As the Everett Silvertips packed up their lockers and went through their exit meetings following their second-round exit to the Portland Winterhawks in April, each player had his eyes set on summer plans.
Some were looking to take a step in a new direction, either going pro or heading to the NCAA, while others possessed a clear vision of what they needed to accomplish before returning to Everett in the fall.
One of those returners was Rylan Pearce. The defenseman will come back for his overage season in hopes of completing some “unfinished business,” but not before trading his skates for sneakers over the summer, when he would compete for Team Canada at the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF) U20 Ball Hockey World Championship in Poprad, Slovakia from July 2-6.
“We’re gonna head over to Slovakia, and hopefully win a gold,” Pearce told The Herald back in April.
On Sunday, Pearce and the rest of Team Canada completed that goal, defeating Czechia 8-7 in overtime of the gold medal game to secure the title. Pearce registered an assist in the win, bringing his tournament total to two points (a goal and an assist) in five games.
Canada held a 7-3 lead before Czechia came back to force overtime, but Andy Knight of the St. John’s Junior Hockey League (SJJHL) scored the winning goal just seven seconds into the extra period to secure the gold medal.
“That was actually pretty surreal,” Pearce said in the news release published on the WHL website. “It was a bit of a blowout there for a bit, and then they made it nice and close in the third and definitely got the nerves going. But it was a super cool experience.”
Pearce has played ball hockey since his days growing up in Martensville, Sask., and he eventually attracted the attention of the Team Canada recruiters. Once selected, he jumped at the opportunity.
Back in April, Pearce expressed excitement about the chance to explore Europe. In addition to seeing Slovakia while playing in the World Championship, Team Canada held their pre-tournament camp in Austria.
The biggest difference between ball hockey and ice hockey, according to Pearce, is the movement.
“You can’t glide, so you’re always running,” Pearce said in April. “Ice hockey is a lot more systems, ball hockey is more like, you gotta be in the right spots pretty much. You can’t overrun. … You’re jogging the whole time, always moving, and with shooting the ball, it curves a lot, so you gotta know when you’re getting the net.”
In addition to building his fitness base, Pearce believes ball hockey has helped his offensive ability and overall confidence.
After scoring five goals and 16 points in 66 games with Everett this past season while spending most of his time on the third defensive pair, Pearce will not only face new leadership expectations as one of the older players on the team, but will likely take on bigger on-ice responsibilities following the departures of top four defensemen Kaden Hammell and Eric Jamieson.
“I think naturally it just happens,” Silvertips general manager Mike Fraser said in April, discussing players stepping into bigger roles as they age. “Even from a physical standpoint, the players get stronger and they’re going through transformation with their bodies and everything else. … Just in their maturity and in helping some of our younger players along and getting accustomed to the league and the grinds of a long playoff series.”
Fraser singled out defenseman Tarin Smith and forward Carter Bear as two players he expects to feature most prominently in a leadership role, but Pearce will be among them for a team coming off a strong 2024-25 campaign.
The Silvertips won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular-season record, but lost in the WHL Playoffs to Portland for the third year in a row. Pearce has been on the team for the past two exits, and it has left a sour taste in his mouth.
“I personally have some unfinished business, and losing to Portland the last two years (while) I’m here, it sucks,” Pearce said in April. “I want to go far next year, and I want to bring something for the fan base. They deserve it. We won the Scotty (Munro Memorial Trophy) this year, but it simply wasn’t good enough for what our end goal was.”
With a gold medal around his neck, Pearce hopes his Team Canada success will carry over to Everett in the WHL this season.
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