First the new player:
The Tips addressed their injury crisis on defense by calling up Brenden Stephan (pronounced like Stefan). The 1990-born native of Vanderhoof, B.C., was listed by the Tips earlier this season. He’s been playing Junior B for the Princeton Posse of the KIJHL, where he accumulated four goals, six assists and 111 penalty minutes in 45 games. He’ll be in the lineup tomorrow wearing No. 27 as defensemen Taylor Ellington (foot), Graham Potuer (flu) and Mike Alexander (shoulder) remain sidelined.
By far Stephan’s most distinctive physical attribute is his height. This guy’s an absolute Redwood. He’s listed at 6-foot-7, but given that Everett doesn’t have a particularly tall team he looks even taller. He seems a head higher than anyone else. He becomes easily the tallest player in franchise history. If my memory serves me correctly, Moises Gutierrez at 6-foot-4 was the previous holder of that record.
Everett’s forwards should be back to their normal lines. Center Vitaly Karamnov is slated to return from his shoulder injury and Zack Dailey will return to center after one game of filling in on defense.
Now the old problem:
Once again the Tips encountered difficulties on a road trip because of bad weather, though it wasn’t nearly as dramatic as their recent trip to Kelowna. Everett wasn’t able to get back from Wednesday’s game at Spokane until this afternoon. The team tried to head home immediately following the game, but only made it as far as Ritzville as I-90 was an ice sheet, and Snoqualmie pass was closed anyway. When they got back on the road this morning the conditions weren’t any better, but at least it was light out. However it was slow going.
And the travel problems may not be over as the Tips have to head back over the Coquihalla again for Sunday’s game in Kamloops. Given the team’s recent luck, that ride’s sure to be an adventure, too.
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