EVERETT – Tyler Dietrich is finally back where he belongs – on the ice and playing on the Silvertips’ No. 1 line.
After a pair of shoulder injuries kept the 19-year-old left wing out for most of the season, Dietrich returned during Everett’s road trip, playing in Everett’s games at Calgary, Red Deer and Kootenay.
“The first game I felt a little rusty and I was a little timid in the corners thinking about the shoulder,” Dietrich said. “But period by period I felt more in the swing of things and got a little more comfortable with the puck each shift. Now I’m feeling more confident and not worrying about the physical part of the game.”
Dietrich played in Everett’s first two games before suffering a separated shoulder during practice. He then returned two months later for two more games before suffering an unrelated injury to the same shoulder.
“It was definitely tough sitting out as long as I did, and then coming back and getting injured again,” Dietrich said. “But it’s good to be part of it again, to be with the guys and get some game action.”
Dietrich’s return should provide an offensive boost. He shared the team lead in scoring with Riley Armstrong during the preseason and immediately upon returning was reunited with Armstrong and Barry Horman on a line that was extremely effective in the preseason. He’s also seen time on the power play.
“I thought I’d see limited ice time and ease back in,” Dietrich said. “But the coaches kept me with Armstrong and Horman and I played a lot. I think that’s what I needed, to dive back in and keep my mind on the game instead of the shoulder.”
Dietrich isn’t back to full form yet as he’s still looking for his first point of the season. But he saw signs that he, Armstrong and Horman can recreate their magic.
“We did create a lot of chances (during the road trip), but whether it was bounces or luck we weren’t able to score as many as we wanted,” Dietrich said. “But in preseason it was hard work that brought a lot of goals, so we’ll keep plugging away.”
Scouting report: No team has given Everett more trouble than Vancouver this season. The Silvertips and the Giants have met twice, with Vancouver winning comfortably by scores of 4-1 and 5-2.
However, the Giants come into tonight’s contest reeling. Vancouver (18-12-8-5, second in the B.C. Division) has lost it’s last four, most recently a 5-4 overtime loss at Kelowna on Saturday.
Vancouver’s biggest problem has been in goal, where 19-year-olds Aaron Sorochan (9-8-7, 2.68 goals against average, .908 save percentage) and Jordan McLaughlin (9-7-1, 2.72 goals against average, .904 save percentage) have made a habit out of surrendering early goals. In response, the Giants have called up 16-year-old Jordan Kaczmer and are at the front of the line in the Harding sweepstakes.
But the Giants haven’t had any problems scoring. Nineteen-year-old center Adam Courchaine is tied for seventh in the league in scoring with 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) and rookie 16-year-old center Gilbert Brule is second among rookies with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists). Twenty-year-old right wing Darren Lynch (18 goals, 21 assists) and 18-year-old left wing Mitch Bartley (18 goals, 20 assists) have also been consistent contributors.
Slap shots: Everett defenseman Ivan Baranka, who has missed the last 10 games while playing for Slovakia at the World Junior Championships in Finland, is scheduled to return to Everett on Thursday and should be available for Friday’s home game against Spokane. … Dahl has moved into a tie for first in the WHL in game-winning goals with six. He currently has 14 goals and nine assists to rank second on the team in points with 23. Chad Bassen leads the team with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists). … A pair of WHL players played key roles in the outcome of the World Juniors championship game, in which the United States defeated Canada 4-3 for its first ever championship. Kootenay forward Nigel Dawes scored twice as Canada took a 3-1 lead. But Portland defenseman Braydon Coburn was the unfortunate victim as Canada goalie Marc-Andre Fleury’s clearing pass banked off Coburn and into his own net for the game-winning goal.
Nick Patterson
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