Tipped Off
10-28-2005, 09:04 AM
Visitors now the big kids
Last season Vancouver had the stars
Steve Ewen - The Province - Friday, October 28, 2005
The Vancouver Giants know about being the rock stars.
The G-men were the glitzy team of the Western Hockey League last season, what with the gifted Gilbert Brule in his draft year and a host of others in the lineup with NHL connections. That gives them some insight for this weekend's home-and-home set with the Everett Silvertips, this year's marquee attraction in the Dub.
The Silvertips are led by centres Peter Mueller, a Minnesota transplant who is a projected top-five pick in next summer's NHL entry draft, and Zach Hamill, a Port Coquitlam native who should be a first rounder in the 2007 draft.
With that, NHL scouts are following the team like Grateful Dead fans used to chase that band around.
"A key to beating those teams is shutting down those type guys," said Giants defenceman Brett Festerling prior to practice Thursday.
"A key for every team that came into this building last year was to shut down Gilbert Brule and Adam Courchaine.
"That being said, there's still a lot of emphasis on ourselves. We have to come out and play our game. Combine our work ethic and playing our game with shutting down those guys and we should be successful."
Hamill's had hype in the league for some time. As a 15-year-old call-up, he played in 20 playoff games with Everett two seasons ago, and counted a goal in their conference semifinal series win over Vancouver.
Oddly enough, Hamill, who has three goals and nine assists for Everett (8-4-0-0), told the Seattle Times on Wednesday that he patterns his style of play after Brule, although the 17-year-old doesn't have the Columbus Blue Jacket prospect's finish or grit.
Mueller, 17, isn't as dynamic as Brule either. He is an exquisite passer, though, and has vision and hockey sense that belies his years.
It came through in the Silvertips' 3-1 win over the Portland Winter Hawks on Wednesday. Mueller, who had verbally committed to the University of Minnesota before joining the Silvertips this season, set up the winning goal with a defence-splitting feed to Karel Hromas.
Silvertips coach Kevin Constantine told the Everett Herald afterwards the pass was "brilliant," and the ultra-serious bench boss isn't exactly the type for cheap compliments.
"I've never seen him play, but I've heard a lot about him," Giants winger David Rutherford said of Mueller, who has three goals and 11 assists. "I'm excited to see him, I'm excited to go up against him."
Rutherford and the rest of the Giants will also be excited to get defencemen Mark Fistric (shoulder) and Paul Albers (shoulder) back in the lineup this weekend, if that should happen.
Assistant coach Craig Bonner said both might be ready this weekend after missing Wednesday's 6-2 romp over the Tri-City Americans.
Everett will be without winger Torrie Wheat (knee), their team captain and leading goal scorer, with seven.
He's out indefinitely.
sewen@png.canwest.com
- - -
NEXT GAME
Everett Silvertips at Vancouver Giants
Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver
MOJO 730 AM
Last season Vancouver had the stars
Steve Ewen - The Province - Friday, October 28, 2005
The Vancouver Giants know about being the rock stars.
The G-men were the glitzy team of the Western Hockey League last season, what with the gifted Gilbert Brule in his draft year and a host of others in the lineup with NHL connections. That gives them some insight for this weekend's home-and-home set with the Everett Silvertips, this year's marquee attraction in the Dub.
The Silvertips are led by centres Peter Mueller, a Minnesota transplant who is a projected top-five pick in next summer's NHL entry draft, and Zach Hamill, a Port Coquitlam native who should be a first rounder in the 2007 draft.
With that, NHL scouts are following the team like Grateful Dead fans used to chase that band around.
"A key to beating those teams is shutting down those type guys," said Giants defenceman Brett Festerling prior to practice Thursday.
"A key for every team that came into this building last year was to shut down Gilbert Brule and Adam Courchaine.
"That being said, there's still a lot of emphasis on ourselves. We have to come out and play our game. Combine our work ethic and playing our game with shutting down those guys and we should be successful."
Hamill's had hype in the league for some time. As a 15-year-old call-up, he played in 20 playoff games with Everett two seasons ago, and counted a goal in their conference semifinal series win over Vancouver.
Oddly enough, Hamill, who has three goals and nine assists for Everett (8-4-0-0), told the Seattle Times on Wednesday that he patterns his style of play after Brule, although the 17-year-old doesn't have the Columbus Blue Jacket prospect's finish or grit.
Mueller, 17, isn't as dynamic as Brule either. He is an exquisite passer, though, and has vision and hockey sense that belies his years.
It came through in the Silvertips' 3-1 win over the Portland Winter Hawks on Wednesday. Mueller, who had verbally committed to the University of Minnesota before joining the Silvertips this season, set up the winning goal with a defence-splitting feed to Karel Hromas.
Silvertips coach Kevin Constantine told the Everett Herald afterwards the pass was "brilliant," and the ultra-serious bench boss isn't exactly the type for cheap compliments.
"I've never seen him play, but I've heard a lot about him," Giants winger David Rutherford said of Mueller, who has three goals and 11 assists. "I'm excited to see him, I'm excited to go up against him."
Rutherford and the rest of the Giants will also be excited to get defencemen Mark Fistric (shoulder) and Paul Albers (shoulder) back in the lineup this weekend, if that should happen.
Assistant coach Craig Bonner said both might be ready this weekend after missing Wednesday's 6-2 romp over the Tri-City Americans.
Everett will be without winger Torrie Wheat (knee), their team captain and leading goal scorer, with seven.
He's out indefinitely.
sewen@png.canwest.com
- - -
NEXT GAME
Everett Silvertips at Vancouver Giants
Tonight, 7:30 p.m.
Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver
MOJO 730 AM