Often compared to collegiate sports, junior hockey fandom is rooted in geography and fueled by a tribal-like passion that connects communities to their teams. It’s a fascinating form of hockey to follow.
A league featuring some of the best 16- to 21-year-old players in the world, the CHL experiences constant roster turnover. Yet for fans, many of whom possess encyclopedia-like knowledge of their teams, players often begin to feel like family members, embodying the way supporters want their community to be represented.
It doesn’t take long for Everett players to realize how special of a community it is to play in. Though it sits within the greater Seattle metro area, it has long maintained an identity of its own. It’s a hard-nosed, blue-collar community that prides itself on its work ethic, a mentality reflected in the teams that represent it.
Calling Angel of the Winds Arena their home for nearly 25 years, Silvertips fans bring the cowbells, noise and passion for their team like no one else. And in 2025-26, their passion was finally rewarded.
Winning 57 games in the regular season, which led them to their second straight Scotty Munro Trophy for the best regular season, then going 16-2 in the postseason en route to the team’s first league championship, it was truly a dream season. There was just one hill left to climb…
Everett falls short at the Memorial Cup
One of the most well-traveled fan bases in the WHL, it was no surprise to see Everett well represented at Prospera Place in Kelowna for each game the Silvertips played at the Memorial Cup.
And it was quite the debut showing for the Silvertips. Everett went 2-1 in round-robin play, beating the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the semifinal to advance to the championship against the Kitchener Rangers, who did not falter once during round-robin play.
Still, hope was in the air for the Silvertips on Sunday afternoon in Kelowna, but that quickly faded away as Rangers scored four unanswered goals and pulled away in the final. Playing catch-up for what felt like the entire game, the Silvertips ultimately fell to the Rangers 6-2, ending their magic-carpet ride of a season.
Head coach Steve Hamilton expressed the love he had for the team he was able to coach over the last two seasons, giving a lot of praise to his group’s fight to the very end.
“We rode this train as long as we could,” Hamilton said. “It’s been a privilege and an honor. After two amazing years together, and something that we’ve built together, I just value those guys and appreciate them.”
And while the loss will stick with them, these are memories that will be taken with these players for the rest of their lives.
Everett really impressed with its domination all season long. Despite playing a WHL-high 91 games, the team finished the season without losing back-to-back games a single time. They really felt like a group that was bought in to playing for each other.
“I’m just so thankful,” forward Zackary Shantz said. “We do so much together off the ice, and it’s going to be weird not seeing the guys… just the tightest team I’ve been a part of.”
Plenty of Silvertips had great showings during the tournament. Matias Vanhanen, with eight points, was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team, while also winning the George Parsons Sportsmanship Trophy.
Also named to the All-Star Team was phenom defenseman Landon DuPont, who, with six points, became the first Exceptional Status defenseman to score at the Memorial Cup.
Despite all of the attention paid to DuPont this tournament, Hamilton felt he boosted his game when they needed him most.
“He was awesome,” Hamilton said. “He’s a special player, and I didn’t think he changed one bit. He did what he does all the time and handles it with class and poise. It was special.”
Kelowna proved to be a worthy host of the Memorial Cup once again. A beautiful oasis-like city in British Columbia, it provided a scenic backdrop for the tournament.
What’s left in the cupboard?
Signs are showing there’s not going to be much left from the Silvertips’ player base once next season rolls around. Players like Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen and Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear are all but certainly heading to the professional ranks to join their NHL organizations.
The NCAA is going to have a plethora of Silvertips heading its way, too. Anders Miller, Tarin Smith, Zackary Shantz, Raiden LeGall, and Shea Busch are all committed to collegiate programs for next season, and it has been widely speculated that DuPont will move to the college ranks as well.
Still, as they’ve proven year after year, don’t ever count out the Silvertips. This franchise, which has notably never missed the WHL playoffs, always finds a way to keep the train moving and continue building out its player base. There are still plenty of recent first-round draft picks and exciting pieces in the system, like Reid Nicol and Mirco Dufour, to help supplement the buildup once again.
Everett forward Jesse Heslop has been with the Silvertips since 2021, playing more than 300 games with the team during the regular season and playoffs. He recognized that while the loss in the final stings, the group will carry the memories they made for the rest of their careers.
“As soon as I set foot in this organization, I knew it was the cream of the crop of the WHL,” Heslop said. “To get here after those four long years, it means everything. I’ve been with a few of those core guys this whole time, so obviously a sad feeling tonight, but we’ll look back and be happy.”
Banners will be raised to the rafters of Angel of the Winds Arena at the beginning of next season, and rightfully so. One game shy of the ultimate goal, Hamilton couldn’t be prouder of his group.
“The sting will fade and with time you’re able to get a perspective,” Hamilton said. “There’s a lifetime of memories enacted here. Right now you can’t see past the sting of losing the final game of the season, but there’s so much to celebrate… this was a special group.”
Header Courtesy of Evan Morud and the Everett Silvertips