At least the NCAA-like section of Everett’s schedule is now here. Everett plays just weekend games for three weeks, beginning this weekend. This is how NCAA hockey works, with team spending the entire week practicing in preparation for a weekend twin bill against the same opponent. It’s appropriate this stretch begins with back-to-back games against Prince George.
It has, of course, been a tumultuous few weeks for the Tips, with captain Ryan Murray getting hurt, followed by the rough road trip, followed by top goal scorer Tyler Maxwell’s trade request and subsequent banishment. Therefore, this stretch, where the Tips have plenty of time to practice and don’t have to board the bus again until December, couldn’t have come at a better time. Everett even gets to start out against a Prince George team that also has struggled of late.
Everett will be without defenseman Lucas Grayson for the first two weekends of this stretch. Grayson was handed a four-game suspension for his charging major against Spokane on Sunday.
It also looks like the Tips will be without Murray for this entire stretch. Murray is still listed on the injury report as being out for a month. The original timetable was five weeks, so it looks as though Murray’s estimated return has been pushed back. We’re now entering the the region where Murray’s sprained ankle may threaten his potential participation in the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Center Manraj Hayer is still listed as out for more than a month because of his broken fibula. Winger Zach McPhee is also out this weekend because of a lower-body injury. Defenseman Austin Adam is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but he practiced Thursday and should be available.
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