BLOG: A Silvertips goaltending update and tonight’s live blog
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 4, 2017
I thought it might be useful to provide an update on the Everett Silvertips goaltending situation.
With Carter Hart out indefinitely with mononucleosis the Tips on Wednesday announced they have signed Kyle Dumba who will join the team in Spokane tonight and accompany the Tips on their Central Division road trip.
OFFICIAL: Tips sign G Kyle Dumba to WHL Standard Player Agreement.
? https://t.co/rzCgXPl2Z8 pic.twitter.com/eO3Izfg1Fu
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 4, 2017
Dumba, 19, is a 5-foot-11, 198-pound goaltender with 40 games of WHL experience with the Kamloops Blazers and Calgary Hitmen, posting a 9-12-3-2 record with a save percentage of .862 and a 4.01 goals-against-average. He stopped all 10 shots he saw in his only appearance with Kamloops this season, and last year went 7-9-2-1 in 28 games for the Hitmen, with a save percentage of .860.
Head coach Dennis Williams said Tuesday that Dorrin Luding would start tonight so I would think that is still the case. My guess is that Dumba is mostly there as an emergency backup, but we’ll see how things go.
Dustin Wolf is still recovering from offseason hip surgery and hasn’t played in a game, preseason or otherwise this season. Wolf’s signing was a coup for the organization as the Tips inked the California-born netminder away from the U.S. Development Team Program and the NCAA. He was impressive during camp as a 15-year-old in 2016 and appears to be being groomed as the heir apparent when Hart presumably makes the jump to the professional ranks next season.
Wolf has skated and faced shots with coaches on the side, but hasn’t yet returned to full practice. General manager Garry Davidson said at the start of training camp that Wolf wouldn’t be ready until late October or early November.
Danton Belluk, taken by the Tips in the same 2016 bantam draft as Wolf, has also signed and played in one game before being sent back to the midget ranks and joining the Eastman (Manitoba) Selects. The organization likely wants him to get steady playing time that will contribute to his development rather than sit on the bench and “open the door” for a month until Hart and/or Wolf return.
As for when Hart will be back is anyone’s guess. If you’ve had mono (as I have) you know it knocks you out for at least a month and generally causes you to lose 10-15 pounds. Even when Hart is given a clean bill of health you have to remember he’s an elite athlete and will need more time to build up the strength and energy lost to return to peak performance.
Meanwhile, the Tips trudge on tonight in Spokane and then to Alberta. Follow along on tonight’s live blog below:
