It wasn’t quite the start to the season the Everett Silvertips had hoped for, falling to the Vancouver Giants 4-3 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday night. While a rematch of last season’s first-round playoff series would have been enough to garner a big crowd, the 6,247 fans in attendance had added motivation for showing up Saturday. Excitement was in the air well before the gates to the arena even opened, as 15-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont was set to make his much-anticipated Western Hockey League debut.
As a refresher, DuPont was granted exceptional status by the league this past offseason which allows him to play in the WHL a season before players would typically enter. The honor has only been bestowed on a select few players in CHL history, which is why so many fans were excited to see him up close and in person for the first time. He’s just that good.
Opening night began as many debuts do with the quintessential rookie lap during pre-game warmups. DuPont was joined by fellow rookies Nolan Chasko and Kaeson Fisher. He was then introduced during full team introductions just before the game, where he and veteran teammate Dominik Rymon would receive the loudest ovation from the Everett faithful.
Even some of the Kraken prospects in town for training camp had to come and get a look at the young sensation for the first time. A big group, led by Kraken director of scouting Robert Kron and Silvertips forward Julius Miettinen, wound up watching a good chunk of the game from press level at Angel of the Winds.
Everett jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to offseason addition Tyler MacKenzie getting on the board halfway through the first. Everett’s Andrew Petruk went after Vancouver’s Kolby Gapter to ignite the crowd in the middle parts of the period, but some costly defensive woes allowed Vancouver to score twice, jumping ahead 2-1 to end the frame.
DuPont got on the scoresheet with a stretch pass assist to his billet roommate Carter Bear, tying the game at 2-2. The assist marked the first point in his WHL career.
The game began to unravel quickly for the Silvertips, however, as goaltender Jesse Sanche let up a pair of Giants goals near the end of the period, and Everett headed to the intermission down by two.
The third period saw a big push from the Silvertips offensively, as a high-slot goal from Julien Maze cut the deficit in half at 4-3, but that’s where the score would stay in the end.
The Silvertips controlled the majority of the offensive opportunities during the evening, winning the shot battle 40-25, but Vancouver was much more efficient with its chances, which allowed the Giants to pull away. Giants forward Cameron Schmidt was a big thorn in the side of the Tips during the evening, tallying two goals and ending the evening as the game’s first star.
This marks the fifth straight loss for the Silvertips dating back to the playoffs last season.
Teachable moments
Following his first game as Silvertips head coach, Steve Hamilton felt there were some teachable moments and lessons to learn from a close and hard-fought loss.
“I think that there were really good stretches of the game where we were on point, and then there were times where we got a little bit ragged,” Hamilton said. “It was in those times that we gave up goals against, some face-off situations, a lot of things; those things are areas you can clean. It was just ragged and rough, and that’s to be expected early on in the season. My message to the guys after the game was to keep a nice, even keel and not go on the emotional roller coaster.”
DuPont played a big role
As for DuPont, he finished his first game with an assist, four total shots on goal and was a +2. He had a shot near the end of the game that would have forced overtime had it gone in. He was out to prove he belonged in this league, as he played in front of the biggest crowd of his hockey career thus far.
“The fans were super loud, and it was nice to play in front of them,” DuPont said. “I’ve never really played in front of that many people before, so I just tried my best to take in the moment and help my team win.”
With the absence of defensemen Kaden Hammell, Tarin Smith, and Eric Jamieson, each attending their respective NHL training camps, it was up to DuPont and his defensive partner for the evening, Cameron Sytsma, to man the point for most of the evening. Well, one of his partners, that is.
DuPont wound up being double-shifted a good chunk of the evening, entrusted to have the legs under him on the top pairing and more. He had no idea going into the game that his usage rate would be as high as it was, going with the flow of the game more than anything.
Hamilton admitted that it was a lot to ask of him to play as much as he did but believes he showed throughout the preseason and beyond that he is capable of handling any situation thrown at him.
“He’s a gamer in every sense of the word,” Hamilton said. “He wants to be out there and be a difference-maker, but that was his first major junior game, and that’s a lot to ask.”
NHL training camp players are expected to return in about a week or so, which Hamilton expects will help DuPont settle in and get more comfortable.
“For a first game, I think everybody in the building can see there’s some dynamic elements there. And he’ll just keep getting better and better because he’ll expect it from himself. And certainly, I think when we can surround him with a little bit more experience [with the players coming back], I think that’ll help as well.”
MacKenzie had some praise for DuPont following the contest.
“First of all, the most humble guy you’ll probably ever meet,” MacKenzie said. “I don’t know if he gets enough credit for that, but everyone needs to know that. The way he thinks about the game and skates, you just know he loves the game and that he’s going to be such a good player.”
Everett will take a week hiatus before another playoff rematch next Saturday, this time with the second-round opponent the Portland Winterhawks.
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