WHL US DIVISION - Everett Silvertips Notebook: Tips' make it rain teddy bears; finish strong to end first half of the season

Everett started their week trailing Seattle by three points for first place in the US Division. With both teams playing three games apiece during the week there could be a new leader in the division.

Defeated Spokane 7-4

Everett began their week on Wednesday December 16 with a game in Spokane. The Silvertips would strike first with Remi Laurencelle burying a deflection off a Kevin Davis shot from the blue line. Spokane would answer right back 16 seconds later. Hudson Elynuik scored off a rebound beating Carter Hart glove side. At 8:38 Everett would regain the lead when Dawson Leedahl top-shelved the puck past Tyson Verhelst. After one period Everett remained on top 2-1 while outshooting Spokane 12-10.

Riley Whittingham would score on a wrap-around to even the game at 14:03. The goal would go under review but would eventually stand. 17 seconds later Spokane would take the lead when Kailer Yamamoto scored on a rebound. At 15:38 Laurencelle would tie the game sniping one past Verhelst. Things were even after a back-and- forth second period with Spokane outshooting Everett 11-9.

Yamamoto would steal the puck and score his second of the night on a breakaway giving Spokane the lead at 6:20. Everett would have an opportunity to re-tie the game when Curtis Miske was given two minutes for a trip. With only seconds remaining on the power play, Carson Stadnyk wristed one past Verhelst's glove side. At 14:58 Laurencelle would tip in a shot from Tristen Pfeifer for the go-ahead goal and the hat trick. Spokane would pull their goalie for an extra attacker, which would lead to an empty net goal, Laurencelle's fourth of the night. Cole MacDonald would cause a turnover and send the puck down into the empty net with one second remaining to give Everett the definitive 7-4 win. Shots were even at 10 in the third period. Carter Hart stopped 27-of-31 in the win. With Seattle losing the previous night, the Silvertips only trailed by one point for first place in the US Division.

Defeated Vancouver 3-2 (OT)

Everett headed to Vancouver for a home and home series against the Giants. Coincidentally both home games would be a teddy bear toss night. The Silvertips would strike first at 1:25 when Connor Dewar snapped a shot by the post beating Ryan to give Everett a 1-0 lead. Trevor Cox gained possession of the puck after an Everett turnover, finding Ty Ronning who snuck behind the defense and scored on a breakaway at 11:11. Over 9,000 in attendance would throw stuffed animals on the ice which would cause a short delay. Both teams would return to action but after one period the game remained even at one. Vancouver would outshoot the Silvertips 13-10 in the period.

At 10:15 Dawson Leedahl would send a wrister past Kubic off the underside of the crossbar to give Everett a 2-1 advantage. Everett would carry the 2-1 lead into the third while outshooting Vancouver 8-5 in the second. At 10:13 Everett would have to kill a penalty with Remi Laurencelle being called for high sticking. 20 seconds into the power play and Vancouver would convert with Chase Lang putting one in off a rebound to even the game at two. Despite outshooting Vancouver 16-2 in the third period Everett was unable to find the go-ahead goal.

Carson Stadnyk would score the game winner at 1:38 in overtime beating Kubic glove side on a two-on-one. Carter Hart stopped 18-of-20 shots to pick up his 19^th win of the season. With a Seattle loss that same night Everett would jump into first place in the US Division.

Lost to Vancouver 2-1

Now in sole possession of first place, Everett returned home to square off against the Vancouver Giants for the second straight night. Unsuccessful on teddy bear toss night in their first two seasons, Everett brought it back for the first time in ten seasons Saturday night in hopes of a different result. "My billets let me know; they said there was a curse about it," said rookie center Connor Dewar. Just 44 seconds in and Everett would have a chance to break the curse. Dawson Leedahl and Odgers would get five minutes each for fighting but Odgers would be assessed an extra four minutes for instigating and unnecessary roughness giving Everett a power play. At 2:47 Connor Dewar broke the curse sneaking one past Ryan Kubic's glove side and then it was raining stuffed animals. "It's special but at the same time it's just another goal," said Dewar on being the first to score a teddy bear toss goal. Over 8,000 stuffed animals hit the ice which would cause a short delay with players and staff doing clean-up. After the ice was cleared players would return to continue action. The score would remain 1-0 with Everett controlling the period, outshooting Vancouver 17-7.

At the end of the period Trevor Cox would be given two minutes for a slash which would result in Everett starting the second period on a power play. The Silvertips would be unable to capitalize on the man advantage. At the 10:10 mark they would have to kill a penalty with Tristen Pfeifer being called for a hook. Only 13 seconds in and Vancouver would tie the game with Chase Lang beating Carter Hart on a one-timer. The score would remain tied 1-1 after two with Vancouver taking control of the period and heavily outshooting Everett 14-3.

Vancouver would get the go ahead goal at 13:46 when Tyler Benson redirected a pass to beat Hart. The Silvertips would go on to lose 2-1 and were outshot 6-7 in the period. Carter Hart stopped 25-of-27 shots in the defeat.

Everett heads into the holiday break with a record of 19-11-0-3 with 40 points and currently sit second in the US Division. Remi Laurencelle leads the team in goals with 19 as well points 35. "Obviously it's not just me, I have real good line mates, good players all around and a real good D-core that really helps me out" says Laurencelle. Carter Hart has a record of 19-10-0-2 while posting a 1.97 goals against average and 0.925 save percentage. Hart also leads the WHL in wins and goals against average. The Silvertips will return to action on December 27 in Vancouver.

More Tips' news

Defenseman Noah Juulsen was cut from Team Canada's World Junior Championship roster and will rejoin Everett. This was a surprise to many who considered Juulsen a lock to make the team.

Former Silvertips Byron Froese scored his first NHL goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 19 vs the Los Angeles Kings in a 5-0 win.