EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips received the news they were looking for Thursday.
Goaltender Leland Irving and defenseman Taylor Ellington were returned to Everett by their respective NHL teams, meaning the Tips will be closer to full strength when the WHL regular season opens tonight.
And late word Thursday night was that center Zach Hamill would be on his way back today.
“Every little bit helps,” a smiling Everett coach John Becanic said. “It certainly makes us a little better defensively going into (tonight’s) game.”
Both Irving and Ellington are expected to be in the lineup tonight when the Tips open against the Tri-City Americans.
“Absolutely,” was Becanic’s response to whether the duo would be thrust straight into the lineup. “They’ve been playing at a high tempo, so I don’t foresee a whole lot of adjustments for these guys. They’re both veterans who have played in this league for three years, so I don’t foresee any issues.”
It was not known whether Hamill would be ready to go tonight. He played Thursday night in the Boston Bruins’ exhibition game against the New Jersey Devils, then was scheduled to fly out today.
Both Irving and Ellington received extended stays with their respective NHL clubs. Irving was with the Calgary Flames, who selected him in the first round in the 2006 NHL draft, and Ellington was with the Vancouver Canucks, who took him in the second round this year.
“It was an eye-opener to see what the pace is like at the NHL level,” said Ellington, who arrived in time to participate in the final minutes of Thursday’s practice. “It makes you want to work harder for it.
“But I’m ready to go (today), for sure.”
Neither Irving, who wasn’t scheduled back until later Thursday night, nor Ellington was expected to make the NHL this season. But the Tips are comforted knowing they’re back for certain.
“Those are huge additions to our hockey club,” general manager Doug Soetaert said. “Those are two players who we figured would be here, but they also had the possibility of moving on. So we’re excited about having them back.”
Even though Irving and Ellington were expected to return to Everett, they weren’t necessarily expected back in time for tonight’s opener. Indeed, there was much consternation among Everett’s ranks about the number of players who might miss the opening weekend while away at NHL training camps. The worries were particurly acute regarding goaltending because David Reekie, Irving’s designated stand-in, was stricken down by mononucleosis, leaving the unproven Shayne Barrie as the only other option in goal.
But with both Irving and Ellington expected in the lineup tonight, Everett is in much better shape for tonight’s game. And if Hamill, the eighth overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, is somehow able to go Everett will be nearly set.
The only players who remain away are center Peter Mueller (Phoenix), left wing Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota) and defenseman Dane Crowley (Tampa Bay). The Tips are expecting to hear news regarding Fiala and Crowley by early next week. Mueller is expected to stick with Phoenix and therefore not return to Everett.
The Tips also don’t plan on making any roster moves themselves until next week at the earliest. Everett still has 31 players on its roster, at least six more than they’re expected to carry through the season. However, the Tips will probably wait until news on the players still at professional camps before making any more cuts.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/section/BLOG12
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