The Everett Silvertips’ and Nashville Predators prospect, Austin Roest has been named Co-Captain of the team along with teammate Ben Hemmerling.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s obviously a really cool honor and obviously something you kind of wished for growing up,” Roest said. “I mean, ever since I’ve been playing hockey especially kind of in the peewee and Bantam ages, always as you get older, you want to be the captain. You want to be a guy that the other guys can kind of look up to and to be named one of those people, especially with a guy like Ben Hemmerling, it’s a really cool feeling.”
Roest has seen a lot of success during his WHL career so far with the points he puts up and two playoff runs.
“I think it’s just my ability to play a 200-foot game I think that’s something I focus on a lot,” Roest said. It’s not just all about the offensive side. I think I play a really responsible game as well. I can play on the powerplay on the penalty kill and I think I’m really responsible in the D zone and I think that’s contributing to to my success.”
Roest was drafted by the Nashville Predators 175th overall in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville this past summer.
“Yeah, awesome experience especially the year before being passed over in the draft and then next year, obviously being picked up by national it’s a really cool feeling, and couldn’t be happier with the organization I got to get picked by,” Roest said.
Roest had never been to Nashville before and it was clear that it didn’t disappoint.
“Yeah, it was awesome,” Roest said. “I mean, I didn’t really know what to expect when I showed up. I’ve never been to Nashville before but it didn’t disappoint at all. I mean, like just even the city like Broadway Street and just the culture like all the country music and then obviously the facility the Nashville Predators facilities. Is next level as well. So everything was an awesome experience.”
Throughout his hockey career, Roest has learned many different lessons, specifically with some adversity that he’s faced.
“Yeah, I think the biggest one’s probably adversity,” Roest said. “I mean, I guess like I said, I kind of go into my first year of the draft and being passed over. I think that that was a real eye-opener for me. And I kind of took it to heart and use it as motivation and came back the next year with a strong year and obviously, getting drafted by Nashville, so I think that was probably the biggest thing I’ve learned so far.”
The Silvertips have seen a lot of success in recent years with playoff runs and Roest has clearly learned a lot during those times.
“Yeah, obviously playoffs regular season, it’s a big difference,” Roest said. “I think everyone just gets a little more motivated a little more, a little bit faster, a little bit more physical. So personally, for me, I think when that happens, I just need to kind of take that step as well. And yeah, use my speed and make my make my decisions a little bit faster.”
The Silvertips are in a loaded US Division, and while Roest acknowledged the competition, he’s focused on winning more than who they’re going up against.
“Yeah, I mean obviously winning is the biggest one for me, I don’t really care who’s who’s in our division,” Roest said. “At the end of the day, I want to win. But personally, I’d say just having a better year than I did last year, that’s kind of my goal.”
When it comes to what he’s working on this season, he touched on his speed and how that’s something that the Predators mentioned that they’d like to see him work on.
“I think they just want me to keep playing fast,” Roest said. “I think that’s what they liked about me and just using my speed, make them make decisions fast and obviously efficient checks. I think if I can do those three things I’m going to be put in a good spot.”
When it comes to players that Roest possibly looks to when it comes to his play, he mentioned the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli.
“I love watching Brayden Point,” Roest said. “I think he’s really fun to watch but a guy I kind of modeled my game after would be like Anthony Cirelli, I think just like a really good two-way player who can play a leg up on the kill and kind of greasy in the corners.”
It was clear that Roest is a competitor and that when it comes down to it, he wants to win. He’s looking forward to working hard and hopefully making the playoffs.
“I mean all the games are really exciting,” Roest said. “But I think once playoffs come around the corner, that’s when I get most excited. I think playoffs are the the time of the year that I am most excited for and obviously, we still have to make the playoffs but I think our group has the capabilities to do that for sure. I didn’t get the group to go on a long run this year. So yeah, playoffs have definitely come across my mind so far.”
The Silvertips sit in about the middle of the pack in the WHL’s Western Conference right now. But Roest thinks that the team is finding their chemistry.
“I think, especially last game, I think we’ve kind of found our chemistry a bit and I think the biggest thing for us just our work ethic,” Roest said. “If we can work like we did the last couple of games and just compete like we did and finish checks and just play the first game that we want to play, I think that’s what makes our group special just how fast you can play and how close we are as a group.”
While Roest is focused on his team and them doing what they can to win, he knows that the competition is tough.
“I think the biggest challenge this year for us is probably going to be the US division teams,” Roest said. “I mean, looking at the division there isn’t there isn’t a weak team. So that’s, that’s good for us. Those are the games you want to plan. Those are the games you get excited for. You want to play in those close games and we have a lot of fun this year. So I think it’s going to be a challenge but I think you’re just gonna be ready for it.”
But the Silvertips have the support behind them with a loyal fan base that makes it hard for opposing teams to play there.
“It’s unbelievable,” Roest said. “I remember when I was 15 I didn’t really know what to expect coming here for my first training camp, but it did not disappoint at all. I mean, it’s an unbelievable feeling, the fans are amazing. I couldn’t say more great things about the fans.”
Northwest Sports Desk 