The Everett Silvertips hurdled over Tri-City after a three-goal third period to win 4-2 in the final game of the season for Tri-City. Everett’s own Andrew Petruk had a career-high three-point game, which included two goals in the regular season finale.
This was also the last WHL game for Ethan Peters, Alex Serraglio, and Parker Bell of Tri-City. The three were honored during a second period media break.
Everett jumped out in front six minutes into the final game of the regular season to open scoring.
Defenseman Tarin Smith held the puck at the point momentarily before swinging the puck over toward the right circle, where Will Jamieson was alone. Jamieson smacked a one-timer from the right circle that went far side and past Kyle Kelsey’s blocker.
The Silvertips then went on to kill off a double minor after a Beau Courtney high-sticking penalty at 6:16 in the first period, which led to a huge momentum swing and a bombardment of shots in the last ten minutes of the first period.
However, after one stray rush following multiple Everett waves of attack, Tri-City tied the game late in the first period at 17:27.
Jake Gudelj, in his second game back from an injury he suffered on November 1st, scored his third goal of the season. Coincidentally, all three goals have been against Everett.
After a stretch-ice pass from affiliate player Kainoah Brankovich, Thomas Tien poked the puck to Jake Gudelj at the high slot. Gudelj wasted no time firing a wrister that went right past the glove of Silvertip netminder Ethan Chadwick, making it 1-1.
Following twenty minutes of play, everything was square at one, and Kyle Kelsey had held off the Everett barrage for the time being, stopping twelve shots.
Chances were easy to come by in the second period for Tri-City as the Americans seemed to gain their footing in the game. Halfway through the second, Tri-City walked in with a three-on-one, which was halted by a left pad save by Ethan Chadwick.
Not long after, it was a partial breakaway for Cash Koch; Koch shot it off Chadwick’s mask, and the game remained 1-1.
Kyle Kelsey made potentially the save of the night in the WHL, doing what he does best at 13:07 in the second period. Everett had a high-quality chance of their own as the Silvertips walked in on a two-on-zero shorthanded. Niko Tsakumis zipped a cross-crease pass over to Andrew Petruk. Petruk then fired the puck from close quarters and was denied by Kyle Kelsey’s outstretched pad.
Tri-City eventually had their efforts pay off. With just three minutes remaining in the second period, the Americans took a 2-1 lead following a power play goal.
After Cash Koch gathered a rebound off a Mason Finley shot from beyond the right circle, Koch fired it off the chest of Chadwick. A dog pile ensued out net front, and three Silvertip players seemingly crushed Carter MacAdams. MacAdams, however, managed to poke the puck somehow past the Silvertip wall.
Subsequently, after two periods of play, Tri-City miraculously established a 2-1 lead, and shots were in favor of Tri-City 21-18 after a great second period.
Everett came out of the gates high-flying in the third period and was able to tie the game just two minutes into the third.
Andrew Petruk scored his second goal of the season and was having the best night of his WHL career. Brek Liskie, on the right wing, stepped up and around an American defender after gathering the puck along the boards. Liskie then fired a backdoor feed to Andrew Petruk, who was unmarked. Petruk slotted home the puck, and it was a brand-new hockey game.
Kyle Kelsey made yet another unbelievable save just a minute after the Petruk goal to keep the game tied.
Carter Bear made a nice spin move around an American defender and made a pass to Cade Zaplitny, who was waiting out net-front. Zaplitny fired a one-timer from close range that was saved by Kyle Kelsey’s extended blocker, who was diving across his crease to keep the game 2-2.
Andrew Petruk continued his career night by being awarded his first career penalty shot after bursting away for a breakaway and being hauled down by Lukas Dragicevic.
Petruk slowly skated in and pulled off some dirty dangles. Petruk faked backhanded before quickly going back forehand. By this point, Kelsey had committed to the backhand, and Petruk tapped the puck in for his second goal of the game to make it 3-2 Everett just under halfway through the third period.
Shortly after, Kaden Hammell added an insurance goal to double the Silvertip lead at 10:07 to cap off the scoring and make it 4-2.
Hammell skated in along the left wing, making a nifty move around Tri-City defenseman Merrek Arpin and gliding toward the net on his backhand with numbers. Hammell flipped to his forehand and roofed the puck over Kyle Kelsey’s glove, who was hugging the post and in.
With the loss, Tri-City finishes the season with a record of 23-42-2-1. The Americans finished second to last in the Western Conference and will hold the third-best odds at the top pick in the 2024 WHL Bantam Draft Lottery.
The Americans will return to Kennewick with training camp beginning in late August 2024.
Northwest Sports Desk 