Everett Silvertips

Hockey team
team = Everett Silvertips

city = Everett, Washington
league = Western Hockey League
conference = Western
division = U.S.
founded = 2003–04
arena = Comcast Arena at Everett
colours = Forest Green, Copper and Silver
coach = John Becanic
GM = Doug SoetaertThe Everett Silvertips are a major junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL) that plays in Everett, Washington. They joined the league as an expansion team for the 2003–04 WHL season. The team is named for the silvertip bear. They play in the "Comcast Arena" at the Everett Events Center, a $71.5 million dollar multipurpose complex that seats 8,513 for hockey games, and which was opened in 2003.

History

:Division titles won: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–2007:Conference titles won: 2003-04:Regular season titles won: 2006–07

Immediate success

During the Silvertips' inaugural season in the U.S. Division of the WHL, the team solidified its place as one of the greatest expansion hockey teams in history after breaking a minimum of 10 junior hockey records for an expansion team in its first year. Under the direction of General Manager Doug Soetaert and Head Coach Kevin Constantine, the team won the U.S. Division title with a record of 35–26–8–2, while setting a record for a first year team in any of the major junior hockey leagues (the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL) by earning 80 points in the regular season standings, eclipsing the old record set by the 1982-1983 Longueuil Chevaliers of the QMJHL. Constantine received the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy from the league as the 2003–2004 Coach of the Year.

In the 2004 playoffs, the Silvertips swept the Spokane Chiefs 4–0 in the First Round before defeating the Vancouver Giants 4-2 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. The team then played the Kelowna Rockets, the regular season champions and reigning WHL champions, for the Western Conference title. After falling behind in the series 3-1, the Silvertips improbably won three straight games in overtime to win its first Western Conference title, earning the chance to play the Medicine Hat Tigers for the WHL championship. The Tigers would go on to sweep the series 4–0, marking an end to the Silvertips' stellar first season.

2004–2005 season

Fresh off the success of its successful inaugural season, the 2004–2005 team was the youngest in the league. At one time, the team had a minimum of eight 16-year old rookies on the active game-day roster. With such youth and inexperience, the team was projected to falter but still managed to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. After defeating the Portland Winter Hawks in seven games during a tough first-round playoff series, the Silvertips finished their second season in the WHL on a tough note by being swept by the Kootenay Ice 4-0 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

2005–2006 season

The 2005–2006 season marked the second time the team had won the U.S. Division title, in only its third season of existence. After defeating the Tri-City Americans 4-1 in the First Round of the WHL playoffs, and the Kelowna Rockets 4-2 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the Silvertips' playoff run came to an end when the Silvertips were swept by the Vancouver Giants 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals. However, the Silvertips once again exceeded expectations by reaching the final four of the WHL Playoffs for the second time in only three seasons of existence.

Silvertips forward Peter Mueller won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for top rookie in the league, becoming to the first Silvertips player to win that award.

2006–2007 season

The 2006–2007 season was one of team's most successful to date. The team captured its third U.S. Division title in only four years of existence. The team was also awarded the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for having the best record in the WHL during the regular season, posting a record of 54–15–1–2 (111 points). Silvertips forward Zach Hamill became the first Everett Silvertip to lead the WHL in points with 32 goals and 61 assists for 93 points, winning the Bob Clarke Trophy. Silvertips forward Kyle Beach won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for top rookie in the league.

After defeating the Spokane Chiefs 4-2 in the First Round of the WHL playoffs, the Silvertips' playoff run came to an end when the Prince George Cougars defeated the Silvertips in six games during the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

eason-by-season record

"Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against"

Current roster

NHL Draftees

2006 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

1st Round
#8. Phoenix Coyotes Peter Mueller Bloomington, MN
#26. Calgary Flames Leland Irving Swan Hills, AB 2nd Round
#40. Minnesota Wild Ondrej Fiala Stenberk, CZE 3rd Round
#73. Florida Panthers Brady Calla Kelowna, B.C.

2007 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

1st Round
#8. Boston Bruins Zach Hamill Port Coquitlam, BC 2nd Round
#41. Vancouver Canucks Taylor Ellington Victoria, BC 7th Round
#206. Vancouver Canucks Dan Gendur Victoria, BC

2008 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

1st Round
#11. Chicago Blackhawks Kyle Beach Kelowna, BC

NHL alumni

* Ivan Baranka
* Peter Mueller
* Mike Wall

External links

* [http://www.everettsilvertips.com/ The Everett Silvertips' Official Web Site]