Thursday, December 27, 2012

Silvertips Recall Four, Sign Mitch Skapski

Press Release

EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips today announced the addition of four players who will join the team immediately to help offset the absence of players who are currently away at international tournaments.  Forward Mitch Skapski has signed a WHL Education Contract and will join the Silvertips on a full-time basis, while forwards Logan Aasman and Kyle Raymond and 15-year-old defenseman Kevin Davis will also be with the club when it returns from the WHL holiday break with three games this weekend.

Skapski, 16, was acquired by the Silvertips in May in the same trade that brought Ben Betker and Tyler Sandhu to Everett from Portland in exchange for Seth Jones.  As the only 1996-born player with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL, Skapski had three goals, eight points and 39 penalty minutes in 29 games this year.  Hailing from Abbotsford, BC and originally selected in the fourth round (#86 overall) of the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, the 5-9, 155-pound winger racked up 26 goals, 49 points and 86 penalty minutes in 40 midget games last season.  

“We’re very excited that Mitch has decided to commit to our program this year,” said General Manager Garry Davidson.  “He’s known for his high level of compete and energy and plays a much bigger game than his size suggests.  Having Mitch here sooner will give him added experience that should help him going into next year.”

Raymond, 16, joins the Silvertips for the second time this season after making his WHL debut at Tri-City on November 9.  In 31 games with the Princeton Posse of the Junior-B KIJHL this year, Raymond has 21 points (9g/12a) and 46 minutes in penalties.  The 6-foot-4 Langley, BC native was Everett’s seventh round selection (#136 overall) in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft.  

Aasman, 17, makes his first foray into the WHL after being listed recently by the Silvertips.  At the midget level with the Southeast Tigers in his hometown of Medicine Hat, Alberta this season, the sizable winger has scored 12 goals and totaled 18 points to go with 32 penalty minutes in 21 games.  He has also appeared in one Junior-A game with Drumheller of the AJHL this year.

Davis, 15, was Everett’s first-round selection (11th overall) in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft.  He has recorded 14 points (7g/7a) in 24 games with the Thompson Blazers of the of BC Major Midget League so far this season.  A native of Kamloops, BC, Davis compiled 46 points (15g/31a) in 49 games from the blueline last year while helping lead his bantam club to a league title.

“Kyle and Logan are both big, physical right wingers who will have the chance to establish themselves in our group during this period, and Kevin is a first-round draft pick who will be an important part of our future,” Davidson said.  “We’re looking forward to seeing them in action while we’ve got some playing time available with a number of players unavailable to us right now.”

Three Silvertips players are currently away from the club on international duty:  defenseman Mirco Mueller is playing for Switzerland at the World Junior Championships and forwards Ty Mappin and Tyler Sandhu are skating for Team Pacific at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge.  Forward Dawson Leedahl was also scheduled to participate in the U-17 tournament before suffering a lower-body injury that will keep him off the Team West roster.

The WHL Scholarship encourages graduates to pursue a post-secondary education while also affording them the opportunity to continue playing hockey at an elite level in the Canadian University or College systems.  For every season a player spends in the WHL, he receives a full year guaranteed Scholarship to a higher education institution.  Each year over 300 WHL graduates attend a university or college on a WHL Scholarship.  
 


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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