The Silvertips cut five more players Monday, reassigning 1989-born defenseman Paul Levarsky, 1991-born forwards Kellan Tochkin and Byron Froese, 1991-born defenseman Paul Sohor and 1992-born goaltender Kent Simpson.
The most notable name among the cuts is Tochkin, Everett’s first-round pick in the 2006 bantam draft. Tochkin has the skill, which he displayed while leading rookie camp in scoring. But while he may be ready from a skill standpoint, he probably isn’t ready from a physical standpoint.
Tochkin, Froese and Sohor also suffer from the rules governing 16-year-olds. Hockey Canada wants 16-year-old skaters in the CHL to play at least 40 games a season. That means any 16-year-old would have to be good enough to essentially be a starter. Everett’s got enough depth that that won’t happen unless the 16-year-old is exceptional. There’s just two 16-year-olds remaining in camp — defenseman Jeff Regier and forward Cameron Abney — and I wouldn’t be surprised if Regier ends up being the only 16-year-old to make the team.
As for Levarsky and Simpson, Levarsky was a longshot to make the club as an invited player, and the 15-year-old Simpson is ineligible for the WHL.
The cuts bring the number of players remaining in camp to 29:
Forwards (18) — Brandon Campos (87), Ondrej Fiala (87), Dan Gendur (87), Brennan Sonne (87), Eric English (88), Morgan MacLean (88), Carter Smith (88), Jesse Burt (89), Zack Dailey (89), Shane Harper (89), Vitali Karamnov (89), Lukas Vartovnik (89), Kyle Beach (90), Tyler Eskesen (90), Matt Ius (90), Jordan Mistelbacher (90), Ty Skauge (90), Cameron Abney (91)
Defensemen (9) — Dane Crowley (87), Taylor Ellington (88), Jonathan Harty (88), Graham Potuer (88), Mike Alexander (89), Chris de la Lande (90), Eddie Friesen (90), Matt Strong (90), Jeff Regier (91)
Goaltenders (2) — David Reekie (87), Shayne Barrie (89)
That doesn’t include absent forwards Peter Mueller and Zach Hamill and goaltender Leland Irving.
Also, Fiala, Gendur, Karamnov, Crowley and Ellington (and maybe Potuer, I haven’t heard whether he was able to get something arranged at the last minute) are leaving for NHL camps this week. Fiala, Gendur and Crowley are candidates to earn professional jobs and not return.
Expect the Tips to keep about 14 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies.
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