EVERETT — The Twitter hash tag #ICYMI — In Case You Missed It — could be applied to the Everett Silvertips’ signing of 2000-born defenseman Gino Fairbrother two weeks ago.
The news was published, but largely overshadowed that day by the return of star goaltender Carter Hart to practice and a first-round playoff sweep of the Portland Winterhawks two days later.
There was no missing Fairbrother Wednesday night as the West Vancouver, B.C., native made his Western Hockey League debut in Everett’s 5-0 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Seattle leads the series two games to one.
Fairbrother found out Wednesday morning he was being pressed into service when top defenseman Noah Juulsen was deemed unable to play due to an undisclosed injury. Fairbrother has spent the past few weeks skating with the team, so he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the Silvertips’ systems and details.
“It helped a lot knowing everyone out there, how they talk to each other,” he said. “I’m sure it will probably take a while (to sink in) for the next few days. But it was good to get really good experience.”
Fifteen-year-old players are allowed to play a half-dozen games during the WHL regular season until their midget campaigns conclude, so it’s not uncommon to see players of that age on the ice. One way to tell is by the fact they are still required to wear a cage on their helmet instead of a visor.
Making a debut in a crucial second-round playoff game against a divisional archrival? That’s much less common, but Fairbrother did not seem to be in awe of the situation.
“I thought he played good,” said Everett forward Matt Fonteyne, who debuted as a 15-year-old three seasons ago and now centers the Tips’ second line. “He was calm with the puck. He didn’t panic, he made some good plays and he skated nice. Whenever you’re 15 the nerves are going, especially for him playing in a playoff game against Seattle and the fans are into it.”
Juulsen took a puck to the face in Sunday’s loss at Seattle and did not practice Tuesday or in Thursday’s optional skating session, so his status remains in question for Friday’s Game 4. If he can’t go it will be up to Fairbrother once again.
“It’s the first game, he’s 15 and it’s a high pressure situation, (but) I thought he did really well,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said. “First you learn it in your head then you have to learn it at game speed so there are many steps to learning what you’re doing. But he’s a quick learner so what he doesn’t get now he’ll get quickly in training camp next year.”
Juulsen isn’t the only player whose status for Game 4 remains in doubt. Forward Carson Stadnyk, Everett’s co-leader in playoff points, missed Tuesday’s practice and Wednesday’s game with an undisclosed injury. He also did not practice Thursday.
In addition, captain Dawson Leedahl is facing a to-be-determined suspension for his kneeing penalty on Seattle’s Keegan Kolesar during the third period of Wednesday’s game. Leedahl was assessed a five-minute major penalty and ejected from the contest. Seattle went on to score twice on that extended power play.
Those two goals were largely academic. The Thunderbirds all but put the game away with a three-goal second period in which they continually screened Hart inside the crease. The T-Birds also scored two similar goals in Sunday’s 3-1 Seattle victory that evened the series.
“We wanted to be more physical in front of the net, get our box-outs and let Hart see the puck,” said Tips defenseman Cole MacDonald. “We failed on that and they got two past him. … It’s always a point of emphasis on our team so we have to improve on that.”
After winning Game 1 3-0 the Tips have scored only one goal in their last two contests against stalwart Seattle netminder Landon Bow. Wednesday’s 5-0 Seattle victory was the most decisive of the T-Birds’ wins over Everett this season.
Game 4 begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Xfinity Arena with Game 5 following Saturday in Kent at 7 p.m. If necessary the series would return to Everett on Monday and conclude at Seattle on Tuesday.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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