Here are key moments from the Silvertips’ first 10 years:
Sept. 19, 2003: The Everett Silvertips era begins when the Tips play their first game, a 4-1 loss at Kamloops. Jovan Matic scores the first goal in franchise history.
March 13, 2004: Everett wins 2-1 at Tri-City to clinch the U.S. Division title. The Tips went on to finish 35-27-8-2 and set virtually every WHL record for an expansion team, including wins and points (80). Everett is still the only expansion team in league history to win a banner. Kevin Constantine goes on to be named the WHL’s Coach of the Year.
April 27, 2004: Barry Horman’s centering feed deflects off Jeff Schmidt’s leg and into the net, giving Everett a 2-1 overtime victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals against defending league champion Kelowna. Everett won each of the final three games in OT.
March 20, 2005: Everett, with a roster that includes eight 16-year-olds, finishes 33-28-9-2 and third in the U.S. Division, then goes on to upset Portland in the first round of the playoffs.
May 16, 2005: Doug Soetaert, the architect of Everett’s successful two seasons as the team’s general manager, steps down to become the general manager of the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
March 19, 2006: Sparked by the additions of offensive stars Peter Mueller, who was named the league’s Rookie of the Year, and John Lammers, Everett wins its second U.S. Division title, going 40-27-2-3. In the playoffs the Tips reach the conference finals.
June 24, 2006: Everett has its first ever players selected in the NHL draft, including two first rounders as center Peter Mueller is selected eighth overall by Phoenix and goaltender Leland Irving is selected 26th overall by Calgary.
Aug. 21, 2006: Doug Soetaert returns as general manager following a one-season hiatus.
Sept. 14, 2006: Everett coach Kevin Constantine is handed a league record $5,000 fine and is suspended four games for his involvement in busgate, when he had the team ride back from a preseason loss at Tri-City in its gear.
March 17, 2007: Everett finishes 54-15-1-2, winning its third U.S. Division title in four years along with the Scotty Munro Trophy for the league’s best record. Center Zach Hamill wins the league scoring title, while winger Kyle Beach is named Rookie of the Year. However, the Tips are upset in the second round of the playoffs by Prince George.
May 29, 2007: Kevin Constantine steps down as coach to become the coach of the Houston Aeros, the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He is succeeded by associate head coach John Becanic.
June 22, 2007: Center Zach Hamill is selected eighth overall in the NHL draft by the Boston Bruins.
Sept. 15, 2007: Dave Piland, Everett’s public address announcer since day one, passes away after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
Jan. 16, 2008: The infamous Beach-Bruton punch out occurs as Everett’s controversial star Kyle Beach is knocked cold by a punch from Spokane captain Chris Bruton after the conclusion of Everett’s 2-1 victory at Spokane.
Mar. 16, 2008: Everett finishes 39-30-0-3 and fourth in the U.S. Division. The Tips lose to Spokane in the first round of the playoffs.
June 20, 2008: Winger Kyle Beach is selected 11th overall by Chicago in the NHL draft. It is the third straight year at least one Everett player is taken in the first round.
Jan. 6, 2009: In the biggest trade in franchise history, star winger Kyle Beach is shipped to Lethbridge along with what eventually becomes a fifth-round bantam pick. In return Everett receives winger Dan Iwanski, defenseman Alex Theriau and a first-round bantam pick that turns into defenseman Seth Jones.
Jan. 13, 2009: Tragedy strikes the Tips as winger Jordan Mistelbacher, reassigned just days earlier after spending parts of three seasons in Everett, is found dead in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
March 15, 2009: Everett finishes the season 27-36-7-2, in fourth place in the U.S. Division, and loses to Tri-City in the first round of the playoffs. Shortly after the season concludes John Becanic is dismissed as Everett’s head coach.
June 23, 2009: Craig Hartsburg is hired as Everett’s head coach.
Sept. 22, 2009: The Silvertips bring the NHL to Comcast Arena, hosting the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning in a preseason contest.
Jan. 30, 2010: Everett beats Kamloops 2-1 at home for its franchise record 14th straight victory.
March 14, 2010: Everett finishes the season 46-21-3-2 and ties for the best record in both the U.S. Division and the Western Conference, but loses out to Tri-City on the tiebreaker. The Tips are then upset in the first round of the playoffs by Kelowna.
March 20, 2011: Everett finishes the season 28-33-7-4 and in fourth place in the U.S. Division. The Tips are swept by Portland in the first round of the playoffs.
June 6, 2011: Craig Hartsburg steps down as Everett’s coach to become the assistant coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.
July 6, 2011: Mark Ferner is hired as Everett’s new coach.
Feb. 2, 2012: Tips general manager Doug Soetaert is dismissed after nearly 10 seasons in charge. Garry Davidson is hired as the new general manager shortly after.
March 17, 2012: Everett rallies late, keeping its streak of making the playoffs in every season of franchise history on the last day of the season. The Tips finish 22-40-2-8 and in fourth place in the U.S. Division, then fall to Tri-City in the first round of the playoffs.
June 22, 2012: Tips defenseman Ryan Murray becomes the highest NHL draft pick in franchise history when he is selected second overall by Columbus.
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