It looks as though the Tips won’t be getting much assistance from their NHL campers for this weekend’s final two exhibition games, Friday at home against Seattle and Saturday at Vancouver. Defenseman Alex Theriau was expected to arrive back in town today after participating in rookie camp with the Dallas Stars, and coach Craig Hartsburg said Theriau would play this weekend. However, he might be the only one.
Three players who definitely won’t be back this weekend are center Landon Ferraro (Detroit), defenseman Rasmus Rissanen (Carolina) and goaltender Kent Simpson (Chicago). All three are moving on to main camp with their teams, meaning they won’t be back until next week at the earliest. No word yet on the status of right wings Kellan Tochkin (Vancouver) and Josh Birkholz (Florida) and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk (San Jose). Heemskerk is the only one with a realistic chance of earning a professional job and not returning to Everett.
As for this weekend’s games, the Tips will be seeing a familiar face calling the shots when they travel to Ladner to face Vancouver. Former Everett coach John Becanic will be in charge of the Giants. Vancouver head coach Don Hay is serving a one-game suspension handed down by the WHL for a line brawl between the Giants and Chilliwack Bruins last weekend. Therefore Becanic, hired by Vancouver as an assistant during the offseason, will be at the reins against his former team.
—- UPDATE, 6:10 p.m.
Well, maybe the Tips will have more reinforcements after all. Kellan Tochkin was reassigned to Everett by the Vancouver Canucks this afternoon, and Josh Birkholz did not advance to main camp with the Florida Panthers. I don’t know whether either will be back in time to play tomorrow.
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