Published: Sunday, January 31, 2010
Silvertips win No. 14
Everett wins franchise record 14th straight
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Matthew Williams / The Herald
Silvertips fans cheer during Everett's game against Kamloops on Saturday. Everett won the game and set a franchise record with their 14th straight victory in the process.
EVERETT — When the final horn sounded, the crowd at Comcast Arena rose in unison and gave the Everett Silvertips a lengthy ovation. The fans were well aware of the magnitude of the accomplishment they'd just witnessed.
Everett set a new franchise record with its 14th consecutive victory as the Tips defeated the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 Saturday night.
The Tips surpassed the 13-game streak set by the 2006-07 team that won 54 games and earned the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league's best record. The win also completed a perfect January as Everett remained unbeaten in 2010.
“It's an unbelievable feeling,” said goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, who backstopped the Tips to the record with 19 saves. “You never know how long this record might stand or how much more it will grow. It's certainly something special.
“This building was incredible tonight,” Heemskerk added. “Tonight was not a night to disappoint.”
Shane Harper and Chris Langkow scored the goals for Everett (33-16-2-1), which also matched the longest winning streak in the WHL this season. Kootenay had a 14-game winning streak, which ended earlier this month.
Harper's goal also matched a franchise record as it gave him goals in six straight games. He equalled the record set by Byron Froese during the first half of the winning streak.
“We don't want to downplay it,” Everett coach Craig Hartsburg said of the record. “In the big picture we have lots of games left. But the kids should be proud of themselves. They've battled back from some adversity, we didn't have a great month in December (going 3-8-1-1). Give the kids credit because they stuck with it. They've built themselves back up and they're doing it hard. There's nothing easy for them.”
Saturday's game was more evidence of that. Kamloops came into the game with a modest record, but the Blazers made the Tips earn it. Kamloops goaltender Jon Groenheyde did everything he could to end the streak, making several sterling saves among his 33, and the Blazers generated a lot of pressure in the final two periods, though without creating many clear-cut chances.
Heemskerk, who hadn't played in nearly two weeks as Kent Simpson received the past four starts, was at his best with three minutes remaining in regulation, making a string of reaction saves after an extended scramble in front of the Everett goal. He and Simpson each have seven wins during the streak.
And it was yet another one-goal victory for the Tips. During the streak Everett has won 10 times by a single tally.
“I assume we're a bit of a target because of what is going on, and that's fine,” Hartsburg said. “Every game right now is very intense, it seems like playoff-type games no matter who we're playing. What it does for our kids, though, is keep their focus. They're learning how to play in these games and though they're not perfect, they're getting better at it.”
Everett is still a long way away from the league record for longest winning streak. Victoria won 24 straight in 1981.
Brendan Ranford scored the lone goal for Kamloops (24-24-2-4), which was hoping to play spoiler, and despite the loss Blazers coach Guy Charron was happy with the way his team played.
“You hope maybe tonight is the night (the streak ends),” Charron said. “You know it's going to be difficult because a team that's on a winning streak plays with a lot of confidence. They believe in themselves, and for us on the road it's been difficult. We've found more ways than not to lose hockey games. So for us I'd say it's a step in the right direction.”
Everett took the lead 4 minutes, 3 seconds into the game, and once again it was Harper who notched the first goal. After taking a big hit behind the Blazers net, Harper found the puck at his feet, walked out front unopposed and put a shot into the top corner to give the Tips an early lead. It was the fourth straight game in which Harper scored the game's first goal.
The Tips doubled their lead at 10:45, Langkow poking the puck home after Groenheyde spilled Radko Gudas' shot from the point, and it looked like Everett would coast to the record.
However, Kamloops regrouped in the second period and got on the board 2:06 in, Ranford fighting through a stick check to score off the rush and make it 2-1. The Tips had several chances to restore their two-goal lead later in the period, but Groenheyde denied Langkow all alone in front and stopped a Harper breakaway.
Kamloops controlled much of the play in the third period, but was unable to do much to threaten Heemskerk until the flurry late in the period. But Heemskerk made the stops to preserve the record.
Silvertips 2, Blazers 1
Kamloops 0 1 0 — 1
Everett 2 0 0 — 2
First Period—1, Everett, Harper 33 (Langkow, Dailey), 4:03. 2, Everett, Langkow 17 (Dailey, Gudas), 10:45. Penalties—Ranford, Kamloops (hooking), 19:18.
Second Period—3, Kamloops, Ranford 22 (Stretch, Willick), 2:06. Penalties—Maxwell, Everett (goaltender interference), 9:35; Harper, Everett (tripping), 13:35.
Third Period—no goals. Penalties—Bene, Kamloops (hooking), 11:59.
Shots on goal—Kamloops 7-4-9—20. Everett 15-9-11—35. Power-play opportunities—Kamloops 0 of 2. Everett 0 of 2.
Goalies—Kamloops, Groenheyde 7-11-1-1 (35 shots, 33 saves). Everett, Heemskerk 17-8-1-0 (20 shots, 19 saves).
A—6,814.
Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
Everett set a new franchise record with its 14th consecutive victory as the Tips defeated the Kamloops Blazers 2-1 Saturday night.
The Tips surpassed the 13-game streak set by the 2006-07 team that won 54 games and earned the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league's best record. The win also completed a perfect January as Everett remained unbeaten in 2010.
“It's an unbelievable feeling,” said goaltender Thomas Heemskerk, who backstopped the Tips to the record with 19 saves. “You never know how long this record might stand or how much more it will grow. It's certainly something special.
“This building was incredible tonight,” Heemskerk added. “Tonight was not a night to disappoint.”
Shane Harper and Chris Langkow scored the goals for Everett (33-16-2-1), which also matched the longest winning streak in the WHL this season. Kootenay had a 14-game winning streak, which ended earlier this month.
Harper's goal also matched a franchise record as it gave him goals in six straight games. He equalled the record set by Byron Froese during the first half of the winning streak.
“We don't want to downplay it,” Everett coach Craig Hartsburg said of the record. “In the big picture we have lots of games left. But the kids should be proud of themselves. They've battled back from some adversity, we didn't have a great month in December (going 3-8-1-1). Give the kids credit because they stuck with it. They've built themselves back up and they're doing it hard. There's nothing easy for them.”
Saturday's game was more evidence of that. Kamloops came into the game with a modest record, but the Blazers made the Tips earn it. Kamloops goaltender Jon Groenheyde did everything he could to end the streak, making several sterling saves among his 33, and the Blazers generated a lot of pressure in the final two periods, though without creating many clear-cut chances.
Heemskerk, who hadn't played in nearly two weeks as Kent Simpson received the past four starts, was at his best with three minutes remaining in regulation, making a string of reaction saves after an extended scramble in front of the Everett goal. He and Simpson each have seven wins during the streak.
And it was yet another one-goal victory for the Tips. During the streak Everett has won 10 times by a single tally.
“I assume we're a bit of a target because of what is going on, and that's fine,” Hartsburg said. “Every game right now is very intense, it seems like playoff-type games no matter who we're playing. What it does for our kids, though, is keep their focus. They're learning how to play in these games and though they're not perfect, they're getting better at it.”
Everett is still a long way away from the league record for longest winning streak. Victoria won 24 straight in 1981.
Brendan Ranford scored the lone goal for Kamloops (24-24-2-4), which was hoping to play spoiler, and despite the loss Blazers coach Guy Charron was happy with the way his team played.
“You hope maybe tonight is the night (the streak ends),” Charron said. “You know it's going to be difficult because a team that's on a winning streak plays with a lot of confidence. They believe in themselves, and for us on the road it's been difficult. We've found more ways than not to lose hockey games. So for us I'd say it's a step in the right direction.”
Everett took the lead 4 minutes, 3 seconds into the game, and once again it was Harper who notched the first goal. After taking a big hit behind the Blazers net, Harper found the puck at his feet, walked out front unopposed and put a shot into the top corner to give the Tips an early lead. It was the fourth straight game in which Harper scored the game's first goal.
The Tips doubled their lead at 10:45, Langkow poking the puck home after Groenheyde spilled Radko Gudas' shot from the point, and it looked like Everett would coast to the record.
However, Kamloops regrouped in the second period and got on the board 2:06 in, Ranford fighting through a stick check to score off the rush and make it 2-1. The Tips had several chances to restore their two-goal lead later in the period, but Groenheyde denied Langkow all alone in front and stopped a Harper breakaway.
Kamloops controlled much of the play in the third period, but was unable to do much to threaten Heemskerk until the flurry late in the period. But Heemskerk made the stops to preserve the record.
Silvertips 2, Blazers 1
Kamloops 0 1 0 — 1
Everett 2 0 0 — 2
First Period—1, Everett, Harper 33 (Langkow, Dailey), 4:03. 2, Everett, Langkow 17 (Dailey, Gudas), 10:45. Penalties—Ranford, Kamloops (hooking), 19:18.
Second Period—3, Kamloops, Ranford 22 (Stretch, Willick), 2:06. Penalties—Maxwell, Everett (goaltender interference), 9:35; Harper, Everett (tripping), 13:35.
Third Period—no goals. Penalties—Bene, Kamloops (hooking), 11:59.
Shots on goal—Kamloops 7-4-9—20. Everett 15-9-11—35. Power-play opportunities—Kamloops 0 of 2. Everett 0 of 2.
Goalies—Kamloops, Groenheyde 7-11-1-1 (35 shots, 33 saves). Everett, Heemskerk 17-8-1-0 (20 shots, 19 saves).
A—6,814.
Nick Patterson's Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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