Reekie out with Illness

[Tipped Off]

Seems kind of a convenient time for an "illness" to me....

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070918/BLOG12/70918006/-1/RSS13

A snag in net

Posted at 4:44 pm by Nick Patterson

Bad news on the goaltending front for the Silvertips today.

David Reekie, who was slated to hold down the fort until Leland Irving returned from camp with the NHL's Calgary Flames, was diagnosed with mononucleosis today. Reekie, who hadn't been with the team the last week because of illness, will be out a minumum of three weeks.

Well that figures. With all the questions surrounding Everett's roster this preseason, the one position the Tips figured they didn't have to worry about was goaltender. In Irving they may have the best goalie in the league, and if he somehow stuck with the Flames, the Tips had the equally-capable Reekie waiting in the wings. If Irving just received an extended preseason stay with the Flames, Reekie would have filled the temporary void here in Everett, at least until the Oct. 11 overager cutdown date. This news scuttles that plan.

Now don't panic yet Tips fans. Everett GM Doug Soetaert feels there's a strong possiblity Irving will be sent back in time for the season opener. But if he isn't, then 18-year-old Shayne Barrie -- he of the grand total of four minutes of WHL experience -- would make his first WHL start on opening night. The Tips would also have to scramble to bring in a temporary backup, probably 15-year-old Kent Simpson.

The one consolation for Everett is that if Reekie needs substantial recovery time, he can be placed on the 60-day injured list and thus be exempted from the three-overager limit until he's ready to return.

In other personnel news, center Vitali Karamnov was back in practice Tuesday after being returned by the Edmonton Oilers. He looked like he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Also, forwards Jordan Mistelbacher (concussion) and Carter Smith (knee) continue to make progress on their injuries. Both are skating in practice now, but it remains to be seen whether either will be in the lineup Friday.

[Kristi]

It is amazing to me that people think this is a convienent excuse for the Tips not to have to make an OA decision.

Mono is not something to take lightly. Depending on the severity of it he could be out for months.

[Tipped Off]

Eh, I had Mono when I was 17....I know exactly what it is all about. It doesn't have to be fake or on purpose to be convenient. I'm just saying it's convenient. I did not say the Tips were going ot use it as an excuse or that is what they planned to do.

[nivek_wahs]

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070919/SPORTS/709190068/1004


Who's minding the net?

Silvertips might have unproven Barrie in goal for their season opener

By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer

EVERETT — Two days before the start of the regular season and the Everett Silvertips already face a crisis.

Goaltender David Reekie was diagnosed with mononucleosis Tuesday, meaning he'll be unavailable for the start of the season.

With No. 1 netminder Leland Irving still at training camp with the NHL's Calgary Flames, the Tips might be forced to go into Friday's opener against Tri-City with the unproven Shayne Barrie in goal.

"Barrie's our starter right now for Friday," Everett coach John Becanic said. "That's what we're prepared to do. He helped us get a win against Seattle on Saturday (in Everett's final exhibition game), so hopefully he's up to the task Friday night should Irv not come back in the next (two days)."

Reekie would have gotten the nod Friday if Irving wasn't back. But Reekie sat out all last week because of the illness. He underwent blood tests and the bad news was confirmed Tuesday. He'll be unavailable a minimum of three weeks.

Up until now, Everett appeared to be in good shape in net heading into the season. The 19-year-old Irving is a first-round NHL draft pick and two-time second-team Western Conference all-star who could be the league's best goalie this season. And while Irving was away the Tips had the 20-year-old Reekie, the league's best backup last season, available to fill in, at least until the Oct. 11 overager cutdown date.

Everett general manager Doug Soetaert sounded confident that Irving would be sent back in time for Friday's game. But as of Tuesday, Irving was still in Calgary and with Reekie now on the shelf, the Tips may have to go with the 18-year-old Barrie — who has a grand total of four minutes of WHL experience — between the pipes this weekend.

"Would we like to have Irv? Absolutely," Becanic said. "But we're not playing Irv 72 games this year either. At some point (Barrie) has got to step up to the plate. It's a little sooner than he probably expected, but by the same token his first game is always going to be his first game, whether it's the first game of the year or the 10th game. I'm sure after he gets through the first couple periods he'll be fine, and I think our guys will be fine, too."

Barrie had his ups and downs this preseason. He was in net for Everett's 7-6 overtime loss to Portland on Sept. 8 in Kennewick, giving up seven goals on 29 shots. However, he was better Saturday when the Tips beat Seattle 4-3 in OT in Kent, making 29 saves and getting stronger as the game progressed.

"It's exciting," Barrie said about the possibility of starting opening night. "If I get the chance it will be a great opportunity for me. It's just an opportunity to really prove myself and prove I can play at this level.

"I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be," Barrie added. "I've been here for three weeks, I'm feeling really good and that win down in Kent was a real confidence boost."

Soetaert said that if Irving isn't returned by the weekend, 15-year-old Kent Simpson, the team's first-round pick in this year's bantam draft, would be brought in to serve as the backup.

On the plus side of the roster situation, the Tips did have one of their NHL campers back at practice Tuesday. Center Vitali Karamnov was returned by the Edmonton Oilers.

That leaves six players still at pro camps:

n Center Peter Mueller has already played in two preseason games for the Phoenix Coyotes and is expected to make the club as a 19-year-old. The Tips don't expect him back.

n Irving, center Zach Hamill (Boston), left wing Ondrej Fiala (Minnesota) and defenseman Taylor Ellington (Vancouver) remain with their NHL teams. Fiala is the only real threat to play professionally this season. It's possible any of Irving, Hamill and Ellington could be back by the weekend.

n Defenseman Dane Crowley is in Norfolk, Va., at camp with the Tampa Bay Lightning's American Hockey League affiliate. He definitely won't be back this weekend.

Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/section/BLOG12