Tyler Skauge Leaves Team

[Tipped Off]

Posted at 1:28 pm by Nick Patterson
from heraldnet.com

Everett is down another forward as Tyler Skauge has left the team. Skauge told general manager Doug Soetaert and head coach John Becanic he no longer had the passion to play hockey. He declined the offer of being traded and returned home to Lethbridge, Alberta, where he will either join the family business or begin college.

Skauge, an 18-year-old winger, was a part-time player on last season's team, registering one goal and three assists in 52 games. He was originally slated for a more prominent role this season, but found himself being pushed by Everett's eight rookie forwards.

Also, there's no new news on the status of left wing Jordan Mistelbacher and defenseman Tyler Kieffer, who were sent home a week ago because of a violation of team rules. Soetaert had no comment on the reports out of Kamloops that the pair had been put on the trade block.

Everett's roster now stands at 23 -- 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders. That number will likely shrink to 21 for the Sept. 19 season opener in Kamloops with winger Kyle Beach and defenseman Taylor Ellington leaving for NHL camps, provided the Tips don't acquire an overage forward in the interim.

[PLAYER]

vci33


when everyone leaves a team including a captain, do ya think mgt would look at the coach?????

[Gomez]

I respect the choices of these young men to move away from home and roll the dice for an NHL future. As well they have the right to say enough when that day comes, after all they are donating their time & sweat to the WHL franchises. When a player determines that his dream of an NHL contract is fading he has to ask himself why he is playing the game. We hope he answers for the love of the game and team, but it's up to him. He want to have fun! Despite the NCAA opinion this is amatuer sports and all of these players have worked their tales off to get to this point even the 4th line, 13th forward, 7th D and backup goaltender. We need to respect their choices and say thanks for time spent. It's a double edged sword teams owe their players nothing more than being open and honest with their status based on their last shift and players owe their teams the same. That's sports! Don't hold these players to a higher standard than you hold the teams and the management. The art of scouting will be ever more important in selecting players based on talent and what happens when the chips are down or the dream is fading.

[Tipped Off]

Normally I agree with you, but in this case it has been confirmed he is still playing hockey. For a player who "lost his passion to play" and wanted to go home, I find it interesting he's still playing.

He played last night for the Brooks Bandits.

http://www.ajhl.ab.ca/leagues/hockey_boxScores.cfm?clientID=1705&leagueID=3464&gameID=576867