Jackson Berezowski named Silvertips’ Most Valuable Player

EVERETT — Jackson Berezowski has been the Everett Silvetips’ rock through a turbulent 2022-23 WHL season for the Tips, and on Friday night he was acknowledged for his contributions. 

The overage winger and team captain took home the biggest honor from Everett’s season-end awards ceremony, being named the team’s Most Valuable Player. The ceremony took place following the Tips’ game against the Victoria Royals at Angel of the Winds Arena, which was the team’s last home game of the regular season.

Berezowski, a native of Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has been the constant during a season that’s seen some top players traded away and others sidelined by injury. Coming into the weekend’s final two games he had a team-leading 44 goals to go along with 32 assists in 60 contests, and his 76 points were second on the team behind Austin Roest’s 78. Berezowski also became the all-time leading goal scorer in franchise history — he had 126 heading into the weekend, breaking the previous record of 112 set by Patrick Bajkov.

It is the second straight season Berezowski, who became the first player in franchise history to record back-to-back 40-goal seasons, received MVP honors, as he shared the award with defenseman Olen Zellweger last year.

Berezowski was also a repeat winner of the F.I.E.R.C.E. Predator Award, which is presented by the Everett Silvertips Hockey Booster Club to the player who best exhibits being fearless, inspirational, enthusiastic, respected, courageous and exceptional play.

In other on-ice awards, 16-year-old winger Jesse Heslop, who went into the weekend with 11 goals and 26 assists in 64 games, was named the Rookie of the Year; Roest, who’s in his 18-year-old season, was named Most Improved after more than doubling his scoring output with 32 goals and 46 assists in 60 games; overage defenseman Aidan Sutter (six goals, 31 assists in 60 games) was named the Unsung Hero; 19-year-old defeseman Ty Gibson (six goals, 18 assists in 64 games) was named Most Dedicated; and 18-year-old winger Ben Hemmerling (21 goals, 41 assists in 55 games) was given the Coach’s Award. Eighteen-year-old winger Caden Zaplitny and defenseman Kaden Hammell, who’s in his 18-year-old season, received Iron Man Awards for appearing in every game this season.

In off-ice awards, 17-year-old defenseman Eric Jamieson was named the Scholastic Player of the Year, while center Beau Courtney, who’s in his 18-year-old season, received the Community Relations Award.