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Former Silvertip Dan Gendur proves you can go home again

Published 1:30 am Monday, January 2, 2017

By Jesse Geleynse Herald Writer

EVERETT – It’s a common phrase often seen on social media and uttered at Xfinity Arena: “Once a Silvertip, always a Silvertip.”

No doubt other WHL franchises express similar sentiments, but many former Silvertips players have found that they can indeed go home again.

Former Tips offensive star Dan Gendur was back inside Xfinity Arena for the first time in nearly a decade Friday as he dropped the ceremonial first puck prior to the Tips’ 4-3 loss to the visiting Prince George Cougars.

“(Everett) is a first-class organization through and through,” Gendur said, following a radio appearance with Tips broadcaster Mike Benton between periods. “They welcome us back with open arms and it means a lot to ex-players to come back and feel like that.”

As many long-time Everett fans are aware, Gendur first broke into the WHL with Prince George before he was traded to Everett halfway through his 19-year-old season in 2006-07 when he put up 42 points in 48 games for the eventual Scotty Munro Trophy-winning Silvertips.

That he was in town for a matchup between the Cougars and Silvertips, the top two teams in the the Western Conference, was a coincidence. Gendur harbors no grudge toward Prince George, but said he was rooting for Everett Friday night.

“Obviously it’s changed a lot from the Prince George when I was there, so it’s good to see that they’re doing well,” the Victoria native said.

Everett’s success this season is inevitably drawing comparisons to that 2006-07 campaign. The Tips spent much of that season ranked No. 1 in the Canadian Hockey League poll and finished 54-15-1-2 before being upset by – you guessed it – Prince George in the second round of the playoffs.

“It’s hard to say (which team was better),” Gendur said. “We had so much talent up front. This team seems to be a little bit more defensive. I’m not saying that we weren’t (defensive), but with guys like Zach Hamill and Peter Mueller, first-round draft picks, that skill doesn’t come around every day.”

Gendur was taken by Vancouver in the seventh round of the NHL draft following that season. He spent several seasons bouncing between minor pro teams in the ECHL, the American Hockey League and the now-defunct Central Hockey League.

“It’s just the way that hockey works – it’s tough to crack,” Gendur said. “I have no regrets, no ill will toward anyone about hockey. It was a very good part of my life.”

He still keeps in contact with former teammates and current Tips assistant coaches Brennan Sonne and Mitch Love, as well as former teammate Taylor Ellington, his best friend from back home on Vancouver Island.

Now married to Chelsea, Gendur is raising two dogs and coaching the Cochrane (Alberta) Generals of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League.

He’s not sure if coaching is his long-term plan, but it remains an option.

“Coaching is such a volatile job,” he said. “Your job can be gone the next day. I’ve got some other stuff I’m doing too to kind of subsidize that and I’m going to take it year-by-year and see how it goes.”

But not so volatile the he couldn’t head home, even if just for one night.

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