Finalist Peter Mueller was a star forward for the Silvertips
When Peter Mueller joined the Everett Silvertips, he brought with him the potential of future hockey greatness.
And what he accomplished in the second half of the 2006-07 Western Hockey League season as well as in international play with Team USA at the World Junior Championships proved that he was well on his way to becoming one of the game's stars.
Mueller, one of four finalists for The Herald's Man of the Year in Sports award, helped Everett to a 54-15-1-2 record last season, which was the best regular-season record in the Western Hockey League. The Silvertips reached the WHL's Western Conference playoff semifinals before bowing to Prince George in six games of the best-of-seven series.
In 51 games, Mueller had 21 goals and 57 assists for 78 points, trailing only Zach Hamill among Everett players. Hamill, the league leader, had 32 goals and 61 assists for 93 points, but in 18 more games.
Mueller's total ranked him 13th in the WHL. No other player in the top 50 played fewer games than Mueller.
For his achievements, Mueller was named a 2006-07 WHL Western Conference All-Star.
The 19-year-old Mueller -- he will 20 in April -- went on to score a team-best 16 points (seven goals, nine assists) in 12 playoff games last spring.
Mueller, who was chosen in the first round of the 2006 National Hockey League entry draft (No. 8 overall) by the Phoenix Coyotes, closed his time in Everett after last spring's playoffs. Mueller went to camp with Phoenix last fall, earned a spot on the roster and is have a fine first season. In 66 games, he was the team's fourth-leading scorer with 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points.
