Disney On Ice has taken over the main rink at Xfinity Arena, so the Everett Silvertips have spent the past two days practicing in the community ice rink adjacent to the arena.
Where were the rest of the week you ask? Well, a number of them were on what amounted to a team retreat at head coach Kevin Constantine’s summer place in the San Juan Islands.
“We play 16 games until Dec. 17 and that’s a lot,” Constantine said. “We just felt that based on how much hockey we’re going to have to play between now and Christmas we needed to just give the minds and bodies just a tiny, couple-day break.”
Thirteen players were able to make the journey. Noah Juulsen and Carter Hart were busy with the Canada-Russia Series while the players still in high school remained behind to continue their studies.
As I wrote in this story running Friday, Juulsen, Hart and Brett Kemp are back after participating in Hockey Canada events. Juulsen and Hart played in the Canada-Russia Series. Unlike last season, when Team WHL took on Team Russia in Kelowna and Kamloops, this year’s games took place way up north in Prince George and Edmonton. Consequently Juulsen’s folks were forced to watch on television.
Here’s Juulsen’s goal from Tuesday:
#Coyotes prospect Nick Merkley with one of his two assists last night on a cross-ice feed to #Habs prospect Noah Juulsen. pic.twitter.com/AnS96YqgYN
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) November 9, 2016
However, Hart played in front of a number of friends and family and even got to spend a night at home, he said.
“I got to catch up with some of my buddies and even some of the old equipment managers from the Oil Kings staff that I’ve known for a long time and haven’t seen in awhile,” Hart said.
Of note: potential future teammate German Rubtsov competed for Team Russia. Both were taken by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2016 NHL draft:
Time for Carter Hart and German Rubtsov #FutureFlyers
— Jake (@J_Fahringer) November 9, 2016
@FlyersPuckSauce Flyers have a gem in Carter Hart. Smooth roads ahead
— Dan Knightly (@DanKnightly) November 9, 2016
On the injury front: Lucas Skrumeda (broken finger) skated alone after practice while Bryce Kindopp (upper body) remains out. Graham Millar (upper body) is day-to-day.
The Tips are back in action Friday and Saturday on the road. Next week they play Calgary at home on Tuesday followed by a trip to Kamloops on Wednesday.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter.
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