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EVERETT — Everett Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson announced Thursday that the club has signed prospect goaltender Blake Lyda to a Western Hockey League Standard Player Agreement.
Lyda was selected by the Silvertips in the fourth round (86th overall) of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.
“As time and Blake’s game progressed over the summer, his identity as a terrific goaltending prospect made his signing a high priority of ours,” Davidson said in a press release. “Not only does he impress you with a consistent and steady style, his maturity and approach to character is remarkable. It makes us excited for the depth we have at the goaltending position. We welcome Blake to the Silvertips family and are proud he has chosen the Western Hockey League for the next step in his career.”
Lyda, a 2002-born goaltender, suited up in 24 games (tied for second in the league) last season for the Canadian Athletic Club Canadians (AMBHL) and earned a shutout and a .917 save percentage, ranking ninth in the league.
He earned a spot in the Alberta Cup this past season and appeared in three games with a 2-1-0 record, a save percentage of .940 and goals-against average of 2.36. He made 42 saves on the first day of tournament play with a win, and followed up the next day with a 44 save effort and second straight victory.
“Blake is a goaltender gifted with physical attributes that have made a strong impression,” Silvertips director of player personnel Bil La Forge said. “He is very technically sound, much in the mold of Carter Hart, Dustin Wolf and Kent Simpson. He elevated his game this past year and comes with a high degree of character. We identify goaltending as a high priority position as to where we build out from, and as an organization we’re fortunate to have individuals like Carter, Dustin, and Blake provide strength at that position.”
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