Goosebumps don’t always carry well over radio waves, so the Everett Silvertips’ first regular-season game may lack something in the drama department. But make no mistake: when the hockey puck is dropped at 7:05 tonight in Kamloops, B.C., an exciting, welcome chapter in Everett’s sports history will begin.
The birth of the Silvertips and their home arena, the spanking new Everett Events Center, give minor-league sports a major presence in Everett. With the AquaSox, the city’s successful, 20-year-old Northwest League baseball team, already occupying the summer months, the Silvertips’ fall/winter schedule gives Snohomish County sports fans two big-time teams that together cover three-quarters of the calendar. And if the Silvertips make the Western Hockey League playoffs, their season could extend well into spring.
So far, season-ticket sales haven’t been overwhelming, a sign that most potential hockey fans are taking a wait-and-see approach.
We suspect that once they’ve been to a couple of games, they’ll be hooked. The skill, speed and strength of hockey create exhilaration in the stands that’s contagious. And the stories you’ll read in this newspaper about the young men battling to realize their dream — making it to the National Hockey League — will captivate your interest.
Doug Soetaert, an NHL veteran who has spent the past year guiding the Silvertips as their vice president and general manager, appears to be building a solid foundation. He hired former NHL coach Kevin Constantine to lead the team on the ice, and went after players in the expansion draft who had a reputation for commitment and hard work. A 4-1 preseason hints that the team has a chance to be competitive from the start.
And with the Seattle Thunderbirds right down the freeway, the Silvertips arrive with a ready-made rivalry.
Tickets remain for the Silvertips’ home opener on Oct. 4. Check out the team’s schedule at www.everettsilvertips.com and start making plans to buy tickets now. Once Everett gets a taste of hockey excitement, the arena’s going to get crowded.
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