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WHL Everett Silvertips

Silvertips Welcome Alvin Backus as Director of Player Personnel, Mike Fraser as Head Scout

July 3, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Everett Silvertips News Release


EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Silvertips (@WHLSilvertips), two-time Western Conference champions and six time U.S. Division champions of the Western Hockey League, and general manager Garry Davidson announced today that the club has named Alvin Backus to the position of director of player personnel, and Mike Fraser as head scout.

"We are excited as an organization to welcome Alvin as director of player personnel and Mike as head scout of the Everett Silvertips," said Davidson. "Alvin's transition from the Montreal Canadiens to an expanded role in our organization is brings a lot of enthusiasm for us, as I've appreciated his friendship, expertise in evaluating players, and understanding in what it means to have a successful on ice product. Mike's instant familiarity traces back to his time as a player in the BCHL, in my role as head coach of Victoria in 1997. We're very fortunate to attract his scouting experience from Brandon and Swift Current to our lead scouting role, and we look forward to his contributions."

Backus joins the Silvertips in an expanded capacity after most recently serving the Montreal Canadiens as amateur scout for the past seven seasons, in addition to working with the Silvertips hockey staff upon availability. The Salmon Arm, British Columbia native assisted Canadiens hockey staff with talent evaluations in preparation for each year's NHL Draft, which included the selection of first round pick and former Silvertips captain Noah Juulsen, an Abbotsford native, in 2015.

Backus, 59, has been involved as a coach, mentor, and scout across numerous levels of hockey for over 40 years. He will report to Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson, assisting him and the Silvertips coaching staff with roster improvements and coordinate the Silvertips scouting and recruiting efforts of talent across North America and Europe.

Fraser, 39, will assume day-to-day supervision of the Silvertips scouting staff and efforts in prospect player evaluation and recruiting within North American and Europe. He comes to the Silvertips after serving as a scout with the Brandon Wheat Kings for the past six seasons, and contributed to the construction of the Wheat Kings roster which secured the Eastern Conference title and Scotty Munro Trophy in 2014-15, and an Ed Chynoweth Cup title in 2015-16, with scouted forwards Nolan Patrick and Ty Lewis, and defenseman Kale Clague.

The Edmonton, Alberta native, prior to his time in Brandon, served the Swift Current Broncos as a scout for seven years (2005-12), and as a coach at the Manitoba Junior Hockey League level with Swan Valley for two years (2003-05), when he also served on the coaching staff for the MJHL Prospects Game in 2004.

Fraser, a former goaltender and MAAC All-Rookie honoree in 2000 with Iona College, was a BCHL All-Star honoree in 1999 and playoff MVP with the Victoria Salsa and additionally carries experience in print coverage as a sports reporter, columnist, and editor in Brandon.

Bil La Forge, who served the Silvertips for ten seasons in hockey operations, resigned on June 6 as director of player personnel to accept the general manager position with the Seattle Thunderbirds.

2018-19 SCHEDULE, TICKET INFORMATION

The Silvertips open the 2018-19 pre-season schedule with the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic in downtown Everett, starting Friday, Aug. 31 in a 7:00 p.m. game against the Tri-City Americans. Ticket packages and tickets for all nine games of the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic, starting each day with an 11:30am game, will be on sale soon. The 16th season of Silvertips hockey opens Sept. 21 in Vancouver at 7:35 p.m., and the Tips return home the next night for their 7:05 p.m. home opener against the Giants at Angel of the Winds Arena. Deposits for $50 will secure a seat for the 2018-19 regular season, available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season or by calling (425) 252-5100.

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