Chris Mast

Going Camping: Everett Silvertips

At the annual Green-Grey game it was nearly all Green as Sean Richards and Connor Dewar each had two assists to lead the way in a 4-1 win. Green outshot Grey 54-to-23.

Goals:

First- Bryce Kindopp got his stick on a shot by Jameson Murray and redirected the puck by Grey goalie Danton Belluk (1-0 Green).

Richards made an incredible backhand, cross-ice feed to a cutting Luke Ormsby and the Pacific Northwest native tapped the puck by a sliding Belluk (2-0 Green).

Dustin Wolf

Connor Dewar cut around a defender and found Slovakian import Peter Melcher with a pass at the far post. Melcher took advantage of a diving Belluk to cut back and tuck home the puck by his left pad (3-0 Green).

Blake Lyda came in for Belluk and Wolf stayed in net for Green.

Second- Dewar got his second assist of the night as he pounced on a loose puck and found Gage Goncalves. The 01-born forward buried a high backhand shot by Lyda (4-0 Green).

Wolf came out of the Green net and was replaced by Belluk. Lyda stayed in for Grey.

Third- Grey finally got on board as Wyatte Wylie got a point shot by Belluk. Assists went to Brayden Morrison and Riley Sutter.

Stand outs:

-Wolf (2001-Goalie-Green) was not tested much in the first, but he really shined in the second. He just looks so poised out there. His best stop came on a wide open Riley Sutter. He closed and did not allow a good shooting lane. He needs some improvement handling the puck behind his net, but even that is a bit of a reach as far as criticisms, as he found a wide open teammate with a nice stretch pass at the opponent’s blue line while on a 5-on-3 power play.

-Lyda (2002-Goalie-Grey) also looked solid with a lot more action coming his way than Wolf had. The six-foot-four netminder gets low well and does not allow any second chances to get by him. He looks to have a really good argument to make the team out of camp, especially if he continues his strong play in the preseason. A young tandem of Wolf and Lyda is not a bad thing considering how good the two looked in this game.

Blake Lyda

-Gage Goncalves (pronounced Gon-sawl-vays) (2001-Forward-Green). Just a ridiculous backhand shot in tight on Lyda got him his goal. Just as impressive though was how he read the play and jumped up and got himself into a position to catch a pass from Dewar. Good anticipation.

If you figure that the nine forwards with WHL experience in Dewar, Sutter, Kindopp, Martin Fasko-Rudas, Reece Vitelli, Ormsby, Akash Bains and Dawson Butt are all retaining roster spots, then there are about three or four spots left up front. If you give one to Melcher then that leaves around two or three. Goncalves has made a strong argument for one of those. Considering how much play-making the Silvertips have lost, they could use someone with nice hands like him.

Others signed and playing in the game at forward were Jackson Berezowski (02), Conrad Mitchell (01). You would have to think Everett will sign more prior to the preseason to add some depth. With no sighting of Bronson Sharp in camp, they have just 13 signed forwards.

-Brayden Morrison (2002-Forward-Grey). Morrison is someone the Silvertips would like to write in for one of those other forward spots, but the fact that he has yet to sign with them looms over their heads. The son of the former Vancouver Canucks center was given a lot of time with Sutter and Fasko-Rudas and he did not look out of place. He worked well in the offensive zone and had one nice look as he cut back behind the net and nearly tucked one by Wolf. He definitely has some creativity to his game and would seem to have a great chance to play some significant minutes if he does sign. With Sutter and Dewar away at NHL camps in the early going, a player like Morrison could see a whole lot of ice time.

-Ronan Seeley (2002-Defense-Green). Looks like an older player out there both in posture and size. He did a good job of moving his feet at the blue line while attacking and always looking for a better angle to take a pass. He also did a good job with the puck, of waiting for traffic to get in front of the goalie before firing a shot.

-Olen Zelweger (2003-Defense-Green). While small in size the 15-year-old blue liner read plays well and had an extremely active stick. He needs to add some bulk to aid him in the corners, but he skates very well and did not look out of place when his team was attacking.