Tipped Off
04-22-2006, 07:13 AM
Groin injury keeps Irving on bench
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Everett Silvertips suffered an unexpected blow shortly before the beginning of the WHL's Western Conference championship series when they learned they'd be without perhaps their most important player.
Leland Irving, Everett's workhorse goaltender, suffered a groin injury and is out for at least the first four games of the series against the Vancouver Giants.
Silvertips director of media relations Keith Gerhart said Irving suffered the injury in practice Thursday. The injury appeared minor at the time, but it worsened overnight and when he tested it out during Friday's morning skate, it proved too damaged to play. Irving didn't dress for Friday's Game 1 and Everett coach Kevin Constantine said through Gerhart that Irving might be back for Game 5 April 29.
Irving, who just turned 18 and is considered a top prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft, started all but six of Everett's 72 regular season games. He went 37-22-1-3 and finished third in the league in both goals against average (1.91) and save percentage (.925). Irving was even better in the first two rounds of the playoffs, going 8-3 with a 1.48 goals against average and .944 save percentage.
With Irving out, the burden falls on backup Matt Esposito. Esposito, who just turned 17, played in 15 games during the regular season, but started just six. He went 3-5-1-0 with a 2.48 goals against average and .904 save percentage. Esposito had yet to appear in the playoffs before Friday.
Everett brought Chris Ward in to serve as Esposito's backup. Ward, Everett's fourth-round pick in the 2004 Bantam Draft who turned 17 in February, was flown in from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday and arrived just prior to the start of the game. He has suited up for Everett in the past, but has not actually played in a game
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
VANCOUVER, B.C. - The Everett Silvertips suffered an unexpected blow shortly before the beginning of the WHL's Western Conference championship series when they learned they'd be without perhaps their most important player.
Leland Irving, Everett's workhorse goaltender, suffered a groin injury and is out for at least the first four games of the series against the Vancouver Giants.
Silvertips director of media relations Keith Gerhart said Irving suffered the injury in practice Thursday. The injury appeared minor at the time, but it worsened overnight and when he tested it out during Friday's morning skate, it proved too damaged to play. Irving didn't dress for Friday's Game 1 and Everett coach Kevin Constantine said through Gerhart that Irving might be back for Game 5 April 29.
Irving, who just turned 18 and is considered a top prospect for the upcoming NHL Draft, started all but six of Everett's 72 regular season games. He went 37-22-1-3 and finished third in the league in both goals against average (1.91) and save percentage (.925). Irving was even better in the first two rounds of the playoffs, going 8-3 with a 1.48 goals against average and .944 save percentage.
With Irving out, the burden falls on backup Matt Esposito. Esposito, who just turned 17, played in 15 games during the regular season, but started just six. He went 3-5-1-0 with a 2.48 goals against average and .904 save percentage. Esposito had yet to appear in the playoffs before Friday.
Everett brought Chris Ward in to serve as Esposito's backup. Ward, Everett's fourth-round pick in the 2004 Bantam Draft who turned 17 in February, was flown in from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Friday and arrived just prior to the start of the game. He has suited up for Everett in the past, but has not actually played in a game