Silvertips notes: Key divisional clash coming Friday

Silvertips notes: Key divisional clash coming Friday

Silvertips look to close the gap on the first-place Portland Winterhawks

Games in late January usually don’t mean much in the grand scheme of the Western Hockey League season, but from the Everett Silvertips’ perspective, Friday’s matchup with the U.S. Division-leading Portland Winterhawks boasts a little bit more weight.

“They’re obviously a hot team,” Silvertips head coach Dennis Williams said of Portland, which has won seven straight games and hasn’t lost in regulation since Nov. 30. “We’re definitely the underdogs going into it. They’re a club playing with a lot of confidence and a lot of weapons — good goaltending, good defense.”

The game has major implications for the U.S. Division standings. The Winterhawks lead the Silvertips by nine points, and with five regular-season matchups with Portland remaining, Everett can close the gap with head-to-head wins.

But Everett has struggled mightily against Portland thus far this season, with an 0-2-1 record in three matchups. The two teams haven’t met since the Jan. 10 WHL trade deadline, when Everett made a flurry of moves and Portland stood relatively pat.

Friday night should be a decent measuring stick for the Silvertips as the final third of the regular season approaches.

“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Williams said. “That’s where they are. Hats off to them. They’ve been playing really good hockey for a long time. For us internally, we talk about it being another good measuring stick, just like beating Spokane or Seattle. It doesn’t matter who we play. It’s us just trying to evaluate where we’re at and what we need to do to make improvements.”

Lineup continuity

Williams will quibble with the notion that his lines have stabilized this season — there’s always room for competition for ice time, he said — but Everett’s forward lineup has had far more continuity than it did last season.

The presence of three solid centers — Gage Goncalves, Ethan Regnier and Michal Gut — is a big factor. So is the Silvertips’ relatively clean bill of health up front, as 2002-born winger Tyson Phare, who is sidelined with a week-to-week upper-body injury, is the only Everett forward on the injury report.

Williams has mixed up which center plays on the top line with Bryce Kindopp and Cole Fonstad, on the second with Ty Kolle and Jackson Berezowski, and on the third with Hunter Campbell and Justyn Gurney, but otherwise there hasn’t been much line blending.

Still, there’s no room for complacency, Williams said.

“I liked all our lines this weekend,” Williams said. “I thought (Jacob) Wright’s line with (Jalen) Price and (Brendan) Lee was big for us this weekend, and had a big timely goal in the Spokane game. … I wouldn’t say we have a top nine or anything. Guys are still competing for more ice time.”

Goncalves lighting it up

Goncalves’ production has increased at an exponential rate this season — he’s scored 26 goals this season after tallying just one as a 17-year-old rookie last year — and he’s taken it up another notch lately.

The Mission, British Columbia, native, who is ranked as the 92nd-best skater by NHL Central Scouting, has collected seven goals over his past six games, dating back to Jan. 12.

“Where are all his goals coming from? We talk about this all the time with guys in meetings, they’re coming from right in front of the net,” Williams said. “It’s those tough areas and Gage goes there. … It’s a great job by Gage. He’s not the biggest hockey player, but he plays with a chip on his shoulder and he’s fearless.”

Alumni spotlight

After a lower-body injury derailed the beginning of his season, Riley Sutter has settled into the lineup with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League. Sutter has one goal and three assists in 15 games.

Prospect update

Ty Gibson, a Victoria, British Columbia, native who has signed with the Silvertips, has played this season with Burnaby Winter Club Prep in the Canadian School Sport Hockey League (CSSHL), after playing on Vancouver Island last season. The 2003-born defenseman has two goals and eight assists in 21 games.

Josh Horton covers the Silvertips for The Herald. Follow him on Twitter @JoshHortonEDH

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Cal Raleigh wins 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Cal Raleigh called his shot years ago. In a childhood video spreading… Continue reading

Portland Fire unveil name, branding as WNBA’s 15th team

A flame is being reignited for Portland’s new WNBA franchise. On Tuesday,… Continue reading

Silvertips forward Shea Busch participates in the Florida Panthers development camp at Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on July 1, 2025. Florida selected Busch in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on June 28. (Photo courtesy Shea Busch)
Shea Busch experiences whirlwind NHL Draft week

The Florida Panthers selected the Silvertips forward in the fourth round on June 28.

Late Mystics surge dooms Storm as stars struggle

Seattle dropped to 13-9 after shooting 36.2% from the field.

Jorge Polanco (7), right, of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his ninth inning home run with J.P. Crawford (3) while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Detroit. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners sweep Tigers on way to All-Star break

The Detroit Tigers still have the best record in baseball,… Continue reading

Mariners select LSU pitcher with No. 3 pick in MLB draft

College baseball’s best pitcher is coming to the Emerald City. The Seattle… Continue reading

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates winning championship point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during the Gentlemen's Singles Final on day 14 of The Championships Wimbledon 2025 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. (Julian Finney / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Sinner conquers Alcaraz for his first Wimbledon title

The vision of Jannik Sinner covered in sweat and… Continue reading

Rome Odunze scans the field in a scrimmage at his youth football camp at Archbishop Murphy High School on July 10, 2025. The former University of Washington star is entering his second NFL season with the Chicago Bears. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Odunze ‘gives back’ in Everett youth football camp

The former University of Washington star hosts a single-day camp at Archbishop Murphy on Thursday.

The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, top right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly ball during the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in New York. (Justin Casterline / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Yankees walk off Mariners on Judge’s sac fly for series sweep

Seattle blows 5-0 lead after Bryan Woo takes no-hitter into eighth inning.

Raleigh says Munoz tipped pitches during Yankees’ comeback

The Yankees had a bead on Seattle Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz. That’s… Continue reading

Midfielder Christian Soto dribbles up field during Snohomish United's 5-1 win against the Tacoma Stars at Stockers Fields on July 9, 2025 (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish United keeps playoff hopes alive in home finale

With 5-1 win against Tacoma, the USL2 club’s focus on local talent keys success in inaugural season.

AquaSox down Devils for consecutive wins

The AquaSox were on a 2-10 stretch coming into the series.

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.