Everett Adds More Experience with Barnett

Press Release

EVERETT, WA – Everett Silvertips Vice President/General Manager Doug Soetaert today announced the club’s second player acquisition in the past three days, completing a trade for forward JT Barnett from Kamloops. The Blazers will receive a third-round pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft in return.

Barnett, 19, is currently in his fourth Western Hockey League season. The 6-1, 200-pound winger has six points in 16 games this season on four goals and two assists, one of which came in Kamloops’ 5-2 win over the Silvertips on October 8. He played all 72 games for the Blazers last year, finishing fourth on the team with 30 assists and scoring 13 goals in a 43-point campaign. Barnett has also attended NHL training camps in each of the past two preseasons, trying out with the New Jersey Devils prior to this year and the Minnesota Wild in 2010.

Hailing from Scottsdale, Arizona, Barnett began his WHL career with Vancouver after being selected in the tenth round (#214 overall) of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft. He played 38 games for the Giants as a 16-year-old rookie in 2008-09 before enjoying a breakout sophomore season in 2009-10. Barnett scored a career-high 21 goals to place fifth on the club that year, compiling 17 assists to give him 38 points. He also posted career highs with 42 penalty minutes and a +3 rating in 71 games for Vancouver two seasons ago.

“We’re very happy to add JT to our lineup,” Soetaert said. “He is a veteran player with good offensive abilities and a strong all-around game who will also bring plenty of quality WHL experience to our dressing room.”

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)