Ben Hemmerling, Austin Roest Named Co-Captains for 2023-24 Season
Published on October 27, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release
EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips have officially named Ben Hemmerling and Austin Roest team co-captains for the 2023-24 season.
"We're extremely excited to have Ben and Austin as our co-captains," commented Silvertips general manager/head coach Dennis Williams. "They're unbelievable players and unbelievable teammates on and off the ice. They complement each other well in that leadership role, they've been through a lot together and they've had the opportunity to learn from some great leaders in the past."
Hemmerling, an '04-born Sherwood Park, AB native, is in his fourth season with the Silvertips. Originally drafted 49th-overall in 2019, he debuted with the Tips on Mar. 20, 2021. He has since played in 143 regular season games, registering 37 goals and 87 assists for 124 points. He has accrued 32 multi-point performances to this point in his career. Hemmerling has also appeared in six postseason games during the 2022 WHL Playoffs with a goal and three assists. He was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2022 NHL Draft with the 177th-overall pick.
Hemmerling was given the Coach's Award at the Silvertips' 2023 Team Awards ceremony for his leadership and devotion to the betterment of the team.
"It's a true honor," said Hemmerling. "There are so many great captains before me I got to learn from. [Jackson Berezowski] is one of the best captains I've ever had, the way he carried himself, his everyday habits... I want to be a voice for the guys, really vocal and enthusiastic to bring some positive vibes to the bench."
Roest, an '04-born Coldstream, B.C. native, was also a third-round choice in the 2019 Draft, taken by Everett 64th-overall. He debuted on Mar. 20, 2021 and has appeared in 151 career regular season games. He has accumulated 53 goals with 74 assists for 127 points, with an additional eight points in 11 career playoff games.
Roest was selected by the Nashville Predators 175th-overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. He earned the Most Improved Player Award at the 2023 Team Awards ceremony, having committed countless hours to honing his craft and blossoming with a 32-goal, 78-point season in 2022-23.
"It's something you dream of as a hockey player," Roest said of the captaincy. "To be named co-captain of the Silvertips with Ben Hemmerling is a really cool honor. All four of my previous captains [Gianni Fairbrother, Cole Fonstad, Ronan Seeley and Jackson Berezowski] did a great job of not only leading the guys, but including everyone. That's the biggest thing I noticed as a younger guy. I want to be someone the guys look up to on the ice. 'Roester's going nuts, now it's my turn to go.' Hopefully I can do that this season."
ALL TIME SILVERTIPS CAPTAINS
PLAYER YEAR
Bryan Nathe 2003-04
Mitch Love 2004-05
Torrie Wheat 2005-06
Cody Thoring / Jason Fransoo* 2006-07
Jonathan Harty 2007-08
Zack Dailey 2008-10
Landon Ferraro 2010-11
Ryan Murray 2011-13
Matt Pufahl 2013-14
Kohl Bauml 2014-15
Dawson Leedahl 2015-16
Noah Juulsen 2016-17
Kevin Davis / Matt Fonteyne* 2017-18
Connor Dewar 2018-19
Bryce Kindopp 2019-20
Gianni Fairbrother / Cole Fonstad* 2020-21
Jackson Berezowski / Ronan Seeley* 2021-22
Jackson Berezowski 2022-23
Ben Hemmerling / Austin Roest * 2023-24
* Co-captains assigned for season
This will be both Hemmerling and Roest's second season in the Silvertips' leadership group, having been named alternate captains last season. They are the 22nd and 23rd captains in Silvertips team history respectively, and the fifth co-captains in franchise history.
Defensemen Ty Gibson ('03) and Kaden Hammell ('05) will serve as alternate captains.
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