Washington Capitals forward prospect Ryan Hofer has been heating up, and that’s an understatement. The Everett Silvertips centerman has recorded five goals in the last four games played this week. Hofer potted a pair of goals on Wednesday, and continued his scorching scoring pace with three more goals this weekend, two of them coming on Sunday night.
Hofer’s fifth goal in just eight games played this season came on the power play in the third period of Sunday night’s tilt with the Spokane Chiefs. This time the missile was launched from the left side.
Ryan Hofer with another power play bomb, this time from the left side. He has 5g, 4a in 8 games, including tallies in back-to-back games. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/G3fo8dADvG
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 17, 2022
Hofer would add a shorthanded goal later in the period, giving him his second two-goal game this week. (Wednesday night’s two-goal game is here.)
Ryan Hofer with his second goal of the game, this time shorthanded. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/PN3QkjjeJY
— Capitals Prospects (@jon_m_sorensen) October 17, 2022
Hofer recorded his 4th goal in the first seven games of the season on Saturday night against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Ryan Hofer is playing with POWER 😤#ForEverett x @Capitals pic.twitter.com/T3ZiCNcEfQ
— Everett Silvertips (@WHLsilvertips) October 16, 2022
Hofer now has six goals and four assists (6g, 4a) in just eight games played so far this season.
After being passed over in the previous two NHL drafts, Hofer’s 58-point campaign last season, in which he finished fourth on the team in goals (25) in 67 games played, grabbed the attention of many scouts.
Hofer, 20, was ultimately selected by the Capitals with the 181st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He is playing in his third season for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, and will be looking to make the jump to Hershey next fall.
Hofer finds himself in a leadership position after signing with the Silvertips as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was elected as an assistant captain for the 2022-23 season.
“Being in that leadership role with [Jackson] Berezowski helps a lot,” he explained. “He’s been here the longest. [You see] what he does and feed off that, preaching what the coaches and staff preach of the culture. You try to feed that into the young guys to keep it going.”
Hofer and the Silvertips are back in action on Friday when they visit Olie Kolzig’s Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Washington. Puck drop is set for 7PM PDT.
By Jon Sorensen
This kid is special. I’m excited that he’s in the system, and am chomping at the bit waiting for the day he can join the big boys. He’s definitely is already a favorite of mine.
Kids got a hell of a shot, but I like that his goals have come in all shapes and sizes. Gritty, in close, bombs from the point, short handed.
I’ll temper my enthusiasm. The kid is an overager, and that may lead to inflated numbers
You are certainly allowed tempering, that’s what it’s all about. I will suggest that his offensive numbers have seen a huge spike since the beginning of last season, after being passed up in the draft.
I hope he does turn out to be a really solid NHLer. I’m not one of those Caps fans whose glass is always half empty. But when I see a prospect, the first thing I wonder is “what are his flaws?” Poor skater, perimeter player, defensively poor etc. I’d need to see at least a couple of full games of his, to give a really informed opinion. I don’t like to rush to judgement based on YouTube highlights.
And besides, it’d be boring if it were an echo chamber!
Dedication. Reminds me of Pat Maroon. The Big Rig was told more than once by coaches to find another job, that he was too fat, and would never make in pro hockey much less the NHL. Been to the last 4 Stanley Cup finals winning three times. Sometimes you listen to the experts and sometimes you just have to have faith in your self, your abilities, and then go out, work hard, and prove them wrong.
Stevenson was passed over and that pissed him off. He’s a different players because he felt he was disrespected. Like you said…motivation is a wonderful thing.