The Everett Silvertips dressing room is off-limits to media members and fans, but that is where captain Dawson Leedahl does most of his talking.
Once the 20-year-old forward emerges from behind that closed door, his words are carefully chosen and quietly spoken. But given the physical nature of the game of hockey there is an enormous level of respect bestowed on those who allow their on-ice performance to inspire teammates.
“I feel like example is 90 percent of it,” Leedahl said. “Obviously actions speak louder than words, but you have to be vocal, too. If guys aren’t on task you’ve got to let them know and if you think they’ve got more you gotta expect it from them.”
It’s the blocked shots, the hard checks, and yes, the occasional dropped gloves and subsequent trips to the penalty box that earns Leedahl respect from his teammates. But he is also a capable scorer who tallied three goals to go along with two assists in Everett’s first-round sweep of Portland in the Western Hockey League playoffs.
It was a triumphant return from injury for Leedahl who played in just two regular-season games after breaking his hand while blocking a shot in Everett’s 4-1 win at Seattle on Feb. 6. It’s not surprising that his return for the playoffs coincided with the Tips’ first postseason series sweep in a dozen years.
“I think everyone just feels more comfortable with him in the dressing room,” forward Matt Fonteyne said. “It helps having him there as our captain and on the ice with what he does.”
Like last year’s captain Kohl Bauml and current linemate Carson Stadnyk, Leedahl hails from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Stadnyk and Leedahl played together at the bantam and midget levels before both wound up in Everett and soon joined a line with Bauml.
By Stadnyk’s reckoning, Leedahl was once a far less-disciplined player than fans now observe at Xfinity Arena.
“The only thing that’s changed is that back in the day he took a lot of penalties, a lot of stupid stuff,” Stadnyk said. “But since he’s been here he’s really calmed that down.”
Said Leedahl: “I used to have a little bit of a temper and wasn’t able to control it very well. Now I’m taking less penalties, but I still do take a fair amount of penalties.”
Indeed he does. The captain tallied a team-high 78 penalty minutes despite missing 24 games to the broken hand and other bumps and bruises sustained along the course of the 72-game season.
Sometimes Leedahl’s physical style causes viewers to lose sight of his on-ice acumen. That knowledge is of utmost importance given the disciplined style with which the Silvertips play.
“In terms of us teaching or knowing our system or applying the details — that part of what we do — he’s very good at it,” head coach Kevin Constantine said. “It gets hidden because he plays hard and he’s going to run into anything that gets in his way while he’s doing it. The fact that he is a really smart player is underappreciated.”
Adjusting to Everett’s style of play is a challenge for any player coming up to the WHL from the lower ranks. It requires a commitment less like a pastime and more like a profession.
“In midget hockey it’s way less detailed,” Leedahl said. “You just go play the game. Here I’ve learned how to actually play the game, (and) what works against what the other team’s doing.”
The best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series between Everett and Seattle begins with games Friday and Sunday in Kent. The Tips will return to Xfinity Arena for games next week Wednesday and Friday.
For Leedahl it will be his first time back on the ice at ShoWare Center since the broken hand.
“He’s what everyone wants on their team in the playoffs,” Fonteyne said. “I think having Dawson being healthy in the playoffs has been great. He’s our captain and our leader, and when he’s going it’s not hard for everyone to follow behind him and play their best as well.”
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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