PDA

View Full Version : Tips Lose Opener 6-4 to Kamloops



Tipped Off
09-27-2005, 03:41 PM
Posted : : 09/25/2005
Silvertips lose 6-4 to Kamloops
Everett Silvertips Press Release



Zach Hamill had 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists)
Kamloops, BC - The Everett Silvertips opened their 2005-06 season with a 6-4 loss to the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday night in Kamloops, BC.

It was all Everett the first period. Veteran Shaun Heshka opened the scoreboard at 4:01 on a power play. Four minutes later newcomer John Lammers pushed Everett to a 2-0 lead. Then at 13:01 second year Silvertip Brady Calla propelled Everett to a 3-0 advantage. Zach Hamill posted three assists on Everett's two goals while Jason Fransoo added two and John Lammers contributed one.

Kamloops posted their first point late in the first when Kris Versteeg found a hole in the Everett net. It continued into the second period with Versteeg scoring again and Terrance Delaronde and Marc Conners posting numbers to make it a 4-3 game.

In the third Brock Nixon pushed the Blazers to a 5-3 lead. Everett rallied back with a Zach Hamill goal at 17:41 to make it a one point game. After the Everett goaltender, Leland Irving, was pulled the Blazers scored an empty-netter by Kris Versteeg to end the game at 6-4 in favor of Kamloops. Posting assists for the Blazers were Reid Jorgensen with two and Marc Conners, Raymond Macias, Matt Kassian, Brock Nixon, Keaton Ellerby, Brennan Chapman, Janick Steinmann and Kevin Hayman all with one a piece.

In goal for Everett was second year Silvertip Leland Irving. Irving made 24 stops on 29 shots. For Kamloops Michael Maniago stopped 8 of 12. On the power play Everett performed on command and completed 3 of 3. Kamloops went 2 for 8.

The Silvertips are back in action on Saturday, October 1st at the Everett Events Center where they will host their 2005-06 home opener against the Prince George Cougars. The puck drops at 7:05pm.

Silvertips Box Scores

Leland Irving (0-1): 24 saves on 29 shots
Shaun Heshka 1 G
John Lammers 1 G, 1 A
Brady Calla 1 G
Zach Hamill 1 G, 3 A
Jason Fransoo 2 A
Eric Doyle 1 A
Shots on Goal: Everett 12, Kamloops 30
Power Play: Everett 3/3, Kamloops 2/8
Attendance: 5286

3 Stars of the Game

1. Kris Versteeg
2. Zach Hamill
3. Kevin Hayman

Tipped Off
09-27-2005, 03:42 PM
Blazers skate by Silvertips in opener
Kamloops comes back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Everett 6-4

By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer


KAMLOOPS, British Columbia - The Everett Silvertips seemed on the verge of a dream start to their 2005-06 Western Hockey League season.

Then, in a span of 1 minute, 36 seconds, it all fell apart.

The Kamloops Blazers scored three goals during that span, turning a two-goal deficit into a one-goal lead, and the Silvertips opened the season with a 6-4 loss Saturday night at the Interior Savings Centre.

Kris Versteeg, playing his first game as a Blazer, scored three times for Kamloops, which tallied five unanswered goals after Everett took a 3-0 first-period lead.

"The 3-0 lead played with our players' heads a little," Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. "I think we thought that because we were ahead 3-0, we were playing well. We were playing very average at best. We let up, they picked it up and we got our butts kicked."

Everett took that three-goal lead just 13:01 into the first period on power-play goals by Shaun Heshka, John Lammers and Brady Calla. But from there it was all Kamloops.

Versteeg's first goal, with 56.4 seconds left in the first period, turned the momentum. Then Versteeg, Terrance Delaronde and Marc Connors all scored between 12:49 and 14:25 of the second period to give the Blazers the lead.

"We just took some penalties there and we couldn't kill them off," said Everett center Zach Hamill, who finished with a goal and three assists. "After that, they started rolling in. By the time we woke up, it was too little too late."

Everett gave itself a glimmer of hope when Hamill batted home a loose puck with 2:19 remaining to cut the deficit to 5-4. But Versteeg scored into an empty net with 1:12 left to clinch the victory.

Kamloops outshot Everett 30-12.

"It was a great start," Versteeg said. "Playing with Reid Jorgensen and Matt Kassian definitely helps. Reid's a great playmaker and can score also, and Matt makes a lot of room out there. But right now we can't get too high or get too low. We've got to stay on an even keel."

Brock Nixon also scored and Michael Maniago made nine stops in goal for Kamloops.

Jason Fransoo added two assists and Leland Irving made 24 saves in goal for Everett, which has some adjustments to make before its home opener next Saturday against Prince George.

"The mindset right now is that the first two years you get predicted to be last and you're pretty motivated," Constantine said. "This year our guys keep hearing about how we're supposed to be finally coming around as a franchise. People forget it's still the same stuff that makes you successful, and our team hasn't figured that out yet because our work ethic wasn't anywhere near where you've got to be to be successful.

"Hopefully this is a lesson learned."

The Silvertips showed remarkable efficiency on the power play in the first period, scoring three goals in 1:34 worth of power-play time. First, Heshka found the left corner with a slap shot from the center point, giving the Tips a 1-0 lead at 4:01. Then Lammers skated around a defender in the right corner and flipped a shot in at the near post to make it 2-0 at 7:58. Finally, Hamill played a pass out in front of Calla on the break and Calla reached out and poked the puck under Maniago, giving the Tips a 3-0 lead 13:01 into the game.

Kamloops stunted Everett's momentum with a power-play goal of its own with 56.4 seconds remaining in the period, Versteeg putting in a rebound to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Blazers then turned the game dramatically during a 1:36 span of the second period. First, Versteeg made a nifty spin in front of goal and backhanded a shot past Irving at 12:49 to cut the deficit to one. Then, 38 seconds later, Delaronde skated the puck into the zone along the right and put a pass out front that deflected off Everett defenseman Eric Doyle and into the net to tie the game. Finally, after another 58 seconds, Connors put in a rebound on the power play, and suddenly Kamloops had the lead.

Everett was outshot 16-1 in the period.

Slap shots: Everett captain Torrie Wheat, who was a question mark for the game because of a foot injury, played. ... Everett center Peter Mueller sat out because of a suspension, delaying his WHL debut. ... Kamloops No. 1 goalie, Devan Dubnyk, did not start because he just returned from the Edmonton Oilers' training camp hours before game time. He did suit up as Maniago's backup, however. ... Former Silvertip forward Brady Mason suited up for Kamloops.

Blazers 6, Silvertips 4

Everett 3 0 1-4

Kamloops 1 3 2-6

First Period-1, Everett, Heshka 1 (Hamill, Fransoo), 4:01 (pp). 2, Everett, Lammers 1 (Hamill, Fransoo), 7:58 (pp). 3, Everett, Calla 1 (Hamill, Lammers), 13:01 (pp). 4, Kamloops, Versteeg 1 (Macias, Jorgensen), 19:03 (pp).

Second Period-5, Kamloops, Versteeg 2 (Kassian, Jorgensen), 12:49. 6, Kamloops, Delaronde 1 (Nixon, Ellerby), 13:27. 7, Kamloops, Connors 1 (Chapman, Steinmann), 14:25 (pp).

Third Period-8, Kamloops, Nixon 1 (Hayman), 5:23. 9, Everett, Hamill 1 (Doyle), 17:41. 10, Kamloops, Versteeg 3, 18:48 (en).

Shots on goal-Everett 6-1-5-12. Kamloops 6-16-8-30.

Power-play opportunities-Everett 3 of 3. Kamloops 2 of 6.

Goalies-Everett, Irving 0-1 (29 shots, 24 saves). Kamloops, Maniago 1-0 (12 shots, 9 saves).