Overage deadline looms while Tips earn respect in BMO poll
Published 6:48 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The WHL’s overage deadline looms tomorrow and Silvertips goaltender Austin Lotz in all likelihood will be the Everett overager to go. Lotz went home early last week to wait for either a trade or the deadline. No trade has come yet, so it’s likely he will go into the overage draft though there doesn’t seem to be much of a market for overage goaltenders (Spokane released 20-year-old netminder Garret Hughson earlier Wednesday). If Lotz isn’t selected in the overage draft he would become a free agent.
Lotz was a fan favorite during his lengthy career as a Silvertip. He put up solid numbers and was among the league’s top five goaltenders in goals against average each of the last two seasons. He finished 25-15-1-3 with a 2.73 GAA and a .901 save percentage last season before he was replaced by star Carter Hart. Everett simply could not afford to keep a backup goaltender in one of its overage players.
The Tips (4-1-0-0) received some love in the BMO CHL Top 10 poll as they joined Moose Jaw (4-0-1-0) in earning honorable mention. Three other WHL teams are ranked in the Top 10. Calgary (5-1-0-1) is ranked third, Victoria (7-1-0-0) is fifth and Brandon (4-1-0-2) is sixth.
Everett also came in third among Western Conference teams in the first WHL power poll. The Tips were first among U.S. Division teams.
The Kamloops Blazers became the final WHL team to get into the win column as they defeated Red Deer 3-1 Tuesday night. Kamloops (1-6-0-0) began the season with six consecutive losses.
Follow Silvertips writer Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
