Ex-Silvertips Tochkin, Maxwell remember time in Everett fondly

EVERETT — Mired in the midst of a seven-game winless streak on Saturday, the Everett Silvertips looked to their past for inspiration.

It came in the form of Alumni Night as seven former players, two of whom were with the 2003-04 inaugural team that won the organization’s lone WHL Western Conference title, were at Xfinity Arena and honored prior to Everett’s 1-0 win over Vancouver to snap that streak.

“This is a character-building time for them, which every team needs to go through,” said former Tip Kellan Tochkin. “This is what’s going to propel them to have a really good playoff run.

“This community deserves it and that’s part of why I fell in love with Everett,” he added. “The people really had an impact on me here and I’m really happy here.”

Tochkin and former linemate Tyler Maxwell were the final two former Tips introduced prior to the game and Maxwell dropped the ceremonial first puck. They were also the two most recent former players. Tochkin played for Everett from 2008-11 before he was traded to Medicine Hat, while Maxwell was with the Tips from 2008-12 before he was dealt to Edmonton where he helped the Oil Kings to the WHL championship as an overage forward.

Also attending Saturday’s game were former defenseman Devin Wilson (2003-04), forwards Tyler Dietrich (2003-05), Eric English (2007-08) and Cameron Abney (2007-10) and goalie Thomas Heemskerk (2008-09). Maxwell, Tochkin, Heemskerk, Abney and Wilson all played professionally in the minors while Dietrich played collegiately in Canada after his WHL career.

Maxwell, a native of Southern California, was originally selected by the Kamloops Blazers and committed to the USHL and the University of Denver before the Tips acquired his rights and convinced him to join the organization.

“That was more enticing for us because that was in the States, two-hour flight, new organization, everything was first class, and that’s the way it continued to be and that’s what they were building since Day One,” said Maxwell, who is the franchise leader in goals scored with 107. “I’m really hoping they get to bring a trophy down Hewitt Avenue whether it’s this year or the near future.”

Maxwell has played professionally in Austria and Italy, and spent parts of three seasons in the ECHL, most recently last season when he split time between the Alaska Aces and the Toledo Walleye.

Now married with a three-year-old son, Maxwell is busy coaching both at his own hockey camps and at UCLA and with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks. He hasn’t ruled out a return to the pro ranks, however.

“I’ve been on the ice every day so I’m trying to stay in shape and you never know if I’m going to (sign) for the playoffs or what,” Maxwell said. “Coaching is keeping me very busy as well as being a family man.”

Tochkin signed a free-agent deal with the Vancouver Canucks after he went undrafted and played three professional seasons in the United States and part of a season in Sweden. Last year he returned to Everett where he coached the 16-U Junior Silvertips AAA midget team.

He also filled in as an on-air color commentator with Tips broadcaster Mike Benton and Tochkin is now studying radio communications at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

“The beauty of being in radio arts is my eyes have really opened to everything that’s out there,” Tochkin said. “In taking journalism, and policy and business communications, especially with what’s going on right now in the States it’s so fascinating, and my life until I was 25 was all hockey all the time. And now I’ve kind of taken a step back and I’m kind of open to new and different things.

“Obviously hockey is the love of my life, but if I’m fortunate enough to be a Mike Benton somewhere that would be awesome, but again, really it’s just finding what you’re passionate about, and that’s where you find it is in university,” added Tochkin, whose mother spent four decades as a school teacher. “I’ve really enjoyed it so far.”

The former players gathered prior to the game as they reminisced about their days in Everett, chatted with Benton between periods on the radio and cheered on a group that has surprised many in its pursuit of a 2016-17 U.S. Division title.

“Being in this building is really special to me,” Tochkin said. “I didn’t have the success with the teams I played on in Everett in terms of playoff pushes and that’s something that’s going to live with me the rest of my life. These fans deserve a championship, and they’ve been longing for it for a long time and this year’s team might be the best chance that they’re going to have. Obviously they’re slumping right now, but I’ve seen every set of highlights from every game and they have a real special team here.”

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