog, and follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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