Opponent: Seattle Thunderbirds
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Everett Events Center
Radio: KRKO (1380 AM)
Travis Friedley has left the team.
The 19-year-old defenseman has gone home to Delia, Alberta, and although he hasn’t officially been released by the Silvertips, he isn’t expected to return.
“He’s not going to be with the team,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “My understanding is that he’s going to go back and probably play tier II junior hockey.”
Friedley, who played in just two of the Silvertips first five games, was apparently unhappy with his playing time. He didn’t record a point in those two games.
Friedley’s departure reduces Everett’s roster to 25 players – two goalies, eight defensemen and 15 forwards. Constantine said his ideal team would include two goalies, seven defensemen and 13 forwards.
Billsten’s milestone: Not only did Curtis Billsten score Everett’s first goal at the Everett Events Center in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Prince George, the goal also was the first of the 17-year-old forward’s Western Hockey League career.
“It was unbelievable,” Billsten said. “I’ll definitely never forget it, just knowing how many people were out there, from my parents to friends from school. The home fans, they went crazy. It was really something.”
Billsten’s stick and the puck he scored with are headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining the stick and puck from Jovan Matic’s first goal in franchise history.
Scouting report: Everett (0-4-1) and Seattle (0-2-3) are the only winless teams remaining in the WHL. For Everett, in its first year, that’s not completely unexpected. For Seattle, the defending U.S. Division champion, it’s a shock.
Seattle has received good goaltending from Brandon Heatherington (2.15 goals-against average, .933 save percentage) and solid production from rookie forward Denis Tolpeko (two goals, three assists). However, captain Dustin Johner (one goal, two assists) has yet to break out offensively and rookie winger Justin Maiser, expected to be a major offensive contributor, has yet to register a point.
The Silvertips and Thunderbirds skated to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 27, Everett’s only point. Everett’s Stewart Thiessen and Seattle’s Chris Durand scored the goals, and Silvertips goalie Michael Wall had 37 saves.
Nick Patterson
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