The day after: Tips to the U-18s and Harper to the pros

Published 5:58 pm Tuesday, March 30, 2010

It was a long day of exit interviews and I’ve got a lot to write and sort through, so just the quick hitters today:

– Everett goaltender Kent Simpson and defenseman Ryan Murray are headed to the U-18 World Championships. Simpson and Murray were selected by Team Canada, which puts together its team primarily from Canadian Hockey League players whose teams didn’t make it past the first round of the playoffs. For Murray it’s particularly impressive given he’s only 16, and a late birthdate at that. Defenseman Alex Theriau may also get the call, depending on the outcome of the remaining playoff series. The tournament takes place April 13-20 in Belarus.

– Tips overage winger Shane Harper is beginning his pro career later this week. Harper, who signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this year, is flying to New York where he will join the Adirondack Phantoms. Adirondack is Philly’s AHL affiliate.

Stay tuned for my annual year-end blog series, which should begin later this week.