WHL Everett Silvertips

2023-24 Player Profile: Austin Roest

Published on August 18, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


Austin Roest experienced a true breakout season in 2022-23, a campaign that culminated in his getting drafted by the Nashville Predators this summer. The 19-year-old forward has a sky-high ceiling in Everett this year, with potential to be one of the highest scoring players in the division- if not the conference.

2022-23 in review

Roest's glow-up from 2021-22 to his most recent season was eye-popping. He grew from 13 goals, 19 assists and 95 SOG in 59 games to 32 goals, 46 assists and 229 SOG in 60 appearances. The offensive eruption earned him U.S. Division Second-Team All-Star honors as well as Most Improved Player at the Silvertips team awards ceremony.

"I think the biggest thing was I got a lot stronger on the ice," Roest told the WHL's Chris Wahl. "My legs, my upper body...when you get stronger I think your confidence goes up. I put a lot of work in last summer, it was good to see that pay off."

Roest ultimately finished second on the team in scoring with 78 points last year, overtaken by Jackson Berezowski in the final weekend of the regular season. He continued his torrid scoring pace in the playoffs, netting four goals with an assist in five postseason games against the Portland Winterhawks.

Smashville

Roest became the first Silvertip in franchise history to be drafted by the Nashville Predators when he was selected with the 175th-overall pick in the sixth round.

"Obviously it was a really cool experience and a great feeling," he said of his Draft Day. "It definitely caught me by surprise, I didn't talk to Nashville at all [prior to the draft]. So when I see my name pop up there and it was the Predators, it was definitely a big surprise."

He attended Nashville's July Development camp with eyes on their Florida-based Rookie Showcase in September. There, he and the Predators will play a series of exhibition games against other southeastern opponents- including the Tampa Bay Lightning, where his father Stacy serves as assistant general manager.

"I think there's definitely a family rivalry starting up now," Roest joked. "That'll be a game I'm looking forward to."

The Roest family showdown will take place on Sep. 15. Roest is also expected to play against former teammates in Tampa's Gage Goncalves and Niko Huuhtanen, as well as Carolina's Ronan Seeley.

Championship mindset

Roest will be relied upon to be an offensive driver for the Tips this season. He ranked as the team's top powerplay distributor last year with 17 assists to give him 21 total points on the man advantage. As Roest shifted from the wing to a full-time center, he was called upon to win key faceoffs in all three zones and at every strength.

Anything it takes to win.

"Every year, you go in and you want to win a championship," he explained. "That's our goal in Everett. If you don't have that goal, I don't know what to think. I think every time you step into a new season you need to have the mindset that you want to win. The Silvertips have that mindset."

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Western Hockey League Stories from August 18, 2023


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