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Everett Silvertips

This Week In Silvertips Hockey

February 12, 2008 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


Young Defensemen Seize Key Roles

With injuries on the back end forcing the Silvertips to make adjustments to their roster and defensive pairings, three Silvertip rookies have seized the opportunity to showcase their abilities while leading the team into the playoffs. Chris de la Lande, Jeff Regier and Tyler Kieffer have picked the right time to contribute their best hockey of the season, as injuries to both Taylor Ellington and Mike Alexander have provided an opportunity that the three rookies have seized with gusto. Despite the inexperience on the blueline, the 'Tips have now won three in a row with steady contributions from the youth movement on the roster.

Zach Hamill and Leland Irving will always be the face of this hockey club, but de la Lande, Regier and Kieffer are the hands, legs and eyes. A skilled puck mover and gifted passer, de la Lande has been referred to by Head Coach John Becanic as "a young Shawn Heshka" because of his ability to move the puck up the ice and contribute from the point on the power play. Don't be confused by his lack of size or bulk - he still has some work left in the weight room after weighing in at the beginning of the season at 5'11, 160 - the right handed shooter has a blistering shot from the point. It was a shot that beat Prince George netminder Joel Danyluk in the second period of a 5-1 victory over the Cougars on Saturday evening, marking de la Lande's second game winning goal this season. Still, Coach Becanic is most impressed with de la Lande's decision making and playmaking abilities.

"We like his poise with the puck and his ability to see the ice and read the ice and make the appropriate plays at the appropriate times," Becanic noted. "It certainly will help us this year and down the road."

Regier gained essential experience last season through five regular season games as well as six playoff games as a fifteen-year old with a world of potential. An all-around steady defenseman who has shown an ability to both make big hits on the defensive end and lead the rush with the forwards, Regier continues to have his physical play seep into the Western Hockey League. With Fraser Valley of the BCMML last season, the Abbotsford, BC native compiled 228 penalty minutes en route to a sixteen point season as he began to show why the Silvertips selected him with the second pick (34th overall) of the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft. Unafraid to mix it up with the league's more experienced fighters, he dropped the gloves - and won a unanimous decision - against former Regina Pat Troy Ofukany, a veteran center four years Regier's senior. Though the fight was a nice addition to Regier's mental mantelpiece, it will be the steady progress and period by period improvement that Regier has demonstrated that will continue to define his 2007-08 season.

The lone American of the trio, Stillwater, MN native Tyler Kieffer joined the team in late December to add depth to the Everett defensive corps. Though he joined the team in the middle of the season from the USHL's Lincoln Stars and was not expected to be an immediate focal point on the defense, Kieffer has played in eleven consecutive games and seventeen out of nineteen since making his WHL debut on January 4th against the Chilliwack Bruins. Having registered an assist and a +2 rating in his seventeen outings, Kieffer's gritty play and open ice hitting ability have been evident as he has inherited the role of the bruising, physical defenseman vacated by Ellington s injury. His presence on the ice has had a positive effect on the entire team, as Everett is 10-7 with Kieffer on the back end.

Competition for playing time breeds success in a hockey club, and once Ellington and Alexander are fully healed, there will be plenty of competition to go around. With the contributions that these young defensemen have made, an eventually healthy Silvertips team will be all the more potent and dangerous as the now experienced young sect of defensemen will continue to improve.

Playoff Tickets Now Available

Following a productive weekend in which the Everett Silvertips won three consecutive games against the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers, Everett assured itself a spot in the 2008 WHL Playoffs. With the playoff berth, the Silvertips become the first WHL franchise to make the playoffs in each of its first five seasons since the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets accomplished the feat from 1991-96.

Following back to back wins over the Cougars on Friday and Saturday, all the 'Tips needed was a win over Kamloops or a Prince George loss on Sunday in order to qualify. Relying on their longtime rival, the Vancouver Giants provided that assistance as they dispatched the Cougars 4-2 and secured the playoff entry for Everett. The 'Tips then added an exclamation point to the weekend's events as Zach Hamill scored at the 3:46 mark of overtime to lead Everett to a 2-1 victory over Kamloops at the Interior Savings Centre.

Ten- game playoff ticket packages are on sale now at the Silvertips' front office, while individual playoff seating will go on sale at noon on Monday, March 10th. Season ticket holders have until Saturday, March 1st to renew their seats for the 2008 WHL Playoffs. To reserve your seats or for further ticketing information, please call the Silvertips' office at (425) 252-5100.

Meet Matt Ius at Sporty's Tonight!

Join Matt Ius and host Jon Rosen on the Silvertips Radio Show at 6 pm on Tuesday, February 12th at Sporty's Beef and Brew in Everett! The two will be chatting about the 'Tips three game winning streak, as well as the terrific penalty kill contributions Matt has made since joining the Silvertips. It's a perfect opportunity for fans to get to know this talented Silvertips rookie who has impressed the scouts with his gritty, workmanlike demeanor. To chat with Matt and get some autographs, make sure to head to Sporty's Beef and Brew, located at 6503 Evergreen Way in Everett!

The Silvertips Radio Show is part of Taco Tuesdays with the 'Tips! Live at Sporty's Beef and Brew from 6-7 on Tuesdays - come check it out!

Rivalry Games at Home Friday and Saturday

The Silvertips will return home to Comcast Arena this weekend for games on Friday against the Spokane Chiefs and on Saturday against the Seattle Thunderbirds. We recommend purchasing tickets as soon as possible, as we are expecting large crowds for both nights. Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for the Saturday game against Seattle, and the 'Tips have sold out their two previous games against the Thunderbirds this season.

For tickets, please call the Silvertips' ticket office at (425) 252-5100. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.everettsilvertips.com.

Platinum Home Mortgage 2008 Food Drive - Saturday, February 16

Platinum Home Mortgage (formerly Pinnacle Financial) has once again partnered with the Everett Silvertips to collect non- perishable food items and / or cash donations. All items collected will be donated to Volunteers of America of Snohomish County. Look for volunteers at the Saturday February 16th game as the Silvertips take on the Seattle Thunderbirds.

To kick off the 2008 Food Drive, the first 400 bags of food donated at the game on Saturday February 16 will receive a coupon to redeem a Special Commemorative T-Shirt. (One T-Shirt per Family).

An additional 200 T-Shirts will be available at the Platinum Home Mortgage table located inside the building with a $5.00 donation. All proceeds will be going to Volunteers of America of Snohomish County.

MOST WANTED FOODS:

*Canned Means (tuna, chicken & salmon)

*Canned & Boxed Meals (chili, stew, Mac & Cheese)

*Peanut Butter / Jelly

*Pasta & Rice

*Canned Soups

*Canned Fruits & Vegetables

*Hamburger Helper

*Fruit Juice

*Rice-A-Roni

*Cooking Oil

*Canned Beans

*Cereal

*Baby jar cereal / food / formula / juice

Please join us in helping the community and people that are in need. Last year Platinum Home Mortgage collected over 10,000 pounds of food during the drive and the goal is to surpass that in 2007-08.

Contact Platinum Home Mortgage for all of your home financing needs; purchases, refinances, lines of credit, debt consolidation and home improvement. They offer a variety of loan programs to suit your specific needs. Call Platinum Home Mortgage at 425-252-5757.

Silvertips' Website Now Features Video Highlights

Want to watch that Zach Hamill between-the-legs shootout goal over and over again? Looking for highlights of that game you missed last month? Thanks to the tireless efforts of Silvertips videographer Mike MacCulloch, www.everettsilvertips.com now features the video highlights of Silvertips games. Check out Kyle Beach's lacrosse-style goal or several vintage Silvertips highlights from the early years, all accessible on the "highlights" link, located at the front of the website.

Also, we encourage you to check out the Phoenix Coyotes' piece on Abbey Carpet Peter Mueller Bobblehead Night! This segment, which aired during an intermission of a Coyotes' game against Nashville last week, is a wonderful testament to the loyalty of Silvertips fans who lined up and waited in damp and chilly temperatures for several hours to pick up a limited edition bpbblehead. Peter talks about the wonderful support he received in Everett and is amazed with the bobblehead created in his likeness.

For the direct link to all audio and video highlights, click on http://www.everettsilvertips.com/video/index.cfm.

Mr. Potato Head Night: February 20th

It's never too early to start thinking about the second Mr. Potato Head night of 2008. Thanks to our proud sponsors in Farmers Insurance, the first 1,000 fans entering Comcast Arena on Wednesday, February 20th for the game against the Spokane Chiefs will receive another limited edition Mr. Potato Head Silvertips figurine. This new doll will come in a white jersey and will feature detachable arms, legs, helmets, and even a fierce hockey face. Check www.everettsilvertips.com for more information.

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