Roster trimmed

First off, scrimmaging is over with for training camp. The coaches decided the players showed more than enough intensity during the first two days of camp that there’s no need for any more. Best to save that for other teams rather than waste it on themselves.

The Tips also trimmed their roster by eight, reassigning forwards Brett Chartier (91), Paul Grenier (91), Kevin Spotts (91), D.Jay McGrath (92) and Justin Waskewitch (92), as well as defensemen Lewis Laczko (89), Ryan Maul (91) and Gabriel Minville (92). That brings the total down to 37, not including Peter Mueller, Zach Hamill or Leland Irving.

There were no real surprises among the players reassigned. McGrath, Waskewitch and Minville are 15-year-olds, so they can’t play for the Tips this season anyway. Spotts and Maul were local kids the team was taking a closer look at, while Chartier and Grenier appear to be a year away. Laczko was a camp invitee who was always a longshot to make the team.

Perhaps more interesting is the list of players who are still around. Rookie camp invitees Cameron Abney (91), Byron Froese (91) and Tyler Parker (92) will be playing this weekend. Perhaps they’ve done enough to warrant consideration for Everett’s protected list.

The other 91s still around are forward Kellan Tochkin and defensemen Jeff Regier and Paul Sohor. Given the requirement that 16-year-olds play 40 games, and given Everett’s wealth of potential 17-year-old rookies, it’s going to be tough for 91s to make the team. Regier probably has a spot sewn up, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s the only 91 to make the team this season.