It’s a hectic weekend for Everett as the Tips play just their second three-in-three of the season. It begins with a home-and-home set against Tri-City, with Friday’s game in Everett and Saturday’s in Kennewick. Then the Tips return home Sunday for another showdown with Portland, the team that’s nipping at Everett’s heels for first place in the U.S. Division.
Here’s an interesting scheduling quirk about the weekend. In both of Everett’s three-in-threes so far this season the Tips played/play Portland in the Sunday game. And both times Portland had/has Saturday off to rest up and prepare for the Tips. So the scheduling computer didn’t do the Tips any favors in these instances (tip of the hat to Jacob on the live blogs for pointing this out).
I also want to give the heads up that Friday’s paper will include a feature story on Everett defenseman Tristen Pfeifer. Pfeifer is the classic example that it doesn’t matter how old you are, where you’re playing or who you’re playing for, if you can play they’re going to find you. I doubt there are many examples of complete unknowns playing U-18 midget hockey in Arizona jumping straight to the WHL and getting ranked by NHL Central Scouting, so what Pfeifer has accomplished in his short time with the Tips is pretty unique and quite remarkable.
But here’s a little side angle to the Pfeifer story. Pfeifer happens to be friends with Auston Matthews. That would be the same Auston Matthews who was drafted by Everett in 2012 and is considered the early frontrunner to be picked first overall in the 2016 NHL draft. Matthews, who currently plays for the U.S. NTDP U-18 team, has stated he’s 50-50 on whether to play for Everett or in the NCAA next season. It’s good to know the Tips have someone in their corner in the recruiting battle.
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