KAMLOOPS, British Columbia – The Everett Silvertips seemed on the verge of a dream start to their 2005-06 Western Hockey League season.
Then, in a span of 1 minute, 36 seconds, it all fell apart.
The Kamloops Blazers scored three goals during that span, turning a two-goal deficit into a one-goal lead, and the Silvertips opened the season with a 6-4 loss Saturday night at the Interior Savings Centre.
Kris Versteeg, playing his first game as a Blazer, scored three times for Kamloops, which tallied five unanswered goals after Everett took a 3-0 first-period lead.
“The 3-0 lead played with our players’ heads a little,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “I think we thought that because we were ahead 3-0, we were playing well. We were playing very average at best. We let up, they picked it up and we got our butts kicked.”
Everett took that three-goal lead just 13:01 into the first period on power-play goals by Shaun Heshka, John Lammers and Brady Calla. But from there it was all Kamloops.
Versteeg’s first goal, with 56.4 seconds left in the first period, turned the momentum. Then Versteeg, Terrance Delaronde and Marc Connors all scored between 12:49 and 14:25 of the second period to give the Blazers the lead.
“We just took some penalties there and we couldn’t kill them off,” said Everett center Zach Hamill, who finished with a goal and three assists. “After that, they started rolling in. By the time we woke up, it was too little too late.”
Everett gave itself a glimmer of hope when Hamill batted home a loose puck with 2:19 remaining to cut the deficit to 5-4. But Versteeg scored into an empty net with 1:12 left to clinch the victory.
Kamloops outshot Everett 30-12.
“It was a great start,” Versteeg said. “Playing with Reid Jorgensen and Matt Kassian definitely helps. Reid’s a great playmaker and can score also, and Matt makes a lot of room out there. But right now we can’t get too high or get too low. We’ve got to stay on an even keel.”
Brock Nixon also scored and Michael Maniago made nine stops in goal for Kamloops.
Jason Fransoo added two assists and Leland Irving made 24 saves in goal for Everett, which has some adjustments to make before its home opener next Saturday against Prince George.
“The mindset right now is that the first two years you get predicted to be last and you’re pretty motivated,” Constantine said. “This year our guys keep hearing about how we’re supposed to be finally coming around as a franchise. People forget it’s still the same stuff that makes you successful, and our team hasn’t figured that out yet because our work ethic wasn’t anywhere near where you’ve got to be to be successful.
“Hopefully this is a lesson learned.”
The Silvertips showed remarkable efficiency on the power play in the first period, scoring three goals in 1:34 worth of power-play time. First, Heshka found the left corner with a slap shot from the center point, giving the Tips a 1-0 lead at 4:01. Then Lammers skated around a defender in the right corner and flipped a shot in at the near post to make it 2-0 at 7:58. Finally, Hamill played a pass out in front of Calla on the break and Calla reached out and poked the puck under Maniago, giving the Tips a 3-0 lead 13:01 into the game.
Kamloops stunted Everett’s momentum with a power-play goal of its own with 56.4 seconds remaining in the period, Versteeg putting in a rebound to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Blazers then turned the game dramatically during a 1:36 span of the second period. First, Versteeg made a nifty spin in front of goal and backhanded a shot past Irving at 12:49 to cut the deficit to one. Then, 38 seconds later, Delaronde skated the puck into the zone along the right and put a pass out front that deflected off Everett defenseman Eric Doyle and into the net to tie the game. Finally, after another 58 seconds, Connors put in a rebound on the power play, and suddenly Kamloops had the lead.
Everett was outshot 16-1 in the period.
Slap shots: Everett captain Torrie Wheat, who was a question mark for the game because of a foot injury, played. … Everett center Peter Mueller sat out because of a suspension, delaying his WHL debut. … Kamloops No. 1 goalie, Devan Dubnyk, did not start because he just returned from the Edmonton Oilers’ training camp hours before game time. He did suit up as Maniago’s backup, however. … Former Silvertip forward Brady Mason suited up for Kamloops.
Blazers 6, Silvertips 4
Everett 3 0 1-4
Kamloops 1 3 2-6
First Period-1, Everett, Heshka 1 (Hamill, Fransoo), 4:01 (pp). 2, Everett, Lammers 1 (Hamill, Fransoo), 7:58 (pp). 3, Everett, Calla 1 (Hamill, Lammers), 13:01 (pp). 4, Kamloops, Versteeg 1 (Macias, Jorgensen), 19:03 (pp).
Second Period-5, Kamloops, Versteeg 2 (Kassian, Jorgensen), 12:49. 6, Kamloops, Delaronde 1 (Nixon, Ellerby), 13:27. 7, Kamloops, Connors 1 (Chapman, Steinmann), 14:25 (pp).
Third Period-8, Kamloops, Nixon 1 (Hayman), 5:23. 9, Everett, Hamill 1 (Doyle), 17:41. 10, Kamloops, Versteeg 3, 18:48 (en).
Shots on goal-Everett 6-1-5-12. Kamloops 6-16-8-30.
Power-play opportunities-Everett 3 of 3. Kamloops 2 of 6.
Goalies-Everett, Irving 0-1 (29 shots, 24 saves). Kamloops, Maniago 1-0 (12 shots, 9 saves).
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