There was one moment last Saturday perhaps just as surreal for Everett Silvertips fans as for the player experiencing it.
That came when the Tips were introduced prior to the home opener against the Vancouver Giants and the roar started with these words: “From Everett, Washington…”
That’s all Wyatte Wylie heard because the din that followed was louder than any other time during Everett’s 3-1 win.
“I always watched opening night and never thought I’d be out there,” Wylie said Tuesday after the Tips finished practice at the Lynnwood Ice Center. “Then just the feeling of getting my name called and being from where the team is, was pretty big.”
It's a great day when a hometown guy makes his regular season home debut.
It's a great day to be a Silvertip. pic.twitter.com/YCGMpE7k8Q
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) September 26, 2016
By now you’re probably aware that Wylie is the first Snohomish County player drafted and signed by the Tips. He’s also the second Junior Silvertip to play for the big club. The 1999-born D-man made his Tips debut last year against Seattle in the playoffs and has appeared in both regular-season games so far in what is a very young Everett group of blueliners.
“I’m starting to get comfortable with all the boys and we’re starting to get comfortable with all the systems and stuff we have going on,” Wylie said.
I also had the chance to talk to Sean Richards who scored his first goal as a Tip in Friday’s opener with a laser from the right circle.
“I just took that opening,” said Richards, who was acquired from Regina for former captain Dawson Leedahl. “It was a great screen by (Spencer) Gerth in front there and I just saw the corner and it was a good shot I guess.”
Sean Richards puts the @WHLsilvertips up 6 – 2 with a wrister from the circle #WHLOpeningWeek pic.twitter.com/0Z11r2kmSQ
— The WHL (@TheWHL) September 24, 2016
Richards lauded the atmosphere the crowd brought on opening night. It was reminiscent of his first trip to Everett when the Pats made their U.S. Division pass last season.
“It was a pretty great experience (Saturday night),” he said. “Everything that happens the crowd is really into it. When (Montana) Onyebuchi got into that fight the crowd really got into it. That was probably the highlight of their night there.”
In other news:
– The Tips are off Wednesday for a team bonding activity before returning to Lynnwood Thursday.
– Everett practiced a new drill Tuesday for the first time. It involved kicking pucks toward the net (from outside the crease). A new WHL rule states that any goal that deflects off a skate from outside the crease is a goal – regardless of whether or not there was a “kicking motion.” No surprise that Kevin Constantine’s squad is looking to use any rule change to its advantage.
– Carter Hart is headed back to Everett. The star netminder has been sent back to Everett from the Philadelphia Flyers training camp and I anticipate he’ll be active this weekend.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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