EVERETT – A month ago tonight’s game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans barely would have registered a blip on the radar, just another early-season meeting between U.S. Division foes.
Who could have imagined it would turn into one of the must-see occasions in the WHL so far this season?
A game that wouldn’t have warranted an asterisk suddenly became a hot item as the Silvertips and Americans engage in an early battle for first place in the division – before a controversial backdrop.
Both Everett and Tri-City are off to fast starts. Everett (7-1-0-1) is in first place in the division with 15 points and Tri-City (7-1-0-0) is right behind with 14. The winner of tonight’s game strikes the first blow in the race for the division title.
“I think (tonight’s) game is unbelievably important,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “I think it’s going to be a very competitive race all year long between Tri-City and us, as well as everybody in the division. This is an early-season contest that has first place written all over it.”
But in the background will be a reminder of past scandal. Tonight is Gear Up and Get In Free night at the Everett Events Center, where fans who come in full hockey equipment are allowed in free of charge.
The promotion is a lighter take on the infamous preseason incident when Constantine, disappointed with the Silvertips’ effort during a preseason game at Tri-City, had the team ride the bus home in its gear.
The incident caused an uproar and sparked national debate in Canada regarding discipline methods in youth hockey. Constantine was suspended by the league for four games and given an unprecedented $5,000 fine. CBC television analyst Kelly Hrudey twice criticized the Silvertips during national Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts, first for the incident itself and then for the ensuing promotion.
But perhaps lost in the shuffle are the competitive storylines heading into the game. Everett, considered the runaway preseason favorite in the division, has yet to hit its stride. The results are there, but until Sunday’s 8-0 victory over Chilliwack the Tips had yet to turn in a dominating performance.
Meanwhile, Tri-City was ticketed for the basement until a pair of late preseason trades significantly upgraded the team’s offense. The Americans’ status of having the second-best winning percentage in the league is a surprise to everyone, and tonight they have the opportunity to prove it’s no fluke.
“Tri-City is a good hockey team and they’re going to be ready to play (today),” Everett leading scorer Zach Hamill said. “Hopefully we can match the energy because they have solid lines, good D and really good goaltending.”
Matching that energy may be more difficult for Everett than one might think. Tonight’s game is Everett’s fourth in five nights. Before this stretch the Tips hadn’t played more than two games in a week. Therefore the Tips will have to find a reserve of energy they haven’t had to dip into yet this season.
In contrast, the Americans should be well rested. Tri-City played just twice last weekend and had Sunday off, giving the Americans two full days to prepare.
“I think the good news about the weekend is we played everybody pretty consistently,” Constantine said. “We didn’t lean on any one group or any one person.”
The Americans come into the game riding a seven-game winning streak, with the team’s only loss coming on opening day at Kootenay. Of those seven wins, one was in overtime and two came in shootouts.
Tri-City is led by goaltender Carey Price (4-0-0-0, 2.15 goals against average, .933 save percentage). The 19-year-old was the fifth-overall pick in the 2005 NHL draft by Montreal and is considered the favorite to backstop Canada’s World Junior Hockey Championships team this year.
The offense is led by a pair of newcomers. Nineteen-year-old left wing Colton Yellow Horn (five goals, four assists) was the biggest acquisition from the preseason trades. Nineteen-year-old left wing Erik Felde (five goals, five assists) has been a major contributor as a rookie. Eighteen-year-old right wing Taylor Procyshen is the team’s leading goal scorer with seven.
If the Americans have a weakness it’s on defense, where there’s a lack of experience.
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