EVERETT — The Western Hockey League preseason is an evaluation process, and Everett Silvertips head coach Kevin Constantine trusts that process.
“I’ve learned over the years to really not even worry about your opinion of players too much because the (preseason) games seem to give you that information,” Constantine said. “You have to be patient with your opinion. You have to let the process take its course.”
The next step in that process begins today as the three-day Holiday Inn Classic gets underway at Xfinity Arena in Everett. The action starts at 11:30 a.m. each day, with games involving six WHL teams: Everett, Tri-City, Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Victoria.
“I think it’s a great kickoff to the season,” Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson said. “It allows us to get all our players in one game if not two. It’s the first time it’s real bullets out there, so to speak, because you’re playing against the other teams.”
Seattle and Tri-City open the classic at 11:30 a.m. Friday, with Spokane and Portland following at 3 p.m. The Tips play the 7 p.m. game each night. Everett faces Victoria on Friday, Spokane on Saturday and Portland on Sunday.
The seven-game exhibition schedule continues next week with Everett playing games against Prince George and Portland at the Tri-City Preseason Tournament, and concludes the following weekend with a game at Portland and a home game against Victoria.
There are 32 players still at camp angling for a spot on the roster. The Silvertips can carry 25 during the regular season and usually try to keep the roster at 23. The regular-season opener is Sept. 25.
“The first three (games) give us a chance to look at everybody,” Davidson said. “The (next) two are actually difficult because we lose some players to NHL camps. They’ll be gone for the whole weekend and that could extend depending on when they get sent back.”
The focus at camp this week has shifted from the scrimmages of “Phase One” to teaching and competing against other opponents in “Phase Two.” The coaching staff will have a much better idea of who ultimately will make the roster following this weekend’s three exhibition games.
“(Teaching and competition) really help you evaluate players,” Constantine said. “For some players the process of teaching a team game plan makes their game better. And some players can’t play in a team environment. … We play a team game so you’ve got to be able to play within a team style. That will separate a few of the remaining guys.”
Notes
The Silvertips on Thursday announced the signing of 17-year-old defenseman Cam Dykstra, soon-to-be 16-year-old defenseman Jake Christiansen and 15-year-old defenseman Montana Onyebuchi to WHL standard player agreements. Onyebuchi is not eligible to play this season as a 15-year-old, but has remained at camp this week. … Everett defenseman Noah Juulsen is still out with the concussion he suffered last week. Davidson said Juulsen won’t skate this weekend and could miss next week’s Tri-City Preseason Tournament. Davidson added that Juulsen is progressing positively through the concussion protocol.
Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse and check out his Silvertips Blog at http://www.heraldnet.com/section/BLOG12.
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