Silvertips Win Preseason Finale
September 16, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release
EVERETT, Wash. - Gage Goncalves had a shorthanded breakaway to lead the Everett Silvertips to a 3-2 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds in their final preseason contest at A.O.T.W Arena in preseason action on Saturday.
The Silvertips finished the preseason 3-1-1-2, the roster missing veteran players Connor Dewar, Riley Sutter, Jake Christiansen, and Wyatte Wylie, all away at NHL training camps. Dustin Wolf made 25 saves and Kyle Walker had two assists in the win.
UP NEXT: Opening the Silvertips home schedule, which covers 34 games this season at Angel of the Winds Arena, is Opening Night against the Vancouver Giants on September 22 at 7:05 p.m. All fans will also witness the raising of the Silvertips sixth U.S. Division championship banner and second Western Conference championship banner to the rafters before the opening puck drop, and the first 5,000 fans at the doors will receive a collectible Silvertips magnet schedule, presented by Lamoureux Real Estate and Sound Transit. Season Tickets and Mini-Plan Packages are available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season. Opening Night for the Tips 2018-19 season is Friday, Sept. 21 at Vancouver (7:35 p.m., 1380 AM / 95.3 FM KRKO).
Despite heavy pressure from the Thunderbirds, the Tips struck first, less than four minutes into the first period. Playing 4-on-4 hockey with Bryce Kindopp in the box for Everett and Owen Williams for Seattle, Akash Bains had his first of the preseason with assists from Kyle Walker and Sahvan Khaira. It wasn't the last time the teams traded penalties in the period, with Silvertip Dawson Butt and Thunderbird Cade McNelly taking matching fighting and game misconduct penalties on the faceoff dot seconds after Nolan Volcan scored to tie it up for Seattle. Sean Richards and Matthew Wedman closed the period by both heading to the box for more 4-on-4.
Everett opened the scoring again in the second period, Jackson Berezowski scoring his first point of the season on assists by Kyle Walker and Bryce Kindopp. The game stayed scoreless for ten minutes until some disagreement at Cole Schweibus' net sent Luke Ormsby and Dillion Hamaliuk to the box. Within seconds, Volcan scored his second of the night to tie the game up 2-2.
While the game was tight for the first two periods, the Silvertips took control in the third, leading the Thunderbirds 11-2 in shots. A trip by Sean Richards put the Tips down a man, but Goncalves' shorthanded breakaway broke the tie. After that, it was a shutdown game by the Tips defense as Seattle couldn't seem to buy a shot. The Silvertips put pressure on Schwebius but stayed scoreless after Goncalves' tally three minutes in, the game ended 3-2.
SILVERTIPS LINE COMBOS
19 / KINDOPP 26 / VITELLI 17 / BEREZOWSKI
10 / BAINS 39 / GONCALVES 7 / FASKO-RUDAS
15 / RICHARDS 16 / ORMSBY 9 / BUTT
28 / MITCHELL
DEFENSIVE PAIRINGS
24 / FAIRBROTHER 21 / ANDERSON
8 / SEELEY 4 / I. WALKER
20 / K. WALKER 86 / KHAIRA
5 / MOAR
GOALTENDERS
32 / WOLF
40 / LYDA
NOTES: Silvertips scratches include Peter Melcher, Riley Sutter, Jake Christiansen, Wyatte Wylie, Connor Dewar, and Bronson Sharp... The Tips were 2-for-2 on the penalty kill... Wolf went 3-0-0-1 with two shutouts in pre-season play ... the Tips never lost in regulation on home ice.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2018
- Wheat Kings Are Winners Sunday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Cougars Edged In Overtime Pre-Season Finale - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Preseason Ends in 5-1 Loss to Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Wrap up Preseason in Style, Beat Hurricanes 5-1 - Swift Current Broncos
- Silvertips Win Preseason Finale - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Lose 3-2 to Hitmen in Pre-Season Finale - Kootenay Ice
- Silvertips Slip Past T-Birds in Last Preseason Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
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