Tipped Off
12-15-2008, 12:17 PM
From Heraldnet.com
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081215/SPORTS/712159900/1003/SPORTS08
Silvertips head to break hoping to build upon solid first half
The longest holiday break in franchise history gives Everett players plenty of time to heal up and reflect on a better-than-expected first half that finds the Silvertips in playoff contention in the Western Conference.
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- The Everett Silvertips headed home for the holidays Sunday, each player toting a brand new iTouch, a Christmas present courtesy of the organization.
But the new electronic toy won't be the only thing the players enjoy over their two weeks of vacation. The Tips will also be able to reflect with satisfaction on a first half where they exceeded the expectations most put on them at the start of the season.
"Nobody expected us to do this well," Everett right wing Shane Harper said. "We expected it from ourselves, but what we did was acceptable for us. The second half we want to do even better, but we're happy with what we did."
The consensus was that Everett, following heavy player losses to graduation, the professional ranks and attrition, would struggle toward the bottom of the league standings this season. The Tips were picked 18th among the Western Hockey League's 22 teams In the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association preseason poll, with many speculating Everett wouldn't even make the playoffs.
But following Saturday's 4-2 victory over Prince George in its final game of the first half, Everett stood at 15-13-5-0, good enough for third place in the U.S. Division and fifth in the Western Conference.
"Looking back, if you'd asked me at the beginning of the season and told me this record, I would have been happy with it," left wing Kyle Beach said. "The way these last two or three weeks went (five straight losses before beating Prince George) it's a bit disappointing, we lost a couple points. But we'll take this record. It gives us room to improve and room to build on in the second half."
There are several factors the Tips can point to for their solid first half. The biggest would be the production of Everett's rookies. The line of 17-year-olds Kellan Tochkin, Byron Froese and Tyler Maxwell has been a revelation. Since uniting in October, the trio has been Everett's most effective offensive line. Tochkin is leading the team in scoring and is second in the league in rookie scoring with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists). Froese (eight goals, 20 assists) and Maxwell (13 goals, 12 assists) each rank in the top six in the league in scoring among rookies. Their production has been crucial for a team expected to struggle offensively.
But it's not just the rookies who have carried the load. Everett's received yeoman's work from its three overagers. Defensemen Taylor Ellington and Graham Potuer have logged major minutes, and center Daniel Bartek, acquired in a preseason trade with Brandon, has provided a pleasant offensive boost with 15 goals and 15 assists.
And Everett coach John Becanic likes the way the team came together.
"Team chemistry for sure has been a been a positive," Becanic said, listing off the things that went right in the first half. "It's a real close-knit group. I really like how Taylor Ellington got involved as a leader on and off the ice. We needed that, we needed someone to take charge of the leadership. Obviously the kid line speaks for itself. I thought the moves Doug (Soetaert, Everett's general manager) made were critical for us, Bartek being one of them. And (defenseman Shayne) Brown is injured, but he's been such a positive influence in the locker room."
However, despite a solid first half, the Tips know they're a long way from challenging for a league title. Everett is well off the 100-point pace being set by Western Conferene heavies Vancouver, Tri-City and Spokane.
"We have to improve in all areas," Becanic said. "We're not great in any area yet, but we're better in a lot of areas. We can't continue to give up the chances we're giving up. But a lot of our game is mental, and when it's mental development it's just maturation. You can't give a timeline on where you expect guys to be."
The Tips have a long break before the second half begins. The Tips don't play again until Dec. 27, a full two weeks between games. That's the longest break in the league, as well as the longest in the franchise's six seasons.
A longer break comes with its plusses and minuses. On the plus side it allows a little more time for players to heal the nagging little injuries that have bothered them throughout the season, and it also gives the players a chance to recharge mentally. On the minus side, it leaves that much more time to lose game shape and sharpness.
"Two weeks, there's no excuses," Beach said. "It's time for injuries to heal up, hopefully we can get some key guys back in the lineup. I think we have a disciplined enough group here that they'll take these two weeks seriously and get prepared for the second half. Hopefully we come back re-energized and ready to play like we did at the start of the season."
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081215/SPORTS/712159900/1003/SPORTS08
Silvertips head to break hoping to build upon solid first half
The longest holiday break in franchise history gives Everett players plenty of time to heal up and reflect on a better-than-expected first half that finds the Silvertips in playoff contention in the Western Conference.
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT -- The Everett Silvertips headed home for the holidays Sunday, each player toting a brand new iTouch, a Christmas present courtesy of the organization.
But the new electronic toy won't be the only thing the players enjoy over their two weeks of vacation. The Tips will also be able to reflect with satisfaction on a first half where they exceeded the expectations most put on them at the start of the season.
"Nobody expected us to do this well," Everett right wing Shane Harper said. "We expected it from ourselves, but what we did was acceptable for us. The second half we want to do even better, but we're happy with what we did."
The consensus was that Everett, following heavy player losses to graduation, the professional ranks and attrition, would struggle toward the bottom of the league standings this season. The Tips were picked 18th among the Western Hockey League's 22 teams In the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association preseason poll, with many speculating Everett wouldn't even make the playoffs.
But following Saturday's 4-2 victory over Prince George in its final game of the first half, Everett stood at 15-13-5-0, good enough for third place in the U.S. Division and fifth in the Western Conference.
"Looking back, if you'd asked me at the beginning of the season and told me this record, I would have been happy with it," left wing Kyle Beach said. "The way these last two or three weeks went (five straight losses before beating Prince George) it's a bit disappointing, we lost a couple points. But we'll take this record. It gives us room to improve and room to build on in the second half."
There are several factors the Tips can point to for their solid first half. The biggest would be the production of Everett's rookies. The line of 17-year-olds Kellan Tochkin, Byron Froese and Tyler Maxwell has been a revelation. Since uniting in October, the trio has been Everett's most effective offensive line. Tochkin is leading the team in scoring and is second in the league in rookie scoring with 36 points (10 goals, 26 assists). Froese (eight goals, 20 assists) and Maxwell (13 goals, 12 assists) each rank in the top six in the league in scoring among rookies. Their production has been crucial for a team expected to struggle offensively.
But it's not just the rookies who have carried the load. Everett's received yeoman's work from its three overagers. Defensemen Taylor Ellington and Graham Potuer have logged major minutes, and center Daniel Bartek, acquired in a preseason trade with Brandon, has provided a pleasant offensive boost with 15 goals and 15 assists.
And Everett coach John Becanic likes the way the team came together.
"Team chemistry for sure has been a been a positive," Becanic said, listing off the things that went right in the first half. "It's a real close-knit group. I really like how Taylor Ellington got involved as a leader on and off the ice. We needed that, we needed someone to take charge of the leadership. Obviously the kid line speaks for itself. I thought the moves Doug (Soetaert, Everett's general manager) made were critical for us, Bartek being one of them. And (defenseman Shayne) Brown is injured, but he's been such a positive influence in the locker room."
However, despite a solid first half, the Tips know they're a long way from challenging for a league title. Everett is well off the 100-point pace being set by Western Conferene heavies Vancouver, Tri-City and Spokane.
"We have to improve in all areas," Becanic said. "We're not great in any area yet, but we're better in a lot of areas. We can't continue to give up the chances we're giving up. But a lot of our game is mental, and when it's mental development it's just maturation. You can't give a timeline on where you expect guys to be."
The Tips have a long break before the second half begins. The Tips don't play again until Dec. 27, a full two weeks between games. That's the longest break in the league, as well as the longest in the franchise's six seasons.
A longer break comes with its plusses and minuses. On the plus side it allows a little more time for players to heal the nagging little injuries that have bothered them throughout the season, and it also gives the players a chance to recharge mentally. On the minus side, it leaves that much more time to lose game shape and sharpness.
"Two weeks, there's no excuses," Beach said. "It's time for injuries to heal up, hopefully we can get some key guys back in the lineup. I think we have a disciplined enough group here that they'll take these two weeks seriously and get prepared for the second half. Hopefully we come back re-energized and ready to play like we did at the start of the season."