Today is a big annual milestone in the WHL as it’s overage cutdown day.
Teams in the WHL are permitted three overagers – players who turn 20 by Dec. 31 – per season. Since many teams have more than three candidates when they begin camp in August, the league gives organizations until Oct. 10 to whittle that number down via trade or release.
Portland today sent overage forward Evan Weinger to Brandon for a third-round pick.
#Winterhawks acquire 3rd-Round pick from Wheat Kings. https://t.co/KU8bRkzOLe pic.twitter.com/Kx5iTX3bby
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) October 10, 2017
Per Ryan McCracken who covers the Medicine Hat Tigers, overage forward Zach Fisher is the odd man out in Medicine Hat (where the Tips play on Wednesday):
Zach Fischer has parted ways with @tigershockey. Left the team yesterday. More to come…
— Ryan McCracken (@MHNMcCracken) October 10, 2017
Tigers are down to three OAs, Rassell, Rubins and Bullion
— Ryan McCracken (@MHNMcCracken) October 10, 2017
The Everett Silvertips released Devon Skoleski (now with Prince Albert) in the offseason and planned on Noah Juulsen playing professionally this year, so that made it a pretty easy decision to keep Matt Fonteyne, Kevin Davis and Patrick Bajkov. That trio has the potential to become the most prolific overage group in team history.
Meanwhile, the Tips continue their road trip tonight in Red Deer where they hope to right the ship after a disappointing effort Sunday in a 5-1 loss at Edmonton.
The Tips had quite the off-day Monday as they celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and met with numerous luminaries throughout the day.
First came breakfast with former WHL and NHL enforcer Matt Kassian:
Undrafted bantam player ➡️ WHL regular ➡️ NHL forward. That's inspiration.
Speaker Matt Kassian, breakfast guest. 👍 pic.twitter.com/OXFALgUHTB
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 9, 2017
The team then had an opportunity to meet with Winnipeg Jets assistant coach and former Portland Winterhawks head coach Jamie Kompon and observe morning skate prior to Winnipeg’s game at Edmonton:
🗣 "In the NHL, nothing is given. Everything is earned."
Thanks, Jamie Kompon for the hello + sharing the moment. pic.twitter.com/LaY6MY3Xz9
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 9, 2017
And Tips broadcaster/media relations director Mike Benton caught up with former Tip and current Edmonton forward Jujhar Khaira:
ALUMNI: @jujhar94 is now an @EdmontonOilers forward.
He's transformed, experienced, and still loves Everett. #Tips15thFaces 👇 pic.twitter.com/yAI637FSjV
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 10, 2017
Benton maintains a blog that provides lots of fascinating behind-the-scenes nuggets – particularly on road trips. You can give it a read here.
In other news:
– Brandon defenseman Kale Clague was named the WHL Player of the Week while Portland’s Cole Kehler was awarded WHL Goaltender of the Week.
– Tonight’s live blog is below. Feel free to log in and comment:
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