Silvertips notes: Gage Goncalves’ highlight goal goes viral

EVERETT — Hey, Gage Goncalves: you’ve gone viral.

Goncalves’ shootout goal that propelled the Everett Silvertips over the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday made the rounds on the internet on Sunday night and Monday morning.

The National Hockey League’s official Twitter account reposted it. Popular hockey social media accounts such as BarDown and Sportsnet also shared it.

And, oh yeah, so did SportsCenter.

Yup, Goncalves’ Peter Forsberg-esque shootout deke was the No. 9 play in SportsCenter’s top-10 plays Monday morning.

Gage Goncalves (@GageGoncalves) put him in a blender! 😱

(🎥 @TheWHL) pic.twitter.com/PIoZk5wMUJ

— NHL (@NHL) December 16, 2019

“I didn’t have any idea until (my teammates) and a couple of buddies back home said, ‘Hey, you were on my TV,’” Goncalves said. “It was kind of cool. It’s never happened to me before.”

The cherries on top perhaps were SportsCenter anchor Randy Scott, who set up the highlight, pronouncing Goncalves’ last name (Gonn-SOLL-vez) correctly, as well as the ‘Hey Arnold!’ joke Scott snuck in, a playful jab at Cambell Arnold, the Chiefs goaltender defending the shot.

Arnold himself was a good sport about being on the receiving end of Goncalves’ nasty move, retweeting the highlight on Twitter with the message: “Who’s the idiot in net?? @GageGoncalves thanks for being a nice enough friend to include me in your highlight of the night. I appreciate it.”

Who’s the idiot in net?? @GageGoncalves thanks for being a nice enough friend to include me in your highlight of the night. I appreciate it https://t.co/oi7ynvQHaq

— Campbell Arnold (@campbellarny1) December 16, 2019

Goncalves said the two know each other well, as both are products of the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The count is in

The Silvertips announced on Sunday that 10,236 teddy bears and stuffed animals were thrown on the ice during Saturday’s Teddy Bear Toss game against Vancouver, a franchise record. Everett won the game, 3-2.

Injury report

Don’t expect injured forwards Michal Gut or Tyson Phare to play before the Silvertips’ Christmas break, which begins Thursday.

Gut has already flown home to the Czech Republic and Phare did not skate at Everett’s practice on Tuesday.

Both are listed as day-to-day with upper-body injuries.

Alumni spotlight

Mirco Mueller (2012-2014) scored his first goal of the season for the New Jersey Devils last Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, just the fourth of his NHL career. Mueller has played 19 games for the Devils this season, who are struggling mightily with the second-worst record in the NHL at 10-17-5.

Prospect update

Signed prospect Nate Goodbrandson boasts 14 goals and 31 points in 28 games for the Winnipeg Thrashers Midget AAA in the Manitoba Midget Hockey League.

Josh Horton covers the Silvertips for the Herald. Follow him on Twitter, @JoshHortonEDH