EVERETT — December 12.
The date has been etched in Shayne Barrie’s mind.
From the moment he secured the backup goaltender position for the Everett Silvertips, Barrie knew his time would come, and that time starts tonight.
With Leland Irving away at Team Canada’s selection camp for the World Junior Hockey Championships, Barrie steps into the spotlight as the player who will have to carry the load between the pipes for Everett.
And Barrie’s been anxiously waiting for this date to arrive.
“With Irving being there (at World Juniors) last year I knew there would be a really good chance he’d be going away and I’d be getting some serious playing time,” Barrie said. “So I’m just really excited and ready.”
Barrie, an 18-year-old rookie, has spent most of the season a spectator as Irving, Everett’s all-star goalie, received the lion’s share of the playing time. Barrie appeared in just seven of Everett’s first 32 games, starting just five of those.
But if Irving makes Canada’s team, Barrie will be Everett’s main man in goal for the next month.
“He knew coming here that this was an opportunity,” Everett coach John Becanic said. “He’s going to have to carry the load and he’s going to have to be ready.”
Is Barrie prepared to handle that load? Based on his performance so far this season it’s hard to say. Barrie’s numbers are modest: 3-3-0-0 with a 3.37 goals against average and .875 save percentage wouldn’t put him near the league leaders if he’d played enough to qualify. He’s had his ups, such as his stellar performance in Everett’s 5-2 home victory against Brandon on Oct. 26. He’s also had his downs, like when he surrendered eight goals in Everett’s 8-2 loss at Kootenay on Nov. 9.
But Barrie believes the experience he’s gained thus far has made him a better goalie — as well as prepared him for this moment of taking the reins.
“I’m definitely ready to go,” Barrie said. “My comfort level has gone up and up. Obviously I’ve got to be more consistent, that’s a key component of being a starter. But I think I’ve done well and I think I’ll keep it going here for the next month.”
Barrie isn’t the only one taking on new responsibilities. With Barrie stepping into the starter’s role, 15-year-old Kent Simpson, Everett’s first-round pick in this year’s bantam draft, was brought in to be the backup. He’ll be on the bench tonight and will remain with the Tips for the duration of Irving’s absence.
For Simpson, who’s been playing in a 15-year-old midget league in Edmonton, Alberta, this is a lofty step up.
“It’s a great experience,” Simpson said of getting the call. “I don’t know many other people around my age who get that kind of experience and it’s going to help me in the future.”
With the Tips twice playing four games in five days during this stretch, and with Barrie being a rookie himself, there’s the real possibility Simpson may see some action.
“There’s always a chance,” Becanic replied when asked if Simpson will play. “Depending on the score of the game or if Shayne’s just so tired he can’t play another period, we may have no choice but to give Simpson a period or two.
“With Barrie it’s a matter of conditioning,” Becanic added. “The toughest thing is playing those four in fives as he’s never done that before in his career.”
It might be a short stint for Barrie and Simpson in their new roles. If Irving gets cut, he’s expected to be back in time for Friday’s game at Tri-City, meaning his absence will have lasted just one game.
But if Irving does accompany Canada to the Czech Republic for World Juniors, the Barrie-Simpson duo will have to get the job done for at least 11 games.
And that’s just what Barrie’s looking for.
“It’s just a really good opportunity for me to prove I can be a starter in this league and I can play with the best of them,” he said.
The Tips are hoping Barrie’s words prove prophetic.
Slap shots: Forwards Matt Ius and Tyler Eskesen have recovered from their concussions and should be available for tonight’s game. … Shane Harper has drawn the assignment of replacing Zach Hamill, who’s also at Team Canada’s selection camp, on Everett’s top line. He will center Dan Gendur and Kyle Beach.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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