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WHL Everett Silvertips

Dennis Williams Named U.S. Division Coach of the Year

April 21, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - Everett Silvertips head coach Dennis Williams has officially been named the U.S. Division Coach of the Year, as announced by the Western Hockey League Thursday afternoon.

Williams, who twice before has earned Western Conference Coach of the Year in 2017-18 and 2019-20, has led the Silvertips to a conference-leading 45-13-5-5 record this season, accumulating 100 points. It is the fourth time in five seasons under Williams that the Silvertips have won 45 or more games (factoring in the Covid-shortened 2021 season), and the first time the team has eclipsed the century mark in points.

"You look no further than who you surround yourself with," commented Williams upon receiving the award. "We have a great staff here with [associate coach] Louis Mass, [assistant coach] Dean DeSilva and [goaltending coach] James Jensen that are constantly making our players better. And then you look at the players, we have a great locker room, great leadership. You're always told to surround yourself with great people, and I've been very fortunate that I've been able to do that."

The Silvertips clinched their ninth U.S. Division title this season, their fourth under Dennis Williams, while also posting the best record in the West for the fifth time as a franchise and third under Williams. The Silvertips have never finished lower than second-overall in the Western Conference since he assumed the head coach position in 2017-18. Williams now has an official record of 195-62-22 as head coach of the Everett Silvertips, accounting for 10 games missed this season while serving as an assistant coach for Hockey Canada at the World Junior Championship. He ranks second all-time in wins and games coached for the Silvertips.

The team has posted several franchise bests in the 2021-22 campaign, including: longest win streak to start a season (six games), longest point streak (18 games) and most powerplay goals scored since 2006-07 and third-most in team history (79). Everett also saw several individual performances flourish under Williams' tutelage, including Olen Zellweger's franchise-record 78 points as a defenseman and Jackson Berezowski's 46 goals, second-most in a season in Everett history. Six players reached the 50-point threshold this season for Everett, which ties a franchise-best in that category.

Developmentally, three Silvertips have been named to the NHL Central Scouting Midterm Report this season in Ben Hemmerling, Austin Roest and Braden Holt. Three Silvertips were named to a World Junior Championship roster this year as well: Ronan Seeley and Olen Zellweger for Hockey Canada, and Michal Gut for Czechia.

Williams first won Western Conference Coach of the Year in 2017-18, a season in which the Silvertips led the Western Conference with 47 wins and 99 points. They would eventually reach their second WHL Final in franchise history, meeting the Swift Current Broncos. He later won his second Western Conference Coach of the Year award in 2019-20, a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic yet featuring 46 wins for the Silvertips, the most of any WHL team that year.

Everett by year under head coach Dennis Williams:

Season GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS Finish Playoffs

2017-18 72 47 20 2 3 246 167 99 1st U.S. Lost WHL final

2018-19 68 47 16 2 3 223 130 99 1st U.S. Lost Western Conference semi-final

2019-20 63 46 13 3 1 228 142 96 2nd U.S. Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2020-21 23 19 4 0 0 91 45 38 1st U.S. No playoffs were held

2021-22 68 45 13 5 5 280 190 100 1st U.S. TBD

Williams is now eligible for the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy, awarded to the top coach in the Western Hockey League. Kevin Constantine is currently the only Silvertip head coach to have won the award, earning it in 2003-04 for leading the expansion Silvertips to a Western Conference title in their first season.

About the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy

The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy for WHL Coach of the Year is presented annually to the WHL coach who has had the greatest impact upon his Club's performance during the WHL Regular Season. The trophy is named in memory of Dunc McCallum, the legendary Brandon Wheat Kings Head Coach, who was twice named WHL Coach of the Year while building the Wheat Kings into a WHL powerhouse in the 1970s. From 1976 to 1981, McCallum compiled an impressive regular season record of 251-123-41 while behind the bench of the Wheat Kings.

Winners of the Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy / WHL Coach of the Year (since 2000):

2019-20: Brad Lauer, Edmonton Oil Kings

2018-19: Marc Habscheid, Prince Albert Raiders

2017-18: Manny Viveiros, Swift Current Broncos

2016-17: John Paddock, Regina Pats

2015-16: Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals

2014-15: John Paddock, Regina Pats

2013-14: Dave Lowry, Victoria Royals

2012-13: Ryan McGill, Kootenay ICE

2011-12: Jim Hiller, Tri-City Americans

2010-11: Don Nachbaur, Spokane Chiefs

2009-10: Mark Holick, Kootenay ICE

2008-09: Don Hay, Vancouver Giants

2007-08: Don Nachbaur, Tri-City Americans

2006-07: Cory Clouston, Kootenay ICE

2005-06: Willie Desjardins, Medicine Hat Tigers

2004-05: Cory Clouston, Kootenay ICE

2003-04: Kevin Constantine, Everett Silvertips

2002-03: Marc Habscheid, Kelowna Rockets

2001-02: Bob Lowes, Regina Pats

2000-01: Brent Sutter, Red Deer Rebels

1999-00: Todd McLellan, Swift Current Broncos

Check out the Everett Silvertips Statistics



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