Silvertips limp into holiday break, look forward to 2nd half

Injuries have been relentless, but Everett sits in third place in the U.S. Division and fourth in the Western Conference.

Eric Jamieson

Eric Jamieson

The holiday break came at a welcome time for the Everett Silvertips.

The WHL is on an eight-day pause as the players head home to recharge during the holidays. For the Tips that means not only putting the brakes on a tough stretch, it also gives them a chance to heal.

Everett finished the first half of the season by going 1-2 in its three games last week, winning 5-3 at Angel of the Winds Arena against the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday, before dropping both games of a home-and-home set against Seattle, falling 4-1 in Kent on Friday and 5-1 at home on Saturday.

At the break Everett is 16-14-1-0 for 33 points, which puts the Tips in third place in the U.S. Division and fourth place in the Western Conference.

“Overall I think the first half went really well” Everett associate coach David Struch said. “The start we got off to was where we felt we were going to be. Coming to the end of our eastern swing (in early November) we started to get some injuries, and obviously the last six weeks have been the difficult part.”

The injuries have been relentless. Beginning the week of Nov. 8 the Tips had the most players listed as injured on the WHL’s weekly report on every occasion. In four of the six weeks Everett had an astonishing eight players listed as injured, and twice the Tips had double the number of injuries as the next-afflicted team.

The effect has been stark. In its first 17 games Everett went 12-5-0-0, but since Nov. 11 the Tips are 4-9-1-0. Part of the issue has been an increased strength of schedule, as Everett played Seattle and Portland just once in the first 17 games, but faced the conference-leading duo eight times since, going 1-6-1-0. But having so many players out injured, then losing star defenseman Olen Zellweger to Team Canada for the World Junior Hockey Championships in early December, can’t be dismissed.

“If you look at the positive side of it, the injured players are higher-minutes players,” Struch said. “While that hurts your record, the young guys were given more opportunities to play, and they get to develop more because of the experience. They were put into situations where they can make mistakes and fail, learn from those failures, and grow as players so they make fewer mistakes moving forward.”

While the results haven’t been there the past six weeks, Struch saw no corresponding drop in the Tips’ effort level. Indeed, he described the team’s work ethic as “elite.”

“I think the best part of our game is work ethic,” Struch said. “I’ve been in the league for 17 years and this group of leaders never quits. Our defensive game began to falter a little bit when we ran into injuries, because young guys were put into situations they weren’t familiar with in playing against other teams’ first and second lines. We had a really good start scoring, and that faltered a little bit at the end because of injuries as our high-minute guys had to play a lot more and their energy drained, meaning the finish wasn’t always there. But overall I liked our game, we got better at it all. In the second half when we get back healthy, which we expect to happen in the middle or toward the end of January, I expect us to get back to the same caliber of scoring and play as we had at the start.”

Three stars of the week

Third star: Eric Jamieson. The 17-year-old defenseman had a goal and an assist against Tri-City. The rookie, who was expected to be a support player this season, has had to absorb big minutes because of Everett’s absences on defense.

Second star: Austin Roest. The 18-year-old center had three assists against the Americans. He finished the first half as Everett’s leading scorer and tied for 10th in the league in scoring with 43 points (20 goals, 23 assists) in 31 games.

First star: Jackson Berezowski. The 20-year-old winger scored three goals across the three games. That included a landmark moment Saturday when he potted his 100th goal as a Silvertip. Berezowski, Everett’s captain, became just the sixth player in franchise history to reach triple figures in goals for the team.

The week ahead

Everett is off this week before beginning the second half of the season next Tuesday when the Tips travel to Kennewick to take on Tri-City.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Balanced scoring attack leads Gonzaga

Zags take over second place in WCC with 88-77 win over USF.

Shorewood senior Bridget Cox (11) elevates to get a shot over Everett senior Aimelie Hovde-Girard (21) in Shorewood's 41-30 win in the opening round of the District 1 3A Girls Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Shorewood girls basketball avoids Everett upset bid in 41-30 win

Glasser’s ‘dagger’ 3 caps second-half run, pushes No. 5 Stormrays to 3A District 1 Quarterfinals

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.