EVERETT — The Kyle Beach show has pulled up stakes, folded its tent and hauled out of town.
The author of so many of the Everett Silvertips’ most-memorable moments the past two-and-a-half seasons — good and bad — has played his final Silvertips performance in Everett as he was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Tuesday.
Everett sent Beach, its star 18-year-old winger, along with 19-year-old defenseman Mike Alexander to the Hurricanes in exchange for 18-year-old left wing Daniel Iwanski, 16-year-old defenseman Alex Theriau and Lethbridge’s first-round pick in this year’s bantam draft.
“It’s actually a bit of a shock,” an emotional Beach said. “It’s been a great time here in Everett, there’s a great group of guys, and it sucks to leave. This organization is by far one of the best in the league. Any time you leave something like that it hurts, but Mike and I have been given an opportunity for a fresh start and hopefully help another team that has high hopes for the playoffs.”
Beach, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2005 bantam draft, was the center of attention from the moment he arrived in Everett. His size, skill and goal scoring, combined with a unique ability to aggravate the opposition, made him impossible to ignore. He was an impact player as a pre-rookie, tallying three goals and four assists in 13 regular season and playoff games as a 15-year-old. Last summer he was taken 11th-overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL draft. All together Beach had 67 goals and 87 assists in 159 games with Everett. He is also the franchise record holder in penalty minutes with 528.
However, Beach has been inconsistent since midway through last season. This season Beach has shown flashes of brilliance but on rare occasions. He had nine goals and 21 assists in 30 games this season.
There’s also the chance Beach won’t be back in the Western Hockey League next season as he may make the Blackhawks as a 19-year-old. With Everett not expected to contend for a title this season, the Tips decided now was the time to cash in on Beach.
“It’s very tough moving a guy like Kyle Beach,” said Everett general manager Doug Soetaert, who mentioned there was no intention of trading Beach until about a week ago. “You’re torn one way or another because he’s a good hockey player.
“This guy has taken so much crap over the years. He’s given it, but he’s also taken it,” Soetaert added. “It takes its toll on the player, it takes its toll on the organization, and it kind of wears people down.
“It’s unfortunate because he’s a good hockey player. That’s the way he plays, we know that, we accept that. But he’s not getting any breaks out there. It always goes against him. So hopefully this is an opportunity for him to thrive in a different conference.”
Alexander, from Campbell River, B.C., was also in his third season with the Tips. Known for his willingness to make sacrifices for the team, Alexander had three goals and nine assists in 37 games this season.
“I was surprised,” Alexander said. “I still don’t really know what to think about it, this is the only team I’ve ever played for and I lived here in the summertime. Everett’s a great place, great fans, great guys, so it’s hard.”
Beach and Alexander brought a healthy ransom for Everett, particularly for the future as Lethbridge paid handsomely in an effort to salvage its season. Theriau is considered an elite prospect. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound native of Duncan, B.C., was taken sixth overall in the 2007 bantam draft and was a member of the silver medal-winning Team Pacific at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. This season he had four assists in 29 games with the Hurricanes. His inclusion in the deal meant the Tips received two first-round picks in return.
And in Iwanski the Tips believe they acquired a player capable of producing more than he’s shown so far in his career. The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder from Calgary, Alberta, had three goals and two assists in 25 games. Last season he had 10 goals and nine assists in 71 games.
“When Roy (Stasiuk, Lethbridge’s general manager) decided he was going to give us two first-rounders, that definitely caught my attention,” Soetaert said. “Theriau is a very skilled puck-moving defenseman who we feel is going to be able to run a power play. And we’re happy to have Dan, a player we feel was maybe a little under-utilized in their organization.”
Despite trading his most-talented player, Soetaert said he is not selling off his assets to build for the future.
“We’re not giving up on this year,” Soetaert said. “We think we’re still capable of winning a lot of hockey games, I want to make that clear.”
Beach and Alexander will make their return to Everett on Feb. 7 when the Tips play host to the Hurricanes.
“I’m already looking forward to it,” Beach said.
“I’ve loved my time here, this is home to me — I get goosebumps saying that, I’m starting to tear up here. It’s hard to leave. Looking up in the rafters and seeing the sign saying they’re the No. 1 fans, just because I’m going to Lethbridge doesn’t change that. I hope they respect me for what I’ve done here, and I’m not forgetting anything that happened here either.”
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog.
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