The Everett Silvertips finished off a four-game road trip this past week, and then came back home for the first two of a five-game home stand.
They ended up going 2-1 over the three games and are tied for second in the U.S. Division with the Tri-City Americans at 5-3-0-0.
Lack of depth offense was apparently a real concern for general manager Garry Davidson and the Silvertips as they went out and acquired 2000-born center Cole Fonstad from the Prince Albert Raiders. Going the other way was 2001-born center Reece Vitelli, second- and fourth-round picks in 2021, and a conditional third-round pick in 2022. That final pick is contingent upon Fonstad returning as an overage player next season.
Fonstad was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. He has yet to be signed.
The Estevan, Saskatchewan, native was originally drafted fifth overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He had 26 points as a 16-year-old and then broke out with 73 points as a 17-year-old. He again put up 73 points last season and had six points over 21 playoff games in the Raiders’ run to the WHL title.
So far this season, Fonstad has two goals and seven assists for nine points over nine games, all with the Raiders.
Vitelli had three assists over eight games with Everett this season.
Both centers appeared to be under-performing to the expectations of their teams, and now both get fresh starts. Fonstad is a playmaker with elite vision who could form a dynamic duo with current WHL leading scorer and Silvertips winger Bryce Kindopp.
Davidson has said time and again how much he values championship experience, which Fonstad also provides. We will have more about Fonstad and this trade later this week.
Wednesday, 10/9: Everett 3 Victoria 2
Everett took the ferry over to Victoria and came out firing, putting 41 shots on former Portland Winterhawks goalie Shane Farkas. Unlike the second game of the season back in Everett, they had a harder time finding the net behind him.
After Tarun Fizer opened the scoring, Bryce Kindopp was able to beat Farkas on the power play for his eight of the season to tie the game.
Seattle native Brendan Lee, who has been electric to watch this season, netted his second to put the ‘Tips up.
After Logan Doust tied the game again, Jackson Berezowski, in his return from an injury, beat Farkas for his second point of the night and the game winner.
Dustin Wolf got the win with 31-of-33 shots turned away.
Berezowski, who earned number one star treatment on the road, has consistently found the score sheet.
Kamloops 3 Everett 1
The Silvertips returned back home after their four game sojourn to take on the visiting Blazers. It was also the return of two former Silvertips, as Orrin Centazzo and Montana Onyebuchi, moved nearly three seasons ago as part of the Garrett Pilon and Ondrej Vala trade, came back to Everett.
Lee started the scoring with the third of his rookie season, but that would be all that the offensively challenged Silvertps could get by Kamloops goalie Dylan Garand. The 17-year-old stopped 33-of-34 shots. Wolf turned away 36-of-38 at the other end.
The two that got by him were netted by import, rookie defenseman Inaki Baragano (his first in the WHL) and Quinn Schmiemann.
Connor Zary added an empty netter.
Everett had six power-play chances but could not score on any.
After beating Kamloops on the road earlier in the season, the ‘Tips are now 1-1 against the Blazers.
Everett 1 Seattle 0 OT
All three losses this season for Everett have been followed by wins. This was again the case on Saturday for Pink the Rink Night. A huge crowd of over 8,000 saw the Puget Sound rivalry firsthand, including two goalies putting in stellar performances.
Wolf ended up stopping all 35 shots he faced for his second shutout this season and 14th in his career, counting the playoffs.
Wolf stopped a total of 108-of-112 shots on the week, improving his save percentage to .940.
Gage Goncalves, in his return to the lineup from an injury, netted the overtime winner 2:21 into the extra session.
Everett went 0-for-2 on the power play in the game and 1-for-14 on the man advantage for the week.
This week:
Wednesday vs. the Brandon Wheat Kings
Friday vs. the Tri-City Americans
Saturday vs. the Prince Albert Raiders
The stories of this week will revolve around Fonstad. He will make his Silvertips debut on Wednesday vs. Brandon, a team he has played 18 times. Over those games, he has 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points.
Then, after a U.S. Division clash where Everett will seek revenge on Sasha Mutala and the Tri-City Americans for spoiling their home opener, Fonstad’s former team comes to town. The fans will get to see Reece Vitelli again with his new club, as well.
Bear Tracks…
-Lack of offense was a key reason the Silvertips went and got Fonstad. They have just 21 goals over their eight games. That is a drop from 3.28 goals-per-game last season to 2.63 so far.
-Berezowski has started to emerge as a consistent producer this season with points in all but one game played. He has six points overall and is tied for third on the team behind Fonstad and the WHL league leader Kindopp who has 14.
-The ‘Tips power play is 21st in the WHL among the 22 teams, converting at just 14.3 percent.
-Their penalty kill is 18th at 75 percent.
-With Goncalves and Kindopp back, Conrad Mitchell and Martin Fasko-Rudas should be the only names still listed on the injury report when it comes out later today.
