Sept. 22, 2018. That was the last time the Everett Silvertips hoisted a green-colored banner, their 2017-18 Western Conference championship banner to be specific, to the rafters at then-Xfinity (now Angel of the Winds) Arena in downtown Everett.
Despite three (technically four, counting the shortened 2021 season) U.S. Division titles, two Scotty Munro Trophies for best regular-season record, and never missing the playoffs, the ultimate prize of WHL champion has eluded the Silvertips’ grasp.
The Silvertips will host Games 1 and 2 of their first-round playoff series on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28, against *gulp* their arch-rival Portland Winterhawks, the team that has knocked them out each of the last two seasons.
It sounds like a broken record at this point, but the Silvertips have been fixtures in the playoffs every season, qualifying all the way back to the franchise’s first year. In fact, to put into detail how impressive the team’s longevity of regular-season success is, all but one team in the WHL has missed the playoffs at least three times since the team entered the league in 2003-04. The lone team with only one miss is Medicine Hat. Insane.
Winning the Scotty Munro Trophy and having regular-season success is fun, but it’s not the ultimate goal.
“It signifies, obviously, we’ve had a good run here in the regular season,” head coach Steve Hamilton said. “It’s not the trophy we’re here to play for.”
The playoffs are “a whole different animal” for the Silvertips, especially of late. This year’s team just feels different, though.
Setting franchise records for wins (57), points (117) and goals (304) in a single season, many factors play into the Silvertips’ favor. They play at a pace much faster than everyone else, and it’s tough for opponents to match their energy. The team finished the season with four of the top five leaders in plus/minus in the WHL.
Led up front by Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen, his fellow Finn Matias Vanhanen, and Rylan Gould, alongside a cast of players such as Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear and Zackary Shantz, the Silvertips boast a lineup of speed, versatility, and power. These are players who can will their team to victory night after night.
Landon DuPont leading the way on blue line
While the forward corps has been good, Everett’s bread and butter is on the blue line, particularly star defenseman Landon DuPont. Ahead of what is sure to be a hectic, attention-filled draft year for DuPont, the Calgary, Alberta, native has proven repeatedly this season why he is projected to be chosen first overall in 2027.
In 63 games this season, he scored 18 goals and added 55 assists. The intangibles and details that make up his game are worth the price of admission alone, and it will be fascinating to see his second go-around in the WHL playoffs. As a reminder, he’s still just 16 years old.
Having a player like him on the back end has been a key element to the team’s sustained success over the last two seasons. Anaheim Ducks third-rounder and Silvertips captain Tarin Smith attested to this.
“That kid does some ridiculous things with the puck,” Smith said. “I feel like no matter what he’s doing with it or where I am, like he can always find me,” Smith said. “It’s like, he’s got seven pairs of eyes all around his head.”
Along with the pairing of DuPont and Smith, the defensive corps is rounded out by reliable players such as Brek Liske and Kayd Ruedig.
And in goal, following in the long lineage of great Silvertips netminders, Anders Miller and Raiden LeGall have been steady all year. A 2.54 team save percentage ranks second in the league. There isn’t really a flash-of-the-leather type who can steal a game this year, but sometimes steadiness is all you need, and in the case of this team, that will be important if it expects to achieve its goal.
This year’s Memorial Cup is in Kelowna, British Columbia, about a five-hour drive from Everett. While it may be a bit premature to count eggs before they hatch and guarantee victory for the green and silver, let just say it’s a very convenient year for the tournament to be relatively close.
“We’re a confident group,” Smith said. “A lot of times, no matter what the scoreboard says or stuff like that, we know that no matter what, we have it in us.”
Seattle gets in
This season has been a rocky one for the Seattle Thunderbirds. What was expected to be a step-forward year turned into a process of finding the right pieces and putting everything together.
Trading Braeden Cootes midseason to Prince Albert put a dent in expectations, but acquiring Cameron Schmidt from Vancouver helped get the team back on track.
Finishing seventh in the Western Conference, the Thunderbirds will take on the Penticton Vees in their first playoff appearance since ascending from the BCHL. The Thunderbirds are always feisty in playoff series and aren’t an easy out by any means, so it will be interesting to see how they navigate this one against a good Vees team.
Header courtesy of Evan Morud and the Everett Silvertips.
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