Tips sign d-man Griffin Foulk

The Silvertips secured the services of another defenseman today as they inked prospect Griffin Foulk to a WHL education contract. Foulk, a native of Broomfield, Colorado, will be a 17-year-old next season.

Foulk was acquired by Everett from Edmonton in the deal that sent Tyler Maxwell to the Oil Kings. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder was an eighth-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft. This season he split time between the Colorado Thunderbirds' U-18 team and the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Between the two he had a goal and five assists in 52 games.

This is a good signing for Everett. Everything I've heard about Foulk is that he's a solid prospect as a puck-moving defenseman. Apparently he was close to making Edmonton's team this season as a 16-year-old, but was one of the last cuts. And because he's an American, there was a greater chance he would choose the NCAA route rather than the WHL.

OK, Foulk is not Seth Jones. But he has promise, and he'll also be around for more than one season. The signing is also the next step in the rebuilding of Everett's defense. The Tips may be without their top four d-men from last season, so every bit helps. Everett already acquired 18-year-old Ben Betker in the Jones trade to help fill the gap, and now Foulk is the next step. Both Betker (BCHL) and Foulk (USHL) have experience at the junior level, so that should ease their transitions.

So there's new general manager Garry Davidson's first successful recruitment. Next up on the list will be winger Jujhar Khaira and defenseman Reece Willcox, both acquired in trades and both committed to NCAA schools.