Tipped Off
12-20-2006, 10:26 AM
Everett Herald:
With amazing first half behind them, Tips take a break
Everett (27-5-0-1), which leads the U.S. Division by 14 games, takes a week off for Christmas
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - The Everett Silvertips packed their bags and headed home for the Christmas break following Sunday's 2-1 loss at Seattle.
Which means the Tips get nine days of rest and relaxation to prepare for the second half of the Western Hockey League season.
"It's always good for players to get a break because they put so much into what we're trying to do," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "For all the players in the league taking a week off now is good. It gives them a chance to get re-energized and recharged, then come back and make a run at the second half of the season."
The Tips should be able to rest comfortably and free of stress, considering what they accomplished in the first half of the season. Through the first 33 games of the 72-game schedule Everett is 27-5-0-1, the best record in the league, and the Tips hold a commanding 14-point lead in the U.S. Division.
"It'll be good to rest up and get ready for the next half," defenseman Jason Fransoo said. "It's a big half. We put ourselves in a good position, but we want to keep doing what we're doing."
The break, however, may have come at an inconvenient time for Everett. With the Tips having swept a home-and-home series against Vancouver, the team with the second-best record in the league, last weekend, the break could serve to blunt Everett's momentum.
"I'm kind of sad to see this break come," right wing Moises Gutierrez said. "We were playing so well and winning so many games, and individually guys were doing well. When you're in a groove like that, you hate to break it up for so long. But some guys need it. Guys have played a lot of hockey the last three months, so it'll be good for the guys to get home and get a break."
Nevertheless, the Tips are satisfied with what they accomplished in the first half of the season.
"We're happy with what we've done," Gutierrez said. "We've accomplished a lot, I don't think we've lost back-to-back games this year. We want to go home, clear our minds, enjoy our families - some guys don't get to see their families too much. This week off will hopefully refresh us, then we can come back in the second half and try and do even better things than we accomplished here in the first half of the season."
And as well as the Tips performed in the first half of the season. They're still aware they have work to do to reach their ultimate goal of winning the Memorial Cup.
"Our record's pretty solid, so we built a lot as a team, grew a lot as a team," Fransoo said. "We still have a lot of growing left to do. We've got things to work on, we're not 100 percent where we want to be.
"This is only the midpoint."
The players are scheduled to report back to Everett on Dec. 26, then play Dec. 27 in Seattle.
With amazing first half behind them, Tips take a break
Everett (27-5-0-1), which leads the U.S. Division by 14 games, takes a week off for Christmas
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
EVERETT - The Everett Silvertips packed their bags and headed home for the Christmas break following Sunday's 2-1 loss at Seattle.
Which means the Tips get nine days of rest and relaxation to prepare for the second half of the Western Hockey League season.
"It's always good for players to get a break because they put so much into what we're trying to do," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "For all the players in the league taking a week off now is good. It gives them a chance to get re-energized and recharged, then come back and make a run at the second half of the season."
The Tips should be able to rest comfortably and free of stress, considering what they accomplished in the first half of the season. Through the first 33 games of the 72-game schedule Everett is 27-5-0-1, the best record in the league, and the Tips hold a commanding 14-point lead in the U.S. Division.
"It'll be good to rest up and get ready for the next half," defenseman Jason Fransoo said. "It's a big half. We put ourselves in a good position, but we want to keep doing what we're doing."
The break, however, may have come at an inconvenient time for Everett. With the Tips having swept a home-and-home series against Vancouver, the team with the second-best record in the league, last weekend, the break could serve to blunt Everett's momentum.
"I'm kind of sad to see this break come," right wing Moises Gutierrez said. "We were playing so well and winning so many games, and individually guys were doing well. When you're in a groove like that, you hate to break it up for so long. But some guys need it. Guys have played a lot of hockey the last three months, so it'll be good for the guys to get home and get a break."
Nevertheless, the Tips are satisfied with what they accomplished in the first half of the season.
"We're happy with what we've done," Gutierrez said. "We've accomplished a lot, I don't think we've lost back-to-back games this year. We want to go home, clear our minds, enjoy our families - some guys don't get to see their families too much. This week off will hopefully refresh us, then we can come back in the second half and try and do even better things than we accomplished here in the first half of the season."
And as well as the Tips performed in the first half of the season. They're still aware they have work to do to reach their ultimate goal of winning the Memorial Cup.
"Our record's pretty solid, so we built a lot as a team, grew a lot as a team," Fransoo said. "We still have a lot of growing left to do. We've got things to work on, we're not 100 percent where we want to be.
"This is only the midpoint."
The players are scheduled to report back to Everett on Dec. 26, then play Dec. 27 in Seattle.