I’m back. For a few days, at least.
The Everett Silvertips beat is changing hands temporarily this week, meaning I’m back following the team I covered from 2003, when the team first began playing, until 2015, when I switched over to covering Seattle-area sports.
The reason for the temporary change, in case you haven’t heard, is because the Herald’s regular Tips beat writer Jesse Geleynse is recovering from an automobile accident. Geleynse’s car struck a dead elk in the middle of the road on I-90 while driving back from Kennewick on Monday night following Everett’s 6-5 overtime victory over the Tri-City Americans that clinched the WHL’s Western Conference championship. All three passengers in the car are are OK, though they suffered minor injuries. Geleynse is home recovering from a concussion sustained in the accident.
So if you’re looking for Tips information heading into the WHL championship series between Everett and the Swift Current Broncos, which begins Friday night in Swift Current, I’m your guy for the time being. You can follow me on Twitter at @NickHPatterson, and I’ll also have the occasional blog post.
Here’s a quick list of what’s happening in the next couple days:
– The WHL awards ceremony is Wednesday in Red Deer beginning at 11:15 a.m. PDT. Everett has three individuals up for awards. Goaltender Carter Hart is the front runner to become the first three-time winner of the Del Wilson Trophy as the league’s Goaltender of the Year, and he’s also up for the Four Broncos Trophy as the league’s Player of the Year. Coach Dennis Williams is up for the Dunc McCallum Trophy as the Coach of the Year, while general manager Garry Davidson is up for the Lloyd Saunders Trophy as the Executive of the Year. The team is also up for the Business Award.
– The WHL bantam draft takes place Thursday. Everett’s first pick is 42nd overall in the second round, as the Tips traded away their first rounder last season in the deal that brought defenseman Aaron Irving to Everett. The Tips also have no picks in the fifth or sixth rounds, but three in the seventh round.
– The team is flying out to Swift Current on Wednesday afternoon. Here’s the full schedule of the series, all times PDT:
Game 1: Everett at Swift Current, Friday, May 4, 6 p.m.
Game 2: Everett at Swift Current, Saturday, May 5, 6 p.m.
Game 3: Swift Current at Everett, Tuesday, May 8, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4: Swift Current at Everett, Wednesday, May 9, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary): Swift Current at Everett, Friday, May 11, 7:35 p.m.
Game 6 (if necessary): Everett at Swift Current, Sunday, May 13, 6 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Everett at Swift Current, Monday, May 14, 6 p.m.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
