Tipped Off
10-26-2005, 09:53 AM
New Silvertips prove real goal-getters
By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times
Peter Mueller was named WHL player of the week.
John Lammers is third on the team in scoring.
The numbers would indicate that the Everett Silvertips have made a seamless transition from a team that won with defense to one that succeeds by scoring goals.
The Silvertips, 7-4 and in first place in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League heading into tonight's home game with Portland, are averaging 3.18 goals this season.
That's up more than a goal per game from the 2.03 average last season and 2.01 they averaged in their expansion season.
John Becanic, Everett's associate head coach, said it's not so much a change in philosophy as a difference in skill level of the team's players.
The Silvertips have added Peter Mueller and John Lammers, two players good at moving the puck and putting it in the net.
Mueller, who became the first player in franchise history to be named the WHL player of the week after scoring nine points in four games last week, leads the team with 13 points. Lammers is third with 11 points, one behind defenseman Shaun Heshka.
Becanic is quick to point out that the Silvertips still rely on defense. In fact, through 11 games last season they had allowed 24 goals, the same number as this season.
The biggest difference is on the power play. The Silvertips have the best power play in the WHL, scoring at a 26.6 percent clip, up from 18 percent last season.
"We're doing the same things we've always done," Becanic said. "We haven't really made any adjustments; it's just that our talent level has allowed us to score more goals."
Becanic said Mueller, who turned down a college-scholarship offer and left the U.S. developmental program for a place in the WHL, is more than a one-way player.
"He came here with a purpose of getting better and to be ready when the time comes for him to play in the NHL," Becanic said. "People forget he's only 17 years old. His vision is uncanny and his passes are so firm they are hard to pick off. He can pass and he can shoot."
And he's committed to playing a team game, something mandatory in Everett.
"He's not a selfish or an individual player at all," Becanic said. "He's the complete package."
Mueller takes a regular shift killing penalties and had a short-handed goal in Sunday's 5-4 win over Portland.
"Killing a big penalty is a great thing to do," Mueller said. "If you work hard, it can really turn games around. You just have to go out and work as hard as you can, and that's what I've tried to do."
Mueller also cares little for individual honors. When he was selected the top star for the first time in a home game on Oct. 12, he turned the award over to linemate Torrie Wheat.
The two then both signed the award and Mueller gave it away to a fan.
It wasn't that Mueller was ungrateful; he just knew he was capable of much more and his game hadn't yet reached the standards he's set for himself.
"I look more at how the team does than how I do," Mueller said. "It's been a big adjustment and it has been exciting to see all the big arenas in this league and awesome to play in them."
Mueller is also quick to credit his linemates with easing his transition.
"Torrie Wheat has been just amazing to play with on the power play, and Karel Hromas is just a workhorse," Mueller said. "It's been nothing but good so far."
Notes
• Starting tonight with a home game against Portland, it's a busy week for the Silvertips. Everett plays at Vancouver Friday night and returns home to play Vancouver on Saturday and Brandon on Sunday.
By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times
Peter Mueller was named WHL player of the week.
John Lammers is third on the team in scoring.
The numbers would indicate that the Everett Silvertips have made a seamless transition from a team that won with defense to one that succeeds by scoring goals.
The Silvertips, 7-4 and in first place in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League heading into tonight's home game with Portland, are averaging 3.18 goals this season.
That's up more than a goal per game from the 2.03 average last season and 2.01 they averaged in their expansion season.
John Becanic, Everett's associate head coach, said it's not so much a change in philosophy as a difference in skill level of the team's players.
The Silvertips have added Peter Mueller and John Lammers, two players good at moving the puck and putting it in the net.
Mueller, who became the first player in franchise history to be named the WHL player of the week after scoring nine points in four games last week, leads the team with 13 points. Lammers is third with 11 points, one behind defenseman Shaun Heshka.
Becanic is quick to point out that the Silvertips still rely on defense. In fact, through 11 games last season they had allowed 24 goals, the same number as this season.
The biggest difference is on the power play. The Silvertips have the best power play in the WHL, scoring at a 26.6 percent clip, up from 18 percent last season.
"We're doing the same things we've always done," Becanic said. "We haven't really made any adjustments; it's just that our talent level has allowed us to score more goals."
Becanic said Mueller, who turned down a college-scholarship offer and left the U.S. developmental program for a place in the WHL, is more than a one-way player.
"He came here with a purpose of getting better and to be ready when the time comes for him to play in the NHL," Becanic said. "People forget he's only 17 years old. His vision is uncanny and his passes are so firm they are hard to pick off. He can pass and he can shoot."
And he's committed to playing a team game, something mandatory in Everett.
"He's not a selfish or an individual player at all," Becanic said. "He's the complete package."
Mueller takes a regular shift killing penalties and had a short-handed goal in Sunday's 5-4 win over Portland.
"Killing a big penalty is a great thing to do," Mueller said. "If you work hard, it can really turn games around. You just have to go out and work as hard as you can, and that's what I've tried to do."
Mueller also cares little for individual honors. When he was selected the top star for the first time in a home game on Oct. 12, he turned the award over to linemate Torrie Wheat.
The two then both signed the award and Mueller gave it away to a fan.
It wasn't that Mueller was ungrateful; he just knew he was capable of much more and his game hadn't yet reached the standards he's set for himself.
"I look more at how the team does than how I do," Mueller said. "It's been a big adjustment and it has been exciting to see all the big arenas in this league and awesome to play in them."
Mueller is also quick to credit his linemates with easing his transition.
"Torrie Wheat has been just amazing to play with on the power play, and Karel Hromas is just a workhorse," Mueller said. "It's been nothing but good so far."
Notes
• Starting tonight with a home game against Portland, it's a busy week for the Silvertips. Everett plays at Vancouver Friday night and returns home to play Vancouver on Saturday and Brandon on Sunday.