WHL news 12/18

Silvertips Begin Holiday Break with 27-5-0-1 Record

The Everett Silvertips will enjoy a well deserved Holiday Break after posting a 27-5-0-1 (55 points) record after 33 games in the 2006-2007 season. The Silvertips are currently in first place in the US Division and have the highest winning percentage in the WHL (.833). Everett will be back in action on Wednesday, December 27 against the Seattle Thunderbirds at Key Arena in Seattle. Next home game for the Silvertips will be on Saturday, December 30 against Seattle at the Everett Events Center. For tickets log onto Everett Silvertips or call the EEC Box Office at 1-866-332-8499.

SILVERTIPS LEADING SCORERS

The Silvertips are led in scoring by Peter Mueller (8 goals, 37 assists) with 45 points. Zach Hamill (14 goals, 27 assists) is 2nd on the hockey club in scoring with 41 points while first year forward Kyle Beach (18 goals, 14 assists) is 3rd on the team in scoring with 32 points. Mueller currently leads the Silvertips in assists (37) while Kyle Beach leads the team in goals scored (18). Silvertips defenseman, Graham Potuer leads the hockey club in +/- with a +11. In goal, Leland Irving has posted 19 wins, 1.55 GAA, 93.9% SP and 6 Shutouts. David Reekie is currently 8-2 with the Silvertips and has posted a 1.68 GAA, 92.4% SP with Everett this season.

EVERETT SILVERTIPS AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS

Silvertips forward Peter Mueller (8 goals, 37 assists) is tied for 4th in the WHL in scoring with 45 points. Mueller is also 2nd in the WHL in assists (37). Zach Hamill (14 goals, 27 assists) is currently tied for 8th in the WHL in scoring with 41 points. First year forward Kyle Beach (18 goals, 14 assists) is 7th in the WHL in rookie scoring with 32 points and is the leading scorer among all 16 year olds in the WHL. Defenseman Jason Fransoo (5 goals, 22 assists) is tied for 7th among all WHL defensemen in scoring with 27 points. Defenseman Jesse Zetariuk (5 goals, 17 assists) is tied for 11th in defensemen scoring with 22 points. In goal, Leland Irving is leading all WHL netminders in GAA (1.55), SP (93.9%), Shutouts (6) and is 2nd in Wins (19). David Reekie is currently 4th in the WHL in GAA (2.12).

SILVERTIPS SPECIAL TEAMS

The Everett Silvertips are 1st in the WHL on the power play (65 for 283, 23.0%) and 2nd in the WHL on the penalty kill (233 for 257, 90.7%).

SILVERTIPS HOME AND ROAD RECORD

The Silvertips posted a home record of 15-0-0-1 at the Everett Events Center this season. On the road the Silvertips are 12-5.

SILVERTIPS GOALS FOR AND GOALS AGAINST

The Silvertips are 1st in the WHL in goals against with 56 goals allowed in 33 games. Everett is 11th in goals scored with 108.

MUELLER AND IRVING READY FOR THE 2007 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Everett Silvertips will have two representatives at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Sweden. Silvertips goaltender Leland Irving will suit up for Team Canada while forward Peter Mueller will play for Team USA. For Irving, it will be his first time playing in the World Juniors while Mueller will play for Team USA for the second year in a row. Canada's first game will be December 26 against the host country Sweden and Team USA will battle Germany on December 26.

SILVERTIPS ALUMNI REPORT UPDATE

Here are the stats from some of the Everett Silvertips alumni playing hockey at the pro level and university level.

SILVERTIPS ALUMNI IN THE PROS

Mike Wall (G): Anaheim Ducks (NHL): 1 Game, 1-0 Record, 3.00 GAA, 86.4% SP

Portland Pirates (AHL): 8 Games, 6-1-1 Record, 2.92 GAA, 88.6% SP

Shaun Heshka (D): Manitoba Moose (AHL): 19 Games, 0 Goals and 3 Assists, +1 Rating

John Lammers (LW): Iowa Stars (AHL): 23 Games, 2 Goals and 6 Assists

Mitch Love (D): Albany River Rats (AHL): 27 Games, 0 Goals and 1 Assist, 63 PIM's and 0 +/- Rating

Alex Leavitt (C): Houston Aeros (AHL): 22 Games, 2 Goals and 9 Assists

Riley Armstrong (RW): Worcester Sharks (AHL): 28 Games, 11 Goals and 4 Assists

Ivan Baranka (D): Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL): 16 Games, 1 Goal and 3 Assists

Bryan Nathe (D): Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL): 19 Games, 1 Goal and 2 Assists

Torrie Wheat (RW): Arizona Sundogs (CHL): 17 Games, 12 Goals and 4 Assists

Karel Hromas (LW): Sparta Praha (Czech Pro League): 29 Games, 1 Goal

Chad Bassen (LW): Frankfurt Lions (DEL) 29 Games, 2 Goals and 10 Assists

SILVERTIPS ALUMNI AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL

Torrie Wheat (RW): University of Calgary: 0 Games

Kyle Annesley (LW): University of Calgary: 11 Games, 0 Goals and 2 Assists

Barry Horman (RW): University of Calgary: 4 Games, 1 Goal and 1 Assist

Travis Friedley (D): University of Calgary: 16 Games, 3 Goals and 12 Assists

Stewart Thiessen (D): University of Manitoba: 15 Games, 2 Goals and 5 Assists

Jeff Schmidt (LW): University of Saskatchewan: 15 Games, 4 Goals and 5 Assists

Jeff Harvey (G): University of Saskatchewan: 13 Games, 9-2-2 Record, 2.93 GAA, 90.8% SP

Marc Desloges (LW): University of British Columbia: 16 Games, 2 Goals and 9 Assists

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 and listen inside the Everett Events Center on 107.3 FM. The Everett Silvertips post game show and After the Game Show will take place at the Ice Box inside the Everett Events Center after all home games. A Silvertips player will join Keith and the crew during the broadcast.

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

Wednesday, December 27: Everett Silvertips @ Seattle Thunderbirds, 7:05 p.m. (Key Arena)

Friday, December 29: Everett Silvertips @ Kelowna Rockets, 7:00 p.m. (Prospera Place)

Saturday, December 30: Seattle Thunderbirds @ Everett Silvertips, 7:05 p.m. (Everett Events Center)

Wednesday, January 3: Red Deer Rebels @ Everett Silvertips, 7:05 p.m. (Everett Events Center)

Wheaties are first at Christmas break

Brandon, Manitoba -- The curtain has come down on the first half of the 2006-07 Western Hockey League regular season schedule and the Brandon Wheat Kings sit atop the Eastern Division with a record of 18-132-4.

Heading into this year's 10-day Christmas break, the Wheat Kings are four points up on second place Swift Current and six ahead of the third place Prince Albert Raiders. In addition to securing three of a possible four points during this past weekend's home and home series with Regina, Brandon has managed to collect at least a point in five of its last six games, compiling a 1-1-2-2 record during that span.

The Wheat Kings will kick off the second half of their regular season schedule on Wednesday, Deceber 27th against the visiting Saskatoon Blades, before hitting the road for a 3-game in four night road trip, beginning Friday, December 29th in Red Deer against the Rebels.

Tickets to the December 27th game are on sale this week at the Keystone Centre box office, by calling 726-3555 or online at ticketmaster.ca. The box office will be open until Friday, Dec. 22nd at 5 p.m. and will re-open on Dec. 27th at 9 a.m.

Several Wheat Kings reached WHL milestones during this past weekend's series with the Pats while several others inched closer to some. 19-year old defenceman Mark Louis played in his 200th career game on Saturday night in Regina while 5-year WHL veteran Jeff Topilko moved to within two games of the 250-game plateau. While captain Teegan Moore was moving past Brett Thurston and into eighth place on the club's all time list for games played (294), netminder Tyler Plante was busy surpassing the 8,000 minute mark in his career. A second round draft choice of the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers, Plante is currently fourth on the club's all time list in both minutes played and games played (139), leaving him eight games shy of Robert McVicar.

Codey Burki, who is three points off the WHL scoring lead entering the Christmas break with 21 goals and 51 points, has moved to within four points of 150 in his WHL career. Left-winger Mark Derlago meanwhile is fifth in league scoring with 45 points including 25 goals, leaving him tied with Kris Hogg of Lethbridge and Kamloops Blazer Brock Nixon for the WHL goal scoring lead.

While 18-year old defenceman Chad Erb is expected to return to the lineup next week against the Blades, the Wheat Kings will be without high scoring rookie right-winger Juraj Simek for the next two weeks. The Slovakian born Simek, who is 16th in league scoring with 22 goals and 40 points, will be representing Brandon at this year's World Junior Hockey Championship in Sweden. A 19-year old Vancouver Canucks' prospect, Simek will be playing for Team Switzerland for the second straight season. The Wheat Kings haven't been represented at the World Junior Championship since Jordin Tootoo skated for Team Canada in 2003.

In other WHL news, Miniota product Brad Cole of the Saskatoon Blades has been chosen the WHL Player of the Week.

The former Kootenay Ice defenceman earned player of the week honours by scoring three goals and 8 points in three games, leading Saskatoon to three straight victories.