Tips’ Davis looks to restore his rivalry with Kelowna

Published 1:30 am Thursday, March 2, 2017

EVERETT — Growing up in the Okanagan Valley in the interior of British Columbia, Everett Silvertips defenseman Kevin Davis became intimately familiar with the city of Kelowna and its hockey history.

“I’ve always had a rivalry with Kelowna growing up, being from Kamloops,” said Davis, who as a midget player with the Thompson Blazers often squared off against the Okanagan Rockets.

So tonight’s 7:35 p.m. matchup with the Kelowna Rockets at Xfinity Arena holds some special meaning for Davis, despite the fact the WHL version of the Rockets doesn’t include any Kelowna natives.

The Tips are 1-0-1-0 against Kelowna this season. They fell 4-3 in overtime at Prospera Place back on Oct. 19 when goalie Carter Hart was pulled at the 7:50 mark of the opening period for backup Mario Petit.

Everett then prevailed 5-4 in a Martin Luther King Day match-up on Jan. 16 at Xfinity Arena in a game head coach Kevin Constantine later called “a war.”

“That’s fair to say,” Davis said. “They’re always tough to play against. I believe they have the most penalty minutes in the league and we have the fewest. They just play pro (style) hockey. They battle hard and they’re really passionate.”

The Rockets do indeed lead the league in penalty minutes with 1,014 for an average of 15.8 per contest. Everett is last at 540 for an average of 8.7 per game.

The aforementioned MLK Day game saw Kelowna whistled for seven penalties and the Tips scored three power-play goals. Fans might also remember that was the game when Tips assistant coach Mitch Love had post-game words with Kelowna head coach Jason Smith.

In other words it could be a lively and exciting atmosphere tonight.

The Rockets (38-21-5-0, 81 points) come in hot having won eight of their last 10 with one overtime loss. They’re right on the doorstep behind second place Kamloops (82 points) and leader Prince George (85 points) the B.C. Division.

The Tips (38-14-8-2, 86 points) have lost two straight after a seven-game winning streak. Everett’s loss to Spokane combined with Seattle taking Kamloops to overtime on Wednesday means the Tips and Thunderbirds are now tied for first atop the Western Conference and the U.S. Division. Everett has two games in hand.

Davis, a veteran fourth-year blueliner leads the WHL with 25 power-play assists including one Wednesday against Spokane. He has six goals and 41 assists overall. He hasn’t missed a game this season — a critical stat in a season when captain Noah Juulsen and his defensive partner Lucas Skrumeda missed stretches due to injuries and the World Junior Championship. There were times when the Tips dressed four defensemen either 16 or 17 and the quiet leadership Davis possesses became of paramount importance.

The advice Davis gives to his young blueline companions?

“Just trust in the process,” he said. “Anything can happen so they just have to be ready to step in the lineup whenever and do their job.”

The Tips conclude the weekend Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the T-Birds at Xfinity Arena.

For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @JesseGeleynse.