KAMLOOPS, British Columbia – There were thundering shots, breathtaking saves and crunching hits, all backed by a full house of 5,458 fans screaming in unison and ringing cow bells.
Everett, welcome to the world of hockey.
A new era in Everett sports history was ushered in Friday night as the Everett Silvertips began their inaugural Western Hockey League season against the Kamloops Blazers. However, Everett received a rude welcome to the WHL as the Blazers defeated the Silvertips 4-1 at Sport Mart Place.
“I really pass little judgment on first games because there are so many extra-curriculars,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “Those are bad games to make judgments on. We had a lot of good scoring chances early on and didn’t capitalize and that often comes back to haunt you.”
That was certainly the case Friday. Everett had several golden chances to score, particularly in the first 30 minutes. Riley Armstrong and Barry Horman each had multiple scoring opportunities from right in front of the goal, but were unable to put their shots on target. Tyler Dietrich and Jeff Schmidt hit posts, and the Silvertips also wasted nine power-play opportunities, including a two-minute five-on-three situation early in the second period.
Jovan Matic broke Everett’s drought with a power-play goal at 13:27 of the second period, cutting the Kamloops’ lead to 2-1. But the Blazers needed just three minutes to restore their two-goal advantage.
“I thought (the game) was a little disappointing,” Everett defenseman Bryan Nathe said. “Obviously we wanted to win. I thought we came out in the first period and played pretty well. The first goal didn’t hurt us, the second hurt a little bit, then we popped one in. But that third goal is the one that killed us.”
The Blazers got on the board first at 12 minutes, 55 seconds of the first period. Skating four-on-four, the Silvertips got caught in a line change, allowing Kamloops defenseman Ray Macias to carry the puck up the middle into the zone. Macias dished off to Paul Brown on the right, who wristed a shot past Everett goalie Jeff Harvey’s stick side for a 1-0 lead.
Kamloops made it 2-0 at 9:09 of the second period. On a four-on-three power play, deft cross-ice passing from Jarret Lukin and Tyler Boldt gave Jonas Johansson a shot at an open net, which he buried.
Matic finally got Everett on the board at 13:27 of the second period on Everett’s seventh power play. Mitch Love let a shot fly which Kamloops goalie Devan Dubnyk was only able to block. Matic reached around and backhanded the puck past Dubnyk to make it 2-1.
Three minutes later Kamloops scored. Brown picked up the puck behind the net and wrapped a pass around the goal into the air in front of the net. Grant Jacobsen poked the puck in to make it 3-1.
The Blazers wrapped up the scoring two minutes into the third period when Brown weaved some magic in the left corner, slipping through defensemen, and fed Casey Lee just outside the crease for an easy goal.
“I thought it was one of those games where both teams came out nervous at the start,” Kamloops coach Dean Clark said. “Everett was pretty good. They forced the issue and had some good chances early. But we got a couple of saves and a couple of clears and I think that first goal really helped us. Once we got that first one we played a lot better.”
Everett defenseman Devin Wilson took a hard hit into the boards during the first period and did not return. He was diagnosed with a possible concussion and a bruised knee and will not play tonight against Portland.
First Period-1, Kamloops, Brown 1 (Macias), 12:55. Second Period-2, Kamloops, Johansson 1 (Boldt, Lukin), 9:09 (pp). 3, Everett, Matic (Love, Kress), 13:27 (pp). 4, Kamloops, Jacobsen (Brown, Lee), 16:30. Third Period-5, Kamloops, Lee 1 (Brown, Jacobsen), 2:00. Shots on goal-Everett 8-9-6-23. Kamloops 12-8-11-31. Power-play opportunities-Everett 1 of 10. Kamloops 1 of 5. Goalies-Everett, Harvey 0-1-0 (31 shots, 27 saves). Kamloops, Dubnyk 1-0-0 (23 shots, 22 saves). |
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