Reserves to get ice time during Baranka’s absence

Published 9:00 pm Friday, December 12, 2003

EVERETT – Ivan Baranka left with a flourish.

And now the Everett Silvertips will have to learn to survive without arguably their best player.

Baranka had two assists in Everett’s 4-2 victory over Kootenay on Thursday. The defenseman was named the first star and he punctuated his performance by doing a head-first slide across the ice in celebration after the game was over.

Less than 24 hours later he was gone, flying to his native Slovakia to join the Slovakian junior national team in its preparations for the World Junior Championships.

Baranka could miss between seven and 11 games, depending on how Slovakia fares at the World Juniors, which take place Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Finland.

“He’s a big part of our team,” said defenseman Shauna Heshka, Baranka’s regular defensive partner. “He’s probably our No. 1 D-man and he will be missed. But we’ve got to battle through that.”

Though Baranka, who was a second-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2003 NHL Draft, is a defenseman, his presence might be missed most on offense, where he served as the point man on Everett’s No. 1 power-play unit. Baranka leads Tips defenseman in points with 11 (one goal, 10 assists).

“He’s definitely a big key in our power play,” said center Riley Armstrong, another member of the No. 1 power-play unit. “It’s going to be a battle because he has an awesome snap shot and slap shot.”

Now others will have to fill Baranka’s skates.

“We have eight D here and it’s a wonderful opportunity for some guys who haven’t played as much to step up and play more minutes,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “So while it hurts in one way, it’s an opportunity in another way. Hopefully some guys can step up and play well.”

Stewart Thiessen and Cody Thoring are the players who should pick up Baranka’s playing time – Thiessen practiced with Heshka on Friday. Devin Wilson has taken Baranka’s place on the No. 1 power-play unit.

Unexpected mastery: Who would have guessed that nearly three months into the season, the Silvertips would still be undefeated against their I-5 rivals, the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Coming into tonight’s game, Everett is 2-0-2 against Seattle, the team generally picked to finish first in the U.S Division this season, and going into Friday’s games, the Silvertips (13-11-4-1) led the Thunderbirds (8-16-6-2) by seven points in the standings.

“It’s starting to be a rivalry now,” Armstrong said. “Them being the team that’s been in the league longer than us, and us having not lost to them yet, it’s a big deal for our team.”

What’s been Everett’s secret against Seattle?

“I think we get up for the games,” Armstrong said. “It’s the I-5 battle, so it’s definitely a game to get up for, and we just go hard.”

Seattle will be without its coach, Dean Chynoweth, for tonight’s game. Chynoweth is an assistant coach for Canada’s junior national team for the World Juniors and is currently attending selection camp in Kitchener, Ontario. Assistant coach Rob Sumner is filling in for Chynoweth.

Teddy ballgame: Everett’s practice went overtime Friday. The Silvertips spent about an hour-and-a-half after practice putting a teddy bear on every seat at the Everett Events Center in preparation for tonight’s Teddy Bear Toss.

When the Silvertips score their first goal, the fans are encouraged to throw their teddy bears onto the ice. The teddy bears will then be donated to the Christmas House and other Snohomish County charities.

Fans are still encouraged to bring teddy bears of their own, but in case they don’t, one will be waiting at their seat.

“We are trying to break a record (for the most teddy bears), but at the same time the Silvertips want to give back to the community of Snohomish County,” Silvertips director of marketing and sales Zoran Rajcic said in a press release. “Since this is the Silvertips’ first Christmas in Everett, the Teddy Bear Toss is a great way to celebrate Christmas and give back to the community as well.”

Tickets still available: The lower bowl is sold out for tonight’s game, but there were still seats available in the upper level.

Also, the doors will open two hours earlier today at 4 p.m. The Silvertips are playing host to the Seattle Junior Bantam AAA team, which is playing a game against an opponent from the Vancouver, British Columbia, area. Fans may enter and watch the bantam game with their Silvertips ticket.