Silvertips Begin 2006-2007 Season Saturday Night
The Everett Silvertips will begin their 4th WHL season on Saturday night when they travel to Chilliwack, BC to battle the newest team in the WHL, Chilliwack Bruins. The Silvertips will also battle the Kamloops Blazers in Kamloops, BC on Sunday night before coming home to Everett for the Silvertips home opening weekend on Friday, September 29 against the Kelowna Rockets at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday, September 30 against the Kamloops Blazers at 7:05 p.m. at the Everett Events Center. For individual tickets for the Silvertips home opening weekend, log onto www.everettsilvertips.com or call the Everett Events Center Box Office at 1-866-332-8499.
2006-2007 EVERETT SILVERTIPS
The 2006-2007 version of the Everett Silvertips return 18 players (10 forwards, 6 defensemen, 2 goalies) from last seasons US Division Championship squad. Entering into this season, Zach Hamill is currently 3rd in franchise history in scoring with 29 goals and 65 assists for 94 points. The Port Coquitlam, BC native is also 3rd in franchise history in assists (65) and 1st all time in career +/- (+21). After one season in the WHL, the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year, Peter Mueller is 5th all-time in Silvertips franchise history in scoring with 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points. Goaltender Leland Irving is 1st in franchise history in minutes played (4931), 1st in Wins (46), 1st in GAA (1.88), tied for 1st in Games Played (91) and tied for 2nd in SP (.926). Overall in three seasons in the WHL, the Silvertips have recorded a 108-82-17 (Ties)-6 (OTL)-3 (SOL) record.
'TIPS TOP CHL PRE-SEASON RANKINGS
The Canadian Hockey League today announced the Preseason CHL Mosaik MasterCard Top 10 Rankings of the 2006-07 season. The weekly rankings of the Canadian Hockey League's Top 10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
The top ranked team heading into the 2006/07 season are the Everett Silvertips. The Silvertips promise to be an interesting club to watch this season with a dynamic offence led by Phoenix Coyote 2006 first round pick Peter Mueller and a great goaltender in Calgary Flames 2006 first round choice Leland Irving. The club will also be counting on Brady Calla, Ondrej Fiala and Zach Hamill to help Mueller lead the team towards a berth in the 2007 MasterCard Memorial Cup.
The Saginaw Spirit had their best season in franchise history last year finishing ninth in the Ontario Hockey League. Scouts agree that this year the club will build on that success and be looking to contend for an OHL championship. With a promising defensive core that will include Patrick McNeill and Matthew Corrente the club features a pair of high end defencemen. Tom Pyatt, Ryan Garlock, Tyler Haskins and Ryan McDonough will lead the offence that promises to be one of the most potent in the OHL.
Val d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League will be looking to represent the "Q" in the MasterCard Memorial Cup this season and bring the coveted prize back to the province of Quebec. With Kristopher Letang returning to run the defence, the Foreurs can rest assured that they have a world class defenceman leading by example at all times. Brad Marchand and Mathieu Roy will be counted on to lead the offence as the club drives toward an extended playoff run.
CHL Mosaik MasterCard Preseason Top 10
Rank Team 1 Everett Silvertips 2 Saginaw Spirit 3 Val d'Or Foreurs 4 Vancouver Giants 5 Quebec Remparts 6 Kingston Frontenacs 7 Owen Sound Attack 8 Calgary Hitmen 9 Lewiston MAINEiacs 10 Medicine Hat Tigers
CODY THORING NAMED SILVERTIPS TEAM CAPTAIN
Everett Silvertips defenseman Cody Thoring was named team captain for the upcoming 2006-2007 season. The Swift Current, SK native becomes the 4th captain in franchise history. Entering into his 4th season in the WHL, all with the Silvertips, Thoring has played in 163 career games in the WHL. Thoring is also ranked 3rd in franchise history in games played with 163. Cody is the only player remaining from the 2003-2004 Silvertips squad. Thoring was drafted by the Silvertips in the 2003 WHL Expansion Draft from the Tri-City Americans.
"It is a huge honor to be named team captain for this great franchise," mentions Thoring. "It is also great to have the respect of my teammates and hopefully I can be a positive leader on and off the ice for them."
The Silvertips have also named their Assistant Captains for the 2006-2007 season. Defensemen Jason Fransoo, Jonathan Harty and forwards Zach Hamill, Brady Calla and Peter Mueller will wear the "A" on the jerseys this season as Assistant Captains. Zach Hamill and Brady Calla are entering into their 3rd season with the Silvertips while Jason Fransoo and Peter Mueller are heading into their 2nd WHL season.
EVERETT SILVERTIPS PRE-SEASON RECAP
The Everett Silvertips finished their pre-season schedule with a 3-3 record. Forward Brandon Campos (3 goals, 2 assists) led the Silvertips in pre-season scoring with 5 points. Shane Harper (1 goal, 3 assists) and Cody Thoring (1 goal, 3 assists) finished tied for 2nd on the team in pre-season scoring with 4 points. Forward Zach Hamill (1 goal, 2 assists) finished the pre-season strong with 3 points. During the pre-season the Silvertips finished 12 for 67 (17.9 %) on the power play and 61 for 79 (77.2%) on the penalty kill in 6 pre-season games.
CALGARY FLAMES RE-ASSIGN IRVING BACK TO EVERETT
The Calgary Flames have reassigned goaltender Leland Irving back to the Everett Silvertips. The Swan Hills, AB native was drafted by the Flames in the 1st Round (26th Overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. In goal, Leland Irving posted 37 victories last season and recorded a 1.92 Goals Against Average and a .926% Save Percentage with 4 Shutouts in 67 games. Irving is expected to be back in action for the Silvertips in Chilliwack, BC on Saturday night.
VERSUS THE CHILLIWACK BRUINS
Saturday night will be the first ever meeting between the two Western Conference foes. During the 2006-2007 season, the Silvertips and the Bruins will meet six times (3 home, 3 road). Future Meetings: October 15: @ Everett, December 3: @ Chilliwack, January 28: @ Everett, February 3: @ Everett, February 18: @ Chilliwack.
VERSUS THE KAMLOOPS BLAZERS
Sunday night will be the first of four meetings between the two Western Conference rivals. The Silvertips are 4-9 all time against the Blazers in franchise history and 2-5 all time in Kamloops, BC. Future Meetings: September 30: @ Everett, November 15: @ Everett, February 28: @ Kamloops.
SPECIALITY TEAMS
The Silvertips finished the 2005-2006 season 4th in the WHL on the power play (81 of 420, 19.30%) and 5th in the WHL on the penalty kill (295 of 343, 86.00%). Everett also tallied a franchise high, 13 short handed goals last season.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Everett Silvertips are 1-2 all-time is regular season openers.
LISTEN TO SILVERTIPS HOCKEY ON NORTH SOUND 1380 ESPN RADIO
All 72 Everett Silvertips games can be heard on the flagship station for Silvertips hockey on North Sound 1380 AM ESPN Radio. Keith Gerhart will begin his 4th season behind the microphone as the voice of the Silvertips. New color analyst Al Kinisky will join Gerhart for all Silvertips home games and selected road games. Fans can also listen to Silvertips hockey via the internet on everettsilvertips.com.
WATCH EVERETT SILVERTIPS RINKSIDE ON EVERETT CHANNEL 21
Catch an all new season of Everett Silvertips Rinkside on Everett Channel 21 all season long. The show will air daily at 4:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. The show will also air during the evening at 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. every night on Channel 21.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 23: Everett Silvertips @ Chilliwack Bruins, 7:00 p.m. (Prospera Centre)
Sunday, September 24: Everett Silvertips @ Kamloops Blazers, 7:00 p.m. (Interior Savings Centre)
Friday, September 29: Kelowna Rockets @ Everett Silvertips, 7:35 p.m. (Everett Events Center)
Saturday, September 30: Kamloops Blazers @ Everett Silvertips, 7:05 p.m. (Everett Events Center)
Friday, October 6: Spokane Chiefs @ Everett Silvertips, 7:35 p.m. (Everett Events Center)
Saturday, October 7: Seattle Thunderbirds @ Everett Silvertips, 7:05 p.m. (Everett Events Center)