Silvertips digest: WHL releases 2019-2020 schedule

The Western Hockey League released its 2019-2020 schedule on Wednesday, and the Everett Silvertips begin the season with two home games — against Tri-City 0n Sept. 20 followed by a game with Victoria on Sept. 21 — before embarking on a four-game road trip.

After that, Everett will play seven of its next eight games at Angel of the Winds Arena.

The Silvertips will complete their annual Eastern Conference road trip — this year against the Central Division — in two chunks. Everett treks to Lethbridge on Dec. 4 and completes the first part of the swing in four stops, ending in Calgary on Dec. 8. The second portion is Dec. 30 in Red Deer and Jan. 1 in Edmonton, with Everett knocking out its two road games against Prince George directly after on Jan. 3-4.

Among divisional opponents, the Silvertips play Seattle and Tri-City the most, with 10 meetings apiece. The Silvertips play Spokane nine times and Portland eight.

Here are some home games to mark on your calendar:

• The Silvertips will hoist their 2018-2019 U.S. Division regular-season championship banner during their home opener against Tri-City.
• Mitch Love visits Everett for the first time since the former Silvertip player and assistant coach assumed the head-coaching role in Saskatoon, with the Blades visiting the Silvertips on Nov. 22. Bobbleheads of the former Silvertips captain will be given out that night. Kirby Dach, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, likely will be skating with the Blades, unless he makes the Chicago Blackhawks’ roster.
• The defending WHL champion Prince Albert Raiders visit Everett on Oct. 19.
• After relocating from Kootenay, the Winnipeg Ice will make their Everett debut on Nov. 16. The Ice should boast 2019 first-round NHL draft pick Peyton Krebs.
• Vancouver and Bowen Byram, the No. 4 pick in the recent NHL draft, visit Everett for Teddy Bear Toss Night on Dec. 14. Byram was selected by the Colorado Avalanche.
• The hosts of the 2020 Memorial Cup, the Kelowna Rockets, visit the Silvertips on Jan. 17 and Feb. 29. The Rockets should feature first-round NHL pick Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay), as well as second-round draft pick Dillon Hamaliuk (San Jose) and Jake Lee, acquired by the Rockets in a trade with Seattle this offseason.
• Other promotion nights include: Pink the Rink against Seattle on Oct. 12; Local Heroes Night on Dec. 19 against Seattle; Skate with the Tips on Jan. 26 against Spokane; Mascot Night on March 1 against Portland; Navy Night on March 7 against Seattle; Team Awards and Fan Appreciation Night on March 20 against Victoria.

Christiansen skating with Blues

Jake Christiansen is skating with the NHL champion St. Louis Blues at their development camp, which started Tuesday and runs through Friday. Christiansen, 19, participated in the Calgary Flames’ training camp last offseason. Bryce Kindopp is only other undrafted Silvertip taking part in an NHL development camp. He’s in camp with Colorado.

Seeley named to U-18 roster

Sixteen-year-old defenseman Ronan Seeley was one of 44 players named to Hockey Canada’s selection-camp roster for the Under-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. The camp takes place July 26-30 in Calgary and the tournament runs form Aug. 5-10. Silvertips head coach Dennis Williams is an assistant coach for the Canadian squad.

Import draft on Thursday

The Canadian Hockey League import draft begins at 8 a.m. PDT Thursday. Everett is expected to make one selection, with Artyom Minulin aging out of the WHL and 2000-born forward Martin Fasko-Rudas expected to return. Everett holds picks Nos. 57 and 117.