Tipped Off
10-21-2005, 10:26 AM
Silvertips prepare to batten down the hatches
Beginning tonight, Everett faces its stiffest test of the season with 14 games in the next 23 nights.
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - So far the 2005-06 Western Hockey League season has been a bit like a scenic ocean cruise for the Everett Silvertips. The Silvertips have floated gently along the calm waters, soaking up the sun and making the occasional pit stop in port.
But beginning tonight that cruise ship turns into a lifeboat being thrashed along the ocean waves. Up to now has been the calm, now comes the storm.
And this is no ordinary storm.
Starting today Everett embarks on the most brutal stretch of schedule in franchise history, playing 14 games in 23 nights, and the Silvertips are well aware that their relaxed start to the season has come to an abrupt end.
"We're paying our dues for the days off we got at the beginning of the season," Everett defenseman Shaun Heshka said. "We kind of had a lax first couple of weeks, playing only a couple games a week, so we're due for a long stretch and this is it."
Through the first 28 days of the season Everett played just eight games. In none of the first four weeks did Everett play more than twice, and only once did the Silvertips play back-to-back games.
But that's about to change.
Beginning today Everett has back-to-back weekends where it plays three games in three nights - with another game during the week. Then immediately following that second weekend the Tips depart on a seven-game road trip that includes Everett's swing through the Central Division.
So the vacation's over for the Tips.
"It'll put us to a different kind of test," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "I think there will be more rhythm to our game, but at the same time there will be a little more fatigue in our game. If you're going to be a top-end team in this league you have to be able to play in either environment, so we've got to prove we can do this now."
The biggest issue for the players is the physical toll playing so many games in such a short period of time exacts on the body.
"It's a tough grind on your legs," Heshka said. "You have to make sure you have enough energy, that you're getting enough food and water into your system so you can play to your full 100-percent potential."
The flurry of games also disrupts game preparation, as the team has less time to practice or watch video between constest.
"You sort of cut down on the workouts a little bit," center Mark Kress said. "Practices are a little shorter, not so much battling and getting your body beat up, because with all these games your body takes a beating just from that."
The busy schedule also presents a challenge for the coaches, who have to determine how best to allocate players to the games. Goaltender Leland Irving has started every game for Everett so far this season, but you can be sure backup Matt Esposito will be getting his first WHL start sometime during this stretch. And left wing Michael Wuchterl and defenseman Zach Sim, who have suited up just three times between them, will be seeing the ice more frequently.
Fortunately for the Silvertips they're healthy going into this stretch, giving Constantine a full roster to work with.
"We've been playing the last month with zero consideration for giving guys rest because there's been zero need," Constantine said. "So if guys are playing well and you're winning, there's not a lot of need for change. Now we're getting into where you probably have to make some intelligent choices about how tired guys are getting, and maybe we'll move more guys in and out of the lineup than we have over the last month."
When this storm is over, the Silvertips will have a better idea of where they stand.
"Guys are going to really have to show the work ethic you need to be successful," Constantine said. "It's so easy to build excuses when you play hockey, and the good players are the ones who never find an excuse, they just find ways to get things done.
"I think our guys are excited to play, actually," Constantine continued. "We're way behind the rest of the league in terms of total games played. Our guys are actually looking forward to this."
Beginning tonight, Everett faces its stiffest test of the season with 14 games in the next 23 nights.
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - So far the 2005-06 Western Hockey League season has been a bit like a scenic ocean cruise for the Everett Silvertips. The Silvertips have floated gently along the calm waters, soaking up the sun and making the occasional pit stop in port.
But beginning tonight that cruise ship turns into a lifeboat being thrashed along the ocean waves. Up to now has been the calm, now comes the storm.
And this is no ordinary storm.
Starting today Everett embarks on the most brutal stretch of schedule in franchise history, playing 14 games in 23 nights, and the Silvertips are well aware that their relaxed start to the season has come to an abrupt end.
"We're paying our dues for the days off we got at the beginning of the season," Everett defenseman Shaun Heshka said. "We kind of had a lax first couple of weeks, playing only a couple games a week, so we're due for a long stretch and this is it."
Through the first 28 days of the season Everett played just eight games. In none of the first four weeks did Everett play more than twice, and only once did the Silvertips play back-to-back games.
But that's about to change.
Beginning today Everett has back-to-back weekends where it plays three games in three nights - with another game during the week. Then immediately following that second weekend the Tips depart on a seven-game road trip that includes Everett's swing through the Central Division.
So the vacation's over for the Tips.
"It'll put us to a different kind of test," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "I think there will be more rhythm to our game, but at the same time there will be a little more fatigue in our game. If you're going to be a top-end team in this league you have to be able to play in either environment, so we've got to prove we can do this now."
The biggest issue for the players is the physical toll playing so many games in such a short period of time exacts on the body.
"It's a tough grind on your legs," Heshka said. "You have to make sure you have enough energy, that you're getting enough food and water into your system so you can play to your full 100-percent potential."
The flurry of games also disrupts game preparation, as the team has less time to practice or watch video between constest.
"You sort of cut down on the workouts a little bit," center Mark Kress said. "Practices are a little shorter, not so much battling and getting your body beat up, because with all these games your body takes a beating just from that."
The busy schedule also presents a challenge for the coaches, who have to determine how best to allocate players to the games. Goaltender Leland Irving has started every game for Everett so far this season, but you can be sure backup Matt Esposito will be getting his first WHL start sometime during this stretch. And left wing Michael Wuchterl and defenseman Zach Sim, who have suited up just three times between them, will be seeing the ice more frequently.
Fortunately for the Silvertips they're healthy going into this stretch, giving Constantine a full roster to work with.
"We've been playing the last month with zero consideration for giving guys rest because there's been zero need," Constantine said. "So if guys are playing well and you're winning, there's not a lot of need for change. Now we're getting into where you probably have to make some intelligent choices about how tired guys are getting, and maybe we'll move more guys in and out of the lineup than we have over the last month."
When this storm is over, the Silvertips will have a better idea of where they stand.
"Guys are going to really have to show the work ethic you need to be successful," Constantine said. "It's so easy to build excuses when you play hockey, and the good players are the ones who never find an excuse, they just find ways to get things done.
"I think our guys are excited to play, actually," Constantine continued. "We're way behind the rest of the league in terms of total games played. Our guys are actually looking forward to this."