Silvertips notes: Wolf recounts playing at Calgary’s Saddledome

EVERETT — Everett Silvertips goaltender Dustin Wolf got a taste of what it’s like to play at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary — home of the NHL team that drafted him — during Everett’s 6-3 comeback win over the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday.

He hopes it’s not his last.

Wolf, a seventh-round pick by the Calgary Flames in the 2019 NHL draft, said it was a night he’ll always remember.

“It was obviously a pretty fun night,” said Wolf, who made 32 saves in the win. “I’ve had that marked on my calendar since the schedule came out.”

The Flames played the Avalanche in Colorado on Monday night, so many of the members of the Flames’ front office and coaching staff were in transit and unable to attend the game. Wolf said that didn’t put a damper on his evening.

“Calgary has been so supportive of me throughout the summer and the beginning of the season and everything,” Wolf said. “I keep in contact with each and every one of them and it was awesome to be back in the (Saddle)dome. It’s obviously a historic rink and I want to be there in a couple more years.

“It’s just another step in the right direction.”

Gut banged up

Silvertips import forward Michal Gut was scheduled to depart Sunday for the Czech Republic’s selection camp for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, but he was injured Friday at Swift Current. He’s officially listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. His status for the Czech camp is uncertain.

Gut will be reexamined during the week, Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson said, and it will be determined if Gut can leave. Western Hockey League players can’t leave for international duty while they’re injured, Davidson said.

The Czech Republic is hosting the championships from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.

Fasko-Rudas off to world juniors

Martin Fasko-Rudas is on Slovakia’s preliminary roster for world juniors and has departed for selection camp. The 19-year-old forward, who has posted four goals and eight points in 17 games with Everett this season, has played for Slovakia’s under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup team and Slovakia’s under-17 team in the past. Observers expect him to be included on the final roster.

Slovakia's #WorldJuniors camp roster. Saint John RW Maxim Cajkovic (TB 3rd/2019) & Sherbrooke G Samuel Hlavaj (2020/2001) should join later. Okuliar is a top player for Lethbridge, & Samuel Knazko, Martin Chromiak, Oliver Fatul, and Marko Stacha are very good FYE draft prospects pic.twitter.com/oDbhjBkrP3
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) December 4, 2019

Halamandaris called up

Prospect Carter Halamandaris was called up by the Silvertips on Tuesday as an affiliate player. The 2003-born forward has collected 16 goals and 30 points in 25 games for the Winnipeg Wild Midget AAA program in the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

With the Silvertips down to just nine forwards because of world juniors and injuries, Halamandaris should see plenty of ice time. Per WHL rules, Halamandaris can play five games as an affiliate player.

Injury report

— Seventeen-year-old rookie Jacob Wright is expected to be available for the Silvertips over the weekend after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

— Eighteen-year-old forward Jalen Price is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained Sunday at Calgary. His status for Friday’s game at Portland is questionable.

— Seventeen-year-old forward Tyson Phare, who has been out since Nov. 2 after being struck in the face with a puck, remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury. He is doubtful for Friday’s game.

U.S prospect draft unveiled

The WHL announced Tuesday that the inaugural WHL U.S. Challenge Cup — a tournament designed to showcase some of the best bantam AAA teams in western North America — is scheduled for Feb. 20-23 in Kent.

Also included in the WHL’s release was news of a two-round U.S. Prospect Draft that will debut in March 2020. It’s similar to the American Draft the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) adopted in 2018.

Alumni spotlight

Carter Hart is on quite the hot streak for the Philadelphia Flyers. The former Silvertips goalie has won four straight games. On the year, Hart is 10-5-3 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.

Prospect update

Signed 16-year-old prospect Jack Lambert has two goals and three points in six games sent being sent down to the Junior Silvertips’ U-16 team. The Fairbanks, Alaska, native has been named to the North American Prospects Hockey League’s All-Star Game, which will be played in Blaine, Minnesota, on Sunday.

Breaking News: #NAPHL announces rosters for 2019-20 16U All-Star Game, which will be played @SuperRink in Blaine, Minnesota, on Sunday, December 15th at 8:30pm. https://t.co/KmgYt8r9My pic.twitter.com/ELCBNgSC0U
— NAPHL (@NAPHL) December 6, 2019