EVERETT – Everett Silvertips coach Kevin Constantine has a unique view of injuries. Instead of dwelling on the players who are missing, he instead sees it as an opportunity for others to show what they can do.
It’s taken a while, but those players are finally starting to produce for the Silvertips.
With a host of key players sitting in the stands, Everett has righted its results in part thanks to contributions from some unfamiliar names.
“The last couple games guys have stepped in well and done some things,” Constantine said. “Those guys are going to have to still do that.”
Since suffering through a franchise-record seven-game losing streak, Everett has won three of its past four. During those four games, unheralded players have made important contributions. Forwards Jesse Smyke and Shane Harper each have two goals, including the first goal of their Western Hockey League careers; forward Ondrej Fiala has two assists; and defensemen Graham Potuer and Taylor Ellington have logged more ice time and picked up their play.
“Harper’s gone onto our second power-play group, kind of where (Zach) Hamill plays, and I think he’s done an OK job, including scoring an important goal in Portland,” Constantine said. “I think Fiala’s stepping into a power-play role and doing a pretty good job at that.”
And those players feel good about being able to chip in when the team needs it.
“I was glad I stepped it up,” Harper said. “In the last game (Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Prince George) so many people were sick or injured, so I was glad I could at least contribute.”
Wheat, Hromas out: Key Everett forwards Torrie Wheat and Karel Hromas will not play this weekend because of concussions received in Tuesday’s game against Prince George.
Both Wheat and Hromas suffered blows to the head during the first period and did not play in the final two periods. There is no timetable for either player’s return.
“When guys get head injuries you’ve got protocol you’ve got to follow and that protocol keeps them out the weekend,” Constantine said. “That’s all I know.”
Wheat and Hromas add to Everett’s once-again growing injury list. Forwards Hamill (mononucleosis), Zach Dailey (shoulder) and Jonathan Milhouse (concussion), and defenseman Jonathan Harty (groin) have all been ruled out of tonight’s game.
To offset the injury list, Everett called up 15-year-old forward Matt Ius for the weekend. Ius, who hails from Ridge Meadow, British Columbia, was Everett’s second-round pick in the 2005 Bantam Draft.
Scouting report: No one expected Vancouver to be where it currently stands. Without the services of star center Gilbert Brule, who got an early call to the NHL, the Giants were supposed to be little more than also-rans. However, Vancouver (18-8-0-4) finds itself tied for second in the ultra-competitive B.C. Division, and the Giants have been on fire since losing back-to-back games to Everett on Oct. 28 and 29, going 11-2-0-3.
A big reason for Vancouver’s success has been its specialty teams. The Giants rank second in the league on both the power play (.216) and penalty kill (.886).
Offensively, the Giants are led by the trio of 17-year-old Michal Repik (15 goals, 17 assists), 18-year-old center Tim Kraus (14 goals, 18 assists) and 20-year-old left wing Mitch Bartley (13 goals, 16 assists). Twenty-year-old defenseman Paul Albers (eight goals, 19 assists) is second in the league in scoring among defensemen. However, the Giants are without talented 18-year-old defenseman Brendan Mikkelson, who is out with a knee injury.
In goal, fiery 19-year-old Dustin Slade (13-6-0-4, 2.10 goals against average, .898 save percentage) has continued to keep his temper under control.
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