The Silvertips have called up defenseman Micheal Zipp. The 16-year-old Zipp took part in practice today and will remain with the team the remainder of the season.
Zipp, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound native of Edmonton, Alberta, was Everett’s fourth-round pick in the 2011 bantam draft. He had been playing for the Drumheller Dragons of the AJHL, where he was pointless in nine games.
Zipp played well enough during the preseason that he warranted consideration for making the team. However, with the Tips overloaded with 17-year-old rookie defensemen, there probably wasn’t enough room for Zipp to get the 40 games required for 16-year-olds. But with Ryan Murray done for the season, Griffin Foulk traded to Seattle and Landon Oslanski looking good as a forward, there’s now an opening for the stay-to-home blueliner. In addition, Zipp wasn’t really playing that much for Drumheller, so if he wasn’t going to play there, he might as well not play here, where he can get acclimated for next season.
That said, Zipp will play. Nick Walters remains day-to-day because of damage sustained in a fight Friday. Oslanski will likely get another game back at defense Tuesday in Portland, as Zipp won’t be thrown straight into the fire. But after that I think the Tips would like to get Oslanski back up front again. And with Mirco Mueller headed off for World Juniors in a week, even more ice time will open up on the blue line.
Zipp becomes the fourth 16-year-old on Everett’s roster, joining forwards Tyler Sandhu, Ty Mappin and Dawson Leedahl. None of those three forwards are in any danger of coming up short on their 40 games.
One other note from today’s practice is that overage winger Ryan Harrison took part, though he was wearing a no-contact jersey. Harrison is scheduled to get checked by doctors again Tuesday, and that may result in his getting the green light for a return.
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