Mallonee is first member of Junior Silvertips AAA program to reach WHL

EVERETT — Sean Mallonee had already performed the mental and physical repetitions many times over when he stepped on the ice for the Everett Silvertips Sunday in Prince George, B.C.

But this time it was different. This time it was for real.

“I pictured that a million times before and to actually go out there and do it in real life was awesome,” said Mallonee, who skated in his first WHL regular-season game against the Prince George Cougars on Sunday.

Perhaps even more special for Mallonee and the greater Silvertips family is the fact that he is a product of the 16-U Junior Silvertips AAA program, which is in its second year since the Everett Silvertips took over Everett Youth Hockey, and the first to reach the WHL.

A Kennewick native, Mallonee spent two years with the Arizona Bobcats AAA Midget program. It is normal for players of his caliber to leave home to find a level of competition suited to their continued development.

But the Junior Silvertips now offer local players a chance to find that level of competition much closer to home.

“It was a no-brainer to come here,” Mallonee said. “That was one of the pros of being here — just being closer to home and my parents can come and watch me play more often. Everett was a good place to come I thought.”

The 17-year-old center scored five goals with 12 assists in 19 games for the Junior Silvertips last season. That performance allowed him to catch the attention of the Everett Silvertips brass.

“We were in front of good eyes all the time,” Mallonee said. “(Silvertips general manager) Garry (Davidson) would come and stop in at our practices and watch us play, so that was a huge reason why I came.”

At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Mallonee isn’t particularly big for a hockey player. What really stood out to the Silvertips coaching staff, however, was something else Mallonee possessed.

“The No. 1 thing we saw in Sean was a really passionate athlete,” Tips head coach Kevin Constantine said. “That’s the best way to describe it. Whenever we talked to him last year we just saw passion coming out of his speech and his body language and his play on the ice. That left such a strong impression on us last year.”

Mallonee, whom the Tips acquired as a listed player, signed his WHL standard player agreement in early September along with fellow forwards Connor Dewar and Riley Sutter.

He tallied an assist while appearing in five preseason games this year and earning his way onto the opening-day roster. On Sunday he formed part of Everett’s fourth line — which also included Sutter — in a 5-1 loss at Prince George.

Unlike many of his teammates, Mallonee — one of just three Americans on the current roster — doesn’t come from a hockey background. The extended Mallonee clan leans toward baseball, but Sean was hooked on hockey since he first tried the sport at age 6.

“He’s coming from a bit of a western United States naiveté in his hockey so I think there’s stuff to learn, but I think he will become the player we saw last year which is a passionate athlete,” Constantine said. “I think it will take a little bit of time because everything is so new for him. But if you know the human being behind the athlete, we really have great confidence that he’s going to be a really good player.”

Mallonee says the mental part of the game has been his biggest adjustment thus far.

“There are a lot of things you need to go through, just mental reps, (and) thinking,” he said. “You have to think quicker. It’s a quicker game and it’s faster-paced. That’s definitely a huge difference from AAA to the WHL.”

The goal of all those reps is for things to become automatic. And for Mallonee and the Silvertips the hope is for the game to slow down enough for him to allow for more moments of dream fulfillment like he experienced Sunday.

Note

The Silvertips announced Wednesday that they have reassigned 17-year-old right wing Gunnar Wegleitner to the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL. “We feel like that’s a good spot for him to get a lot of ice time and hopefully he can come back later in the season for us,” Davidson said. Wegleitner, a Vancouver, B.C., native, scored one goal in 43 games last season with Everett.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.