By Nick Patterson Herald Writer
EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips have trimmed their roster to a more workable number.
The Tips reassigned 10 players following Sunday’s Green vs. Grey intrasquad scrimmage, bringing the number of players still with the Western Hockey League team down to 37.
The players who were reassigned following the game were forwards Braden Allkins, Stevie Bryant, Jake Durflinger, Andrew Fyten, Kevin Jakisch, Patrick Khodorenko and Keyvan Mokhtari, defenseman Connor Nobach, and goaltenders Mario Petit and Josh Stone.
The most notable name among that group is Durflinger. The 16-year-old forward from California, who was a ninth-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft, was one of the standouts of training camp, tying for the team lead in scoring during scrimmages. The plan with Durflinger previously was to have him join the team in 2014 as a 17-year-old, but his second straight strong training camp had him in consideration a year early.
“Jake had a really good camp and we wanted him to continue in camp,” Everett general manager Garry Davidson said. “But we’ve had discussions with Jake and his father several times since last spring about where he was going to play this year, and I wanted to see him at a higher level than midget, so he secured a spot in the North American Hockey League with Corpus Christi (which is coached by former Silvertips coach John Becanic). We were hoping he’d stay and see if he could make the team here, but they decided to stick with the plan. But he’s still very much interested in coming here the following year.”
Durflinger is the second 16-year-old forward from California to depart a little quicker than the Tips would have liked. Alec Mehr, another standout from training camp, was offered a Western Hockey League education contract. However, he turned down the opportunity and departed prior to Sunday’s game. Mehr, a 12th-round pick in 2012, is also being recruited by NCAA schools.
“He and his father discussed it between themselves and decided to continue with their plans, which is to have Alec play prep school in Connecticut this year to keep his options open,” Davidson said. “I think he’s certainly still considering us, but his father wasn’t confident he was ready to contribute and play here at this time.”
Another five or six players are expected to be reassigned prior to the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament, which begins Friday.
The current roster, along with their ages (15-year-olds are not eligible this season):
Forwards (20): Manraj Hayer (20), Reid Petryk (20), Josh Winquist (20), Kohl Bauml (19), Brayden Low (19), Jujhar Khaira (19), Logan Aasman (18), Linden Penner (18), Carson Stadnyk (18), Waltteri Hopponen (17), Dawson Leedahl (17), Ty Mappin (17), Ivan Nikolishin (17), Kyle Raymond (17), Tyler Sandhu (17), Mitch Skapski (17), Nick White (17), Patrick Bajkov (16), Matt Fonteyne (16), Tyson Jost (15).
Defensemen: Matt Pufahl (20), Ben Betker (19), Austin Adam (18), Cole MacDonald (18), Mirco Mueller (18), Lucas Skrumeda (17), Micheal Zipp (17), Kevin Davis (16), Noah Juulsen (16), Arsh Shergill (16), Jordan Wharrie (16), Alex Astasiewicz (15), Ryan Warner (15).
Goaltenders: Daniel Cotton (19), Austin Lotz (18), Nik Amundrud (16), Carter Hart (15).
