Silvertips can’t stop late surge by the Chiefs

By Bel Garcia

Everett, WA - The last time Everett matched up against Spokane it took more than three periods and overtime to end the game, as the Silvertips won 2-1 in a shootout. Tonight, the Chiefs came back into town prepared for the possibility of a similar ending. Things got chippy within a minute of puck drop, when Tips’ Dexter Whittle threw his gloves onto the ice and got into a fighting stance. He and Spokane’s Cameron Parr proceeded to throw a box worthy number of punches before being split up. This would not be the first time that a fight broke out, and the end of this one had a lot of fight by both Everett and Spokane.

Everett’s Dexter Whittle and Spokane’s Cameron Parr drop the gloves (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)

The Silvertips had some good shots on goal, while others weren’t very accurate or near the net. Overall, they took almost double the number of shots than that of the Chiefs as the Tips ended the game with a total of 50 in comparison to 26. The Chiefs played a lot more reserved and strategic with their shots and for 2 of the 3 periods, Palmer was able to swallow up or catch the puck. Meanwhile, the Silvertips overshot on several of their attempts. Their first goal came in the second period, as Chiefs’ goaltender Cooper Michaluk attempted to make a save on a shot and fell stomach first onto the ice. Raphael Pelletier skated around the net to right side and snuck the puck into the bottom right corner for the first Tips goal. Things began to heat up for Everett as Ben Hemmerling took a shot on an assist from Aidan Sutter to give the Silvertips a two-goal lead early in the 3rd period. Soon after, Hemmerling shared the wealth with an assist to Austin Roest for a center ice shot that went right down the middle into the net.

Silvertips forward Ben Hemmerling recorded a two point night, a goal and an assist (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)

Spokane had a late game surge and with plenty of time left in the 3rd period, found their groove. With Silvertips goaltender Tyler Palmer off balance in the net, Cade Hayes helped the Chiefs avoid a shutout loss. Chiefs forward Berkly Catton wasted no time getting a goal over the shoulder of Palmer, bringing the Chiefs within one goal. Cade Hayes battled back for his team scoring once again on an assist from Berkly Catton, at this point the defenseman for the Silvertips had left Palmer in the net to fend for himself. They took their foot off the gas pedal as they were up 3-0 at the beginning of the 3rd period, and suddenly have watched their lead vanish. Perhaps impressive seeing how many goals both teams were able to score, but neither team scored on a power play chance. The puck went back and forth in overtime, but the extra five minutes was not enough to determine a winner.

Everett’s Raphael Pelletier tries an attempt on Spokane goaltender Cooper Michaluk (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)

Just as the Silvertips won the last one against the Chiefs in a shootout, they fell tonight in a shootout. Cade Hayes, who had two goals to help tie the game, would be the only Chiefs player to miss in the shootout. Palmer was not able to stop any other shot, meanwhile the Silvertips had misses by both Ben Hemmerling and Jesse Heslop. Everett Silvertips fall 4-3 and are now on a two game losing streak. They face the Tri-City Americans on the 22nd in another attempt to get back on the right course.

The team wide fight that broke out (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)