Game 1: Tips @ Tbirds

[Tipped Off]

Tips Notes: http://tinyurl.com/nsql58

LAST GAME
Tonight is the first game of the 2009-10 season. The Silvertips’ 2008-09 season concluded with a five-game, first round defeat by the Tri-City Americans.

SILVERTIPS AND THE NHL
Drafted Players: Cameron Abney (3rd – Edmonton, 2009); Byron Froese (4th – Chicago, 2009); Rasmus Rissanen (6th – Carolina, 2009)

NHL Contract Signed: Kellan Tochkin (Vancouver, 2009)

Attended NHL Camps: Radko Gudas (Los Angeles), Tyler Maxwell (Los Angeles), Thomas Heemskerk (San Jose)

FIRST THINGS FIRST
The Silvertips open the 2009-10 campaign with seven former first round WHL Bantam Draft picks in Kellan Tochkin (13th – 2006), Alex Theriau (6th – 2007), Kent Simpson (22nd – 2007), Ryan Murray (9th – 2009), Dale Hunt (3rd – 2005), Travis Dunstall (16th – 2004) and Brett Miller (14th – 2006).

PRESEASON RECAP
The Silvertips completed a 5-1 preseason by outscoring their opponents 22-13.
W: Tri-City, 4-2; Seattle 5-1; Spokane 5-2; Lethbridge 2-1; Seattle 3-0
L: Portland, 3-7
Leading Scorer: Shane Harper (3-4-7)
Leading Goaltender: Kent Simpson: .937 SV% (134/143)

HART AND SOUL
Craig Hartsburg was introduced as the Silvertips’ Head Coach on June 23rd, 2009. A ten-year NHL veteran with the Minnesota North Stars who appeared in three All-Star Games, Hartsburg has coached 491 NHL games through seven seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Ottawa Senators. Having coached Team Canada’s gold medal-winning entries in the 2007 and 2008 World Junior Championships, he has also established a winning record at the Major Junior level with an overall record of 226-125-23-23 (W-L-OTL-T) following six seasons and 397 games as the head coach of the Guelph Storm and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

FINE IMPORTS
The Silvertips used two early selections in the 2009 CHL Import Draft by selecting Rasmus Rissanen (17th overall) and Radko Gudas (20th overall), with Rissanen’s draft slot having been obtained on a draft-day swap with Regina in 2008. Rissanen, 18, played for KalPa U-20 in Finland last year, posting nine points (1-8-9) and 56 penalty minutes in 29 games. Gudas, 19, split time between three teams in 2008-09, including a stint with HC Kladno in the top-tier Czech Extraliga in which he recorded an assist and eight penalty minutes in seven games. He appeared in 21 games for Berounsti, posting three assists and 74 penalty minutes in 21 games.

EARLY OPENER
Tonight marks the earliest that the Silvertips have opened a season in the Western Hockey League. Prior to tonight’s matchup, the earliest date that the Silvertips had opened a season was on September 19th; Everett dropped a 4-1 decision at Kamloops on 9/19/03 and a 4-3 overtime decision at Kamloops on 9/19/08.

‘TIPS TALLY
Now in their seventh season in the Western Hockey League, the Everett Silvertips have compiled a record of 228-163-10-14-17 (W-L-OTL-SOL-T) for a .583 winning percentage. The Silvertips have won three U.S. Division Titles (2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07) and one Western Conference Championship (2004).

VERSUS THE SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS
Tonight is the first of ten Everett-Seattle games, with the teams meeting on Friday, October 16th at Comcast Arena in their next appearance. Last season, Everett finished 5-5 against Seattle, including records of 4-1 at home and 1-4 on the road. Everett is 26-30-0-2-4 (W-L-OTL-SOL-T) all-time against Seattle, including a record of 5-22-0-1-3 on the road. Everett is 1-10-0-1 in the last twelve road games in this series (0-7-0-1 @ Key Arena; 1-3-0-0 @ ShoWare Center).

VERSUS THE U.S. DIVISION
Tonight marks the first game between the Silvertips and the U.S. Division. Last season, Everett finished 15-22-1-0 against the U.S. Division, including records of 12-7 at home and 3-15-1-0 on the road. Everett has an all-time record of 124-90-3-7-12 (W-L-OTL-SOL-T) against the U.S., including records of 76-32-0-4-5 at home and 48-58-3-3-7 on the road.

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HOW THE SILVERTIPS WERE BUILT
Goalies
30. Thomas Heemskerk, Trade w/ Kootenay, 12/30/08
32. Kent Simpson, Selected 1st round (22nd overall), 2007 WHL Bantam Draft

Defensemen
2. Alex Theriau, Trade w/ Lethbridge, 1/6/09
3. Radko Gudas, Selected 1st round (20th overall), 2009 CHL Import Draft
6. Gabe Minville, Selected 2nd round (44th overall), 2007 WHL Bantam Draft
8. Rasmus Rissanen, Selected 1st round (17th overall), 2009 CHL Import Draft
20. Chris de la Lande, Selected 11th round (209th overall), 2005 WHL Bantam Draft
22. Colin Scherger, Claimed off waivers from Prince George, 6/09
27. Ryan Murray, Selected 1st round (9th overall), 2008 WHL Bantam Draft
28. Drew McDermott, Listed Player
34. Paul Sohor, Selected 5th round (98th overall), 2006 WHL Bantam Draft

Forwards
7. Paul Van de Velde, Listed Player
9. Tyler Maxwell, Listed Player
10. Dale Hunt, Trade w/ Prince George, 10/31/08
11. Shane Harper, Listed Player
13. Josh Winquist, Selected 3rd round (53rd overall), 2008 WHL Bantam Draft
14. Byron Froese, Listed Player
15. Daniel Iwanski, Trade w/ Lethbridge, 1/6/09
16. Kellan Tochkin, Selected 1st Round (13th Overall) 2006 WHL Bantam Draft
17. Campbell Elynuik, Listed Player
19. Travis Dunstall, Claimed off waivers from Medicine Hat, 9/09
21. Zack Dailey, Selected 3rd Round (53rd Overall) 2004 WHL Bantam Draft
23. Brett Miller, Trade w/ Red Deer, 9/15/09
24. D. Jay McGrath, Selected 3rd round (66th overall), 2007 WHL Bantam Draft
25. Markus McCrea, Selected 6th Round (132nd Overall) 2006 WHL Bantam Draft
26. Cameron Abney, Listed Player

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[Tipped Off]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/hockey/2009889116_tips18.html

Silvertips hope to rebound with new coach
Craig Hartsburg was player and coach in NHL.

By Jim Riley

Special to The Seattle Times

EVERETT — Shane Harper has played for all three head coaches in the history of the Everett Silvertips and is quick to say he respects them all.

He can't hide his excitement, though, for the opportunity to play for new coach Craig Hartsburg.

"This year we have a little more freedom to do more offensively," Harper said. "It's more high tempo and more of an attack offense. It should help our scoring a lot."

After five winning seasons, the Silvertips slipped below .500 last year and fired coach John Becanic. Originally an assistant with the Silvertips, Becanic served for two seasons as the head coach after replacing Kevin Constantine.

The Silvertips hired Hartsburg, who played for 10 seasons in the NHL and was also a head coach there for seven seasons with Chicago, Anaheim and Ottawa.

"Coach Hartsburg isn't as technical as the other two coaches, he's more about playing hard and passionate and harder than the other team every night," Harper said. "On paper, we have a really good offensive team, but we're just as good on defense."

The Silvertips return all five of their top scorers from last season and goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, who just returned from pro camp with the San Jose Sharks.

Kellan Tochkin, a winger who signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks in the offseason, is back after leading the Silvertips with 20 goals and 54 assists last season.

Harper, who led the team with 32 goals and also had 34 assists, said last season's struggles are forgotten.

"To be honest, we're not even concerned about last year because we're so excited about what a good team we have returning," Harper said. "We think we're going to do well. We are trying not to be cocky, but confident. We have to play hard every night, but if we do that, we're going to beat a lot of teams."

Harper grew up in Valencia, Calif., playing in the hockey boom created when Wayne Gretzky played there for the Los Angeles Kings. In fact, Gretzky was a surprise guest at Harper's seventh birthday party.

"I'll never forget that one," Harper said. "We had six or seven guys on that California Wave team that have played in the WHL so Californians are definitely more accepted in the league now."

The Silvertips open the season tonight at ShoWare in Kent. The last time Everett visited there it was the final game of the regular season and Seattle scored a 10-0 knockout, the worst defeat in team history.

"Someone mentioned that game yesterday, but before that I hadn't even thought about it," Harper said. "It's always fun to play Seattle because of the rivalry. What happened there last year isn't going to affect us at all. We're just really excited about this new season."

[Tipped Off]

To me The Fin (Rissanen) looked lost, slow and at times terrible out there. I'm not sure what the deal was with him, but wow. When the puck jumped his stick and he just stood there looking at the ice while the T-bird skated by him and got a break away was mind boggling.

As for the rest of the team....we had a bunch of guys who just took the ice with the team this week so I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for game 1.

I'm thinking Simpson got the start as a reward for being in camp the whole time and playing hard/looking good. But the 3rd and 4th goals last night from Seattle were ones he should have stopped. The team found new life when Heemer came in.

Anyway, here is the game story from the paper.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090919/SPORTS/709199856/1003/SPORTS08

Silvertips dig early hole, can’t escape

By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer

KENT — Friday night was the first opportunity new Everett Silvertips coach Craig Hartsburg had to see his team perform in a game that counted, and he used just one word to evaluate his team’s performance.

And that word isn’t fit for print.

The Hartsburg era in Everett began in defeat as the Tips succumbed 4-3 to a hard-working Seattle Thunderbirds squad in their season opener at ShoWare Center.

Everett fell behind 4-0, a disastrous three-minute stretch of the second period doing the primary damage. The Tips then mounted a spirited comeback in the third period, and that rally was the only thing that prevented the night from being a complete fiasco for them.

But despite the comeback, Hartsburg was scathing of his team’s season-opening effort.

“We weren’t smart, we got out-competed for two periods,” Hartsburg said following his one-word description. “In the third period we got desperate and started to compete a little bit and made a game of it. Some of it isn’t totally surprising, our top players just got back (from NHL training camps) and their heads aren’t in it yet. But they’ve got to get with the thing because it filters through the whole team.”

Sixteen-year-old rookie Colin Jacobs had a goal and two assists to lead Seattle, while Brenden Silvester, Luke Lockhart and Prab Rai also scored.

However, the big hero for the T-birds was goaltender Calvin Pickard, who withstood 49 shots on goal — including 26 in the third period — turning away 46.

“We didn’t have the best of preseasons, so it was good to get a few goals in tonight,” Pickard said. “To get the result against such a big rival in our home opener is definitely something.”

Markus McCrea, Byron Froese and Tyler Maxwell scored for Everett.

Hartsburg started 17-year-old Kent Simpson in goal ahead of 19-year-old Thomas Heemskerk on Friday, but Simpson didn’t finish it. Simpson was pulled after Seattle’s fourth goal having stopped 14 of 18 shots. Heemskerk came on in relief and saved all 17 shots he saw.

“(Simpson) had a good training camp,” Hartsburg explained about starting Simpson ahead of Heemskerk. “He played a lot of good games and deserved to start.

“We have two good goalies and they’re both going to play,” Hartsburg added about the current goaltending hierarchy.

The Tips did little right during the game’s first two periods, and it completely unraveled for Everett during a three-minute stretch midway through the second.

It began when, with Seattle leading 1-0, Everett captain Zack Dailey took an unnecessary tripping penalty at 5 minutes, 36 seconds. The Tips had recovered from a slow start to cause some dangerous moments, but the T-birds scored on the resulting power play when Lockhart poked home a loose puck in the crease at 6:24.

While the goal was being announced Seattle scored again 46 seconds later. The T-birds withstood a moment of pressure and broke three-on-one, with Rai firing a shot into the top corner off the rush to make it 3-0.

Then just another 1:09 later Seattle scored one more time, the T-birds forcing a turnover in Everett’s zone and Jacobs sneaking a mis-hit shot under Simpson to make it 4-0 and send Simpson to the bench.

“It started from the first shift,” said Hartsburg, dismissing the three-minute stretch as the cause of the defeat. “We make a blatant turnover, take a penalty (Shane Harper’s roughing penalty 32 seconds in), and that set the tone for the game. We made poor decisions. We’re trying to break some bad habits and create some better habits. It’s going to take some time now that we have the whole group together.”

Everett finally beat Pickard at 14:24 of the second when McCrea scored from the slot on a feed from Travis Dunstall.

The Tips then flipped the switch in the third period and made it interesting. Froese scored at 11:36 when he took a rebound and put it around Pickard. Then Maxwell made it a one-goal game at 13:23, putting a backhander into the top of the net after being fed in front.

Everett then had chances to tie it down the stretch, with McCrea having a sight of goal from the post with one second remaining, but banging the puck wide.

Slap shots

Harper and Froese served as alternate captains for Everett. ... The Tips had everyone available except for left wing Daniel Iwanski, who is sidelined with a knee injury. ... Seattle received key defenseman Stefan Warg back just in time for Friday’s game. Warg played in a preseason game for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night. ... Seattle’s Russian winger Mikhail Sentyurin was not on the T-birds roster. Sentyurin is in Kent, but has year to receive his international clearance.



Thunderbirds 4, Silvertips 3

Everett 0 1 2 — 3

Seattle 1 3 0 — 4

First Period — 1, Seattle, Silvester 1 (Lockhart, Jacobs), 1:58 (pp). Penalties — Harper, Everett (roughing), 0:32; Muth, Seattle (interference), 12:37; Warg, Seattle (slashing), 13:22; Everett bench (too many men, served by Abney), 17:08; Dillon, Seattle (slashing), 19:13.

Second Period — 2, Seattle, Lockhart 1 (Wells, Jacobs), 6:24 (pp). 3, Seattle, Rai 1 (Warg), 7:10. 4, Seattle, Jacobs 1 (Nielsen, Wells), 8:19. 5, Everett, McCrea 1 (Dunstall, Abney), 14:24. Penalties — Gudas, Everett (tripping), 3:02; Dailey, Everett (tripping), 5:36; Gudas, Everett (roughing), 6:15; Parker, Seattle (roughing), 6:15; Hunt, Everett (tripping), 8:24; Warg, Seattle (slashing), 10:44.

Third Period — 6, Everett, Froese 1 (Maxwell, Murray), 11:36. 7, Everett, Maxwell 1 (Froese, Tochkin), 13:23. Penalties — Dunstall, Everett (tripping), 3:14; Tochkin, Everett (roughing), 6:56; Lockhart, Seattle (roughing), 6:56; Abney, Everett (roughing), 10:33; Dunstall, Everett (roughing), 10:33; Chaffin, Seattle (roughing), 10:33; Silvester, Seattle (roughing), 10:33.

Shots on goal — Everett 13-10-26 — 49. Seattle 10-16-9 — 35. Power-play opportunities — Everett 0 of 4. Seattle 2 of 6.

Goalies — Everett, Simpson 0-1-0-0 (18 shots, 14 saves), Heemskerk (17 shots, 17 saves). Seattle, Pickard 1-0-0-0 (49 shots, 46 saves).

A — 4,007.