GAME RECAP: Jesse Heslop, Caden Zaplitny net first WHL goals in 7-2 home win over Chiefs
EVERETT, Wash. — Jesse Heslop’s hectic weekend ended in triumph, as the Silvertips’ newest forward netted his first WHL goal- a game-winning goal, no less- in his debut at Angel of the Winds Arena Sunday night.
“Yesterday I got a text from my dad saying the Silvertips sent me a contract and wanted me to play,” Heslop explained after a 7-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs. “I texted him back and said, ‘I definitely want to,’ got the contract signed and got here a couple hours before gametime.”
Ten days after being selected by the @WHLsilvertips in the third round,
Hours after signing a WHL Standard Player Agreement,
Jesse Heslop becomes the first player from the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft to score a goal in the WHL! pic.twitter.com/tk8wmuKJHr
— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 20, 2021
Heslop, just 15-years-old as a third-round pick in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft 10 days prior, is the first player from the ’21 Bantam Draft Class to score in the league.
Spokane struck first in the first period, but Ryan Hofer quickly evened up the score with a wrist shot on the rush. Late in the first, Alex Swetlikoff gave the Tips a 2-1 lead by capping off a tic-tac-toe passing play on the man advantage.
Though the Chiefs would knot the score early in the second, Heslop would break the tie by banging home a rebound in front of the Spokane net. Everett would not look back, as within minutes Swetlikoff would net his second of the game followed by a tally from Jacob Wright.
Wright netted his second of the game on the powerplay in the third period, capitalizing on a back-door feed from Swetlikoff. Rookie Caden Zaplitny would finish the scoring flurry with his first career WHL goal, slipping a shot past Spokane goaltender Manny Panghli to secure a 7-2 Silvertips win.
“I just saw Roest with the puck going to the net,” Zaplitny said. “I got in front of the net and had an open net.”
🔊 "It's been a really great opportunity. Not a lot of guys get to do this when they first join the league."
Caden Zaplitny on his growing role with the Silvertips, his first @TheWHL goal and a big 7-2 home win.#LetsGoTips pic.twitter.com/DNmYG1IgWj
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) December 20, 2021
Logan Greenough also made his WHL debut Sunday night for the Silvertips, finishing as a +3 with two shots on goal.
Additionally, the Silvertips generated over 4,000 items of underwear, socks and other essential warm garments benefiting Clothes For Kids as part of their Undies Sunday promotion.
COMING UP:
- CHRISTMAS BREAK: The Silvertips are back in action after Christmas break on Dec. 28 and 29 in Prince George. They return home New Year’s Day to host the Portland Winterhawks | TICKET DEALS
- WORLD JUNIORS: Olen Zellweger and Ronan Seeley have made Hockey Canada’s final roster | READ MORE
- TIPS ALUMNI REPORT: Catching up with Silvertips in the NHL and AHL | READ MORE
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