EVERETT — The Everett Silvertips are U.S. Division champions.
Again.
With a regulation loss by the Portland Winterhawks to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday, Everett clinched the eighth U.S. Division title in its 18-year history.
The Silvertips won the division title based on points percentage as opposed to just points. The WHL adopted the change this season due to the potential of an uneven number of games during the pandemic.
Everett also won division titles in 2003-04 — its inaugural season— and in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The Silvertips enter the final four games of the shortened season with a 15-4 record and a staggering plus-37 goal differential.
Cole Fonstad lead the U.S. Division with 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists), and Gage Goncalves is second with 27 (11 goals, 16 assists).
Star goaltender Dustin Wolf leads the entire Western Hockey League with a .939 save percentage and is tied with Vancouver’s Trent Miner with a WHL-best four shutout on the season.
Everett travels to Spokane on Sunday, then has home games against Seattle and Spokane on Wednesday and Friday, before wrapping up its season on the road at Seattle next Saturday night.
The WHL announced on April 19 that the end of the regular season would also be the end of the 2020-21 season.
The league said that due to ongoing challenges with COVID-19, including travel restrictions, it was not in a position to conduct a postseason.
The WHL said it will continue to work with local government at health authorities regarding schedule options for the 2021-22 regular season.
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