EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips pared their roster again Monday, reassigning forwards Kellan Tochkin and Byron Froese, defensemen Paul Levarsky and Paul Sohor, and goaltender Kent Simpson.
The most notable name on the list is Tochkin, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft. Tochkin led the team in scoring during rookie camp, but did not have the same impact when playing against veterans. He’s the first of Everett’s first-round picks who didn’t make the opening-night roster as a 16-year-old.
Tochkin, Froese and Sohor, as 16-year-olds, were all hindered by the Western Hockey League guidelines that require 16-year-old skaters to appear in at least 40 games. Many rookies do not reach the 40-game barrier.
Levarsky, as an invitee to camp, was a longshot to make the team. Simpson, Everett’s first-round pick in this year’s draft, is ineligible for the WHL because he’s a 15-year-old.
“We thought they were all talented kids who played very well,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said.
“(Tochkin, Froese and Sohor) were all close to making the team,” Soetaert added. “If we weren’t as deep as we are we would have given them more consideration, and the 40 games was one of the problems we discussed. This will give them an opportunity to play a lot, and coming back next year they’ll have a really good chance of making the club.”
The cuts leave 29 players in camp 18 forwards, nine defensemen and two goaltenders. That total doesn’t include center Peter Mueller, who is home preparing for training camp with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, or center Zach Hamill and goaltender Leland Irving, who are participating in the Canada-Russia Super Series.
Five of those in camp forwards Ondrej Fiala, Dan Gendur and Vitali Karamnov, and defensemen Dane Crowley and Taylor Ellington are leaving to attend NHL camps this week.
Everett will eventually get down to around 24 players.
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