Tips fall in first exhibition
Published 10:18 pm Friday, August 31, 2007
Well, on the surface Everett’s first exhibition game of the season looked pretty ugly. Outshot 17-2 in the first period by Vancouver, 37-17 overall, lost 3-1 with goaltenders Kent Simpson and David Reekie keeping the score down.
However, a closer look reveals that not much stock should be put in Friday’s result.
Vancouver fielded nine players who spent the entire season with the Giants last season during their run to the Memorial Cup. That included impact forwards Michal Repik and Spencer Machacek, as well as a first-round NHL draft pick in defenseman Jonathon Blum. Add in newcomer Chris Cloud from Saskatoon and the Giants featured a substantial number of players who will be a part of the first-choice squad this season.
In contrast, Everett fielded just three players who spent more than a handful of games with the Tips last season, and those three were a fourth-line forward (Brandon Campos), No. 7 defenseman (Mike Alexander) and the backup goaltender (David Reekie). Sixteen of the players have 17 or fewer games of WHL experience, and less than half Friday’s lineup will make Everett’s roster this season.
Now make no mistake, Vancouver looked good. But with names like Crowley, Ellington, Harty, Potuer, Harper, Beach, Gendur, Mistelbacher, Dailey, Burt, Sonne, Vartovnik and Fiala all on the scratch list — not to mention absentees Mueller, Hamill and Irving — Friday’s lineup bore little resemblance to the one that will take the ice on Sept. 21.
As for the performance of Everett’s players — minus the goaltenders — many looked nervous and I thought only a few distinguished themselves. Those included forwards Vitali Karamnov (won faceoffs), Morgan MacLean (some good hits), Matt Ius and Ty Skauge (both of whom competed hard, particularly on the penalty kill), and defenseman Jeff Regier (a cannon shot on Everett’s goal). Most of those guys were probably in decent position to make the team anyway. The other players on the bubble still have some work to do this weekend to improve their stock.
