Silverthorn, Tibbetts and Krog

Two shutouts, sent down and settles another shutout. That’s the story of Idaho Steelheads goalie Steve Silverthorn. Silverthorn, called up to the Iowa Stars due to injuries in Dallas, replaced Iowa netminder Tobias Stephen. Silverthorn, who played two games for Iowa last weekend, shutdown Hamilton and Toronto, stopping 56 shots in the process.

Iowa sent him back to Idaho due to schedule opportunities that let him play there without missing a game in Iowa and he does it again, shutting down the ECHL Phoenix Roadrunners, stopping another 20 shots on goal. Recalled against the Houston Aeros, he finally gave up a goal, losing the game 3-1.

His rookie year in Idaho saw Silverthorn play 40 games and post a 2.9 GAA, compared to a 2.88 ECHL GAA this year in 29 games.

Billy Tibbetts is back on the ice, as previously reported, in Finland. HPK is playing this weekend in St. Petersburg, Russia in the European Champions Cup. Tibbetts who was out of condition on first reporting to the Finnish team, scored on a penalty shot in a 7-0 victory over Slovakia’s MsHK on Thursday. HPK went on to defeat Sparta (Prague) 3-2 earlier today. They take on AK Bars Kazan in the New Ice Palace for the Gold tomorrow.

If tradition has any meaning, Bars Kazan traditionally wins this contest and HPK will walk away with a silver medal. I’ll report back if Tibbetts was able to change things.

EDIT: 1/16/2007 Bars Kazan, a Russian team from Tartarstan, blew out the Finnish team HPK 6-0. Winning the European Champions Cup. WOW!

Finally, Jason Krog, the wonderkid of the Wolves, called up to Atlanta December 12, was sent down, to be picked up off of waivers by the New York Rangers. Krog, although not having played in a month, remains among the American Hockey League’s top five scorers this season. In Atlanta, he played in 14 games, only recording one goal and four assists. Replacing him in Atlanta is Scott Mellanby, off of the injury list. Mellanby had seven goals and 12 assists in 33 games this season. Discussing the magic of the Krog-Haydar-Sterling line in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Milwaukee Admirals Coach Claude Noel said Haydar was small, not the greatest skater, but was blessed with great intelligence.

It is unlikely Chicago will see Krog again. If Atlanta has more offensive call-ups from the Chicago Wolves Derek MacKenzie, Darren Haydar and Brent Sterling are the most likely to go, in that order.