Silvertips ink Gage Goncalves to WHL player agreement

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 3, 2018

EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips Monday announced they have signed forward Gage Goncalves to a WHL standard player agreement.

Goncalves was listed by the Tips after going unselected in the 2016 bantam draft and attended Everett’s training camp the two seasons where he impressed Everett’s scouting staff.

“He’s just continued to do what he’s done at every level and that’s just be a producer and an offensive guy,” said Everett general manager Garry Davidson, who credited Tips director of player personnel Bil La Forge for bringing Goncalves to the organization’s attention.

“He had a good camp,” Davidson continued. “Our group of scouts at the time said this might want to list and go after. So we watched him really quickly and closely and he got out of the gates (fast).”

The 2001-born Goncalves is a Mission, British Columbia, native and currently has 17 goals and 30 assists in 24 games for the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the B.C. Major Midget League.

“It’s kind of breathtaking,” said Goncalves, who practiced with Everett Wednesday and will join the team on Friday’s trip to Victoria as an affiliate player. “It’s such a great organization. I came to the training camp the past two years and they were impressed, and as soon as they asked – there’s not words to explain it. I’m just excited.”

Goncalves is a Fraser Valley teammate of defenseman Dylan Anderson, a fourth-round pick of Everett in the 2017 bantam draft.

Both Goncalves and Anderson are products of the Yale Hockey Academy that also produced former Tips defenseman and captain Noah Juulsen.

“I see him as a guy that next year will come in and challenge for some minutes as a power-play and an offensive guy,” Davidson said. “Physically he’s stretched up – he needs to get stronger yet.”

Goncalves ranks fifth in the league in goals and third in assists. He leads the Thunderbirds in both categories.

“I take pride a lot in the offensive zone,” he said. “Play-making, scoring goals, but I’m also a guy you can count on in the last two minutes to get the puck out, get a big block.”

Hart wins back-to-back WHL honors

Carter Hart earning an award in November became a weekly occurrence.

Now it’s a monthly one.

The Everett Silvertips goaltender, currently with Team Canada at the World Junior Championship, was named the WHL Goaltender of the Month for December despite playing just five games in the month.

Hart was also named the WHL Goaltender of the Month in November, won four straight WHL Goaltender of the Week honors and three consecutive CHL Goaltender of the Week awards.

Notes: The WHL weekly injury report came out Wednesday and both defenseman Gianni Fairbrother (4-to-6 weeks) and forward Akash Bains (month-to-month) are listed out with upper-body injuries. Neither skated with the team Tuesday or Wednesday… The Tips leave for Victoria Thursday where they take on the Royals Friday at 7:05 p.m.