EVERETT — Jaeger White doesn’t waste time.
The Everett Silvertips announced last Thursday morning that the organization had acquired White from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The 17-year-old forward went home to Medicine Hat to drop off some belongings, flew west and was on the bus to Kennewick with his new team the next day.
“It’s been kind of a whirlwind, but it’s good to get settled in here,” White said. “The guys have been unreal. It’s a really good group of guys and a great coaching staff.”
The 5-10, 170-pounder received a crash course on the Tips’ offensive and defensive systems. He was out on the ice with Everett’s fourth line Friday night without ever practicing with his new team as the Tips skated to a 3-2 comeback victory over the Tri-City Americans.
White also played in Saturday’s 4-1 comeback victory at Seattle as the Tips went 2-1 in a three-game stretch against U.S. Division opponents.
“He’s a great power forward — he’s really fast and quick, in the corners especially,” said Tips forward Brian King, who skated with White on Everett’s fourth line Saturday. “He was doing really well for his first game.
“It’s been tough on him learning new systems that guys here have been learning for three months,” King added. “It’s something that no one picks up on real quickly, but he’s really paying attention. … There weren’t too many times where I would look up and he would be in the wrong place.”
White attributed that to the video work he did prior to Friday’s game. The Silvertips are well-known for the extensive video training they use to complement their on-ice sessions.
“We had to do video in Lethbridge, but I have noticed already here that video is very big for (head coach Kevin) Constantine,” White said. “He likes to do that a lot. I’ve heard from the guys that it has helped them a lot and is a big part of this team’s identity.”
A prodigious goal-scorer at lower levels, White had a goal and two assists in 23 games with the Hurricanes this season. He was plus-two during Everett’s visit to Lethbridge on Nov. 18, a 4-3 Hurricanes victory.
A fourth-round selection by Lethbridge in the 2013 WHL bantam draft, White followed a similar path to Everett as new teammate Remi Laurencelle. Both were acquired from Lethbridge for sixth-round picks. The two even had the same billet family, White said.
Laurencelle, of course, has blossomed into Everett’s leading scorer this season with 15 goals and 14 assists. The Tips hope White can replicate some of that success.
“We had a lot of depth in Lethbridge and I was caught down the lineup and getting scratched,” he said. “I kind of could see it coming. I wasn’t really shocked. I’m really happy to get a fresh start here.”
The Silvertips (17-10-0-2, 36 points) eclipsed Spokane (16-12-2-1, 35 points) for second place in the U.S. Division following Everett’s win at Seattle on Saturday. The Tips have an opportunity to create more separation Wednesday night as they return to the Spokane Arena for the third time this season.
The Tips defeated the Chiefs 5-1 in Spokane on Nov. 29 and are 3-2 against the Chiefs this season.
Spokane received a blow to its offensive firepower this week when it was announced that forward Adam Helewka has been suspended for six games for his fight with Tri-City’s Parker Wotherspoon on Saturday. The San Jose draftee is Spokane’s second-leading scorer with 16 goals and 13 assists in 19 games. The Chiefs will also be without fourth-leading scorer Dominic Zwerger (11 goals, 11 assists) who is with Austria’s world junior team.
Kailer Yamamoto (10 goals, 31 assists), Jason Fram (seven goals, 20 assists), Keanu Yamamoto (eight goals, 12 assists) and Markson Bechtold (seven goals, 12 assists) are other key performers for the Chiefs.
Tyson Verhelst (13-7-0-1, 2.92 goals-against average, .904 save percentage) has been the top goaltender for the Chiefs. Spokane has lost two straight and is 6-4-0-0 in its previous 10 games.
The Silvertips play at Vancouver Friday night before returning home against the Giants Saturday for the Teddy Bear Toss at Xfinity Arena. That will be the final game before the week-long Christmas break.
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
