Everett’s Canadian players are quite lucky. Goaltender Carter Hart told me the players got to partake in Canadian Thanksgiving Oct. 12 and will get another feast Thursday with their billet families.
The American holiday, of course, is sandwiched around a pair of important games that constitute the next homestand.
Holidays aside, the Tips returned to practice Tuesday in anticipation of Wednesday’s game against the Tri-City Americans. Everett practiced at full strength and went through a typical pre-game practice that included special teams work and ended after a little more than an hour.
Goaltending coach Shane Clifford is in town for his monthly stop-in. The Pennsylvania-based instructor worked with Hart and backup Mario Petit for about a half-hour after practice.
Wednesday’s game against Tri-City is the “Purple vs. Crimson” game and fans are encouraged to show their support for either UW or WSU. Silvertips broadcaster Mike Benton is taking it one step further and asked the players and coaches which team will win Friday’s Apple Cup.
As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday the voting was 11-6 in favor of UW.
Picking the Huskies were Benton, equipment manager James Stucky, assistant coaches Mitch Love and Brennan Sonne, and players Remi Laurencelle, Carson Stadnyk, Connor Dewar, Noah Juulsen, Mackenzie Dwyer, Tristen Pfeifer and Carter Hart.
In favor of the Cougs were head coach Kevin Constantine (he has an affinity for Mike Leach, which kind of makes sense in its own way), video/stats guru Patrick Pajak, and players Patrick Bajkov, Sean Mallonee (resident Eastern Washington native), Lucas Skrumeda and Cole MacDonald.
It should be a fun atmosphere Wednesday at Xfinity Arena.
Now, for some links:
– The latest NHL Central Scouting rankings are out. Carter Hart earns a ‘B’ rating (second/third round) and Patrick Bajkov receives a ‘C’ rating (fourth/fifth/sixth round)
– Colleague Andy Eide, who covers the Seattle Thunderbirds and also writes for Sportsnet has his weekly musings on the WHL
– There is an interesting battle brewing in NCAA hockey circles. It seems the Big Ten has proposed that players lose a year of eligibility for each year they enroll after age 20. The current age limit is 21 (after which players lose a year of eligibility)
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