It’s almost game time

Published 3:46 pm Thursday, August 30, 2012

We’re one day away from Silvertips hockey returning to Comcast Arena. The final preparations are being made, including the painting of the 10th-season logo at center ice, as is chronicled in the photos. The painting is complete, and this afternoon they were beginning to put the ice in for the Holiday Inn Preseason Classic, which takes place this weekend.

All five U.S. Division teams will be taking part in the tournament. Everett and Portland each play three times, while Seattle, Tri-City and Spokane all play twice. Here’s the schedule:

Friday

Portland vs. Seattle, 3 p.m.

Tri-City vs. Everett, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Tri-City vs. Portland, 3 p.m.

Spokane vs. Everett, 7 p.m.

Sunday

Spokane vs. Seattle, 1 p.m.

Portland vs. Everett, 5 p.m.

This is the second straight year in which just five teams are taking part instead of six, meaning there’s just two games a day instead of three. In talking to Tips general manager Garry Davidson, he said the plan is to return the tournament to six teams and three games a day next year.

As for the team, fifteen-year-old Tips goaltender Nik Amundrud has not practiced this week and no longer appears on the roster, so I’m guessing that means he headed home. That leaves 34 players on Everett’s roster heading into the tournament. Therefore, it’s a case where pretty much everyone should get into two games this weekend.

Ticket information can be found on the Tips website.