Silvertips
Notebook: Everett may have edge over rivals in division race

By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times

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Coaches love to play 'em one game at a time, but fans can afford to take a little longer perspective.

Schedule gazing is one of the joys of following a team. With this year's Western Hockey League season having passed the three-quarter mark, it's not too early to start pondering the sprint to the finish.

The Everett Silvertips have 17 games left this season as they attempt to become the first Western Hockey League expansion team to finish above .500.

Though making the playoffs was an admirable and lofty goal before the season started, the Silvertips are now looking for more.

Under the helmet Torrie Wheat Position: right wing Height: 6 feet 2 Weight: 180 pounds Age: 18 Hometown: Nanaimo, B.C. Personal: Wheat wants to go to college and start his own business after his hockey career. He and teammate Barry Horman are considering trying to open a couple of coffee shops in Nanaimo this year. Scouting report: Wheat is a tall, fast, hard-working forward who has fit in well with Everett's team-first system. Quotable: "Our team just hates to lose, so every time we have lost we feel like we have to come out and win the next night. That's why we've been so consistent this season. I can't imagine doing anything more fun than playing hockey with this group of guys."

A U.S. Division title is in reach with three teams — Portland, Tri-City and Everett — virtually deadlocked for first place.

The remaining schedule appears to give a slight edge to the Silvertips. They have eight games left at the Everett Events Center, where they have played before enthusiastic crowds all season.

Everett has three games left against Portland and has the advantage of playing two of the three at home. The Silvertips also have three games left against Tri-City, and again, two of the three will be in Everett.

Portland also has 17 games remaining and eight at home. The Winter Hawks will play Tri-City three times, twice in Portland.

Tri-City has only 14 games left, meaning it has three fewer opportunities to earn points than Everett and Portland. Plus, the Americans have a lot of history to overcome, having never won a championship of any kind since moving to the Tri-Cities in the 1988-89 season.

For Tri-City, the regular season ends March 14 with a game in Portland. For Everett, it ends March 14 with a game in Seattle.

The way this season has gone so far, that's probably the date the division title will be decided.

Love is Player of Month

Defenseman Mitch Love has been chosen by fans as the Silvertips Player of the Month for January.

In a poll on the Silvertips Web site (www.everettsilvertips.com), Love received 38 percent of the 445 votes cast. Goaltender Jeff Harvey was next at 26 percent.

Harvey's skates

Harvey's old skates have earned $215 for the Silvertips' scholarship fund.

The skates were among several items auctioned off on the team's Web site and earned the most money.

"I only used them about half a season, so I thought they might go for a little more," Harvey laughed when told how much money they brought.

Harvey's Bauer Supreme 7000s, worn in several games earlier this season, now feature Harvey's autograph on the heel and helped the team raise $390.

Several autographed hockey sticks are now up for auction with bids closing Sunday.

Saturday-night fever

Everett hasn't lost at home on a Saturday night since the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Silvertips on Dec. 13.

Since then, Everett has won five straight, beating Seattle 2-1, Portland 3-2, Portland 6-3, Kamloops 4-1 and Vancouver 3-0.

Upcoming schedule

The lead in the U.S. Division will most likely be affected by games in Everett this weekend. Portland visits on Friday and Tri-City on Saturday. The Silvertips will then have to regroup when the talented Brandon Wheat Kings come to town Sunday.

Around the league

• Lethbridge goaltender Logan Koopmans is the Western Hockey League's Player of the Week. Koopmans had a 97.1 save percentage in three wins.

• Chris Falloon is the Prince George Cougars' all-time leading scorer with 222 career points. Falloon scored his 100th career goal against Everett on Feb. 3 and his 222nd point when he had an assist on Myles Zimmer's goal against Seattle on Sunday.

• The Saskatoon Blades saw their winless streak reach 20 games with a 3-2 overtime loss to Medicine Hat on Saturday.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company