The Everett Silvertips were No. 6 in the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Western Conference standings entering Oct. 4. They lost their season opener at home to Vancouver but fired back with 8-2 and 6-3 wins against Portland and Kelowna, respectively.
Last Friday, the Silvertips began their seven-game road trip across Canada, and it got off to a great start, winning two games in overtime.
Everett 3, Prince Albert 2
Everett faced Prince Albert and netted two goals in the second period before the Raiders rallied back and netted a pair in the third, both from power plays. Silvertips right winger Jesse Heslop — assisted by center Tyler MacKenzie and defenseman Tarin Smith — notched the game-winning goal less than two minutes into the sudden-death overtime period. Center Carter Bear — assisted by center Julius Miettinen — and defenseman Landon DuPont (assisted by left winger Julien Maze) tallied Everett’s other goals. Goalie Jesse Sanche saved 19 of 21 shots.
Everett 5, Saskatoon 4
Against Saskatoon on Saturday, it was MacKenzie, on assists from Heslop and Smith, who put away the game-winning goal about two minutes into the sudden-death overtime period. Earlier in the contest, the Silvertips and the Blades were tied 1-1 after the first period, and Everett tacked on two more goals in the second while Saskatoon added one. The Silvertips netted one goal in the third, which forced the Blades to rally back and score two more to tie. Three of the Silvertips’ goals came via the power play. Mackenzie (assisted by right winger Caden Brown and defenseman Kaden Hammell), Miettinen (assisted by left winger Dominik Rymon and DuPont), Hammell (assisted by Maze and center Lukas Kaplan) and Bear (assisted by Rymon and Smith) tallied Everett’s other goals. Goalie Alex Garrett saved 18 of 22 shots.
Three stars of the week
First star: Tyler MacKenzie. The 20-year-old center tallied two goals and one assist this past weekend, and his efforts in overtime helped the Silvertips secure two road victories.
Second star: Carter Bear. The 18-year-old center netted two goals this past weekend.
Third star: Tarin Smith. The 18-year-old defenseman recorded three assists this past weekend, one in both overtime periods, to help the Silvertips earn back-to-back road wins.
The week ahead
Everett has four games scheduled for this upcoming week, all on the road against Eastern Conference opponents with equal or worse records than the Silvertips:
Oct. 8 — at Brandon (currently No. 3)
Oct. 9 — at Regina (currently No. 5)
Oct. 11 — at Moose Jaw (currently No. 7)
Oct. 12 — at Swift Current (currently No. 6)
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