EVERETT – When the Everett Silvertips take the ice for their inaugural home game Saturday against the Prince George Cougars, it will be in front of a full house.
On Thursday the Silvertips sold out their home opener, meaning a crowd of 8,250 will be on hand to cheer on their new home team.
“We’re very pleased,” Silvertips general manager Doug Soetaert said. “It shows the commitment the community is making for this hockey team and we’re very pleased. It will be very exciting for the players. Any time you play and the building is full, there’s an added element of adrenaline.”
A keen eye: One of the observers at practice Thursday was Silvertips head scout Scott Scoville, who is in town for Everett’s home opener.
Scoville’s main duties are to evaluate players in the midget leagues in preparation for the midget draft, as well as keep tabs on the other teams in the Western Hockey League.
“We have 14 scouts that work for us, we all work together, and I’m kind of the guy who ties it all together and drafts the young kids,” Scoville said. “You’ll see them next year, the 1988s (birth year) that we drafted. There will probably be three or four playing here next year.”
Scoville listed center Zack Hamill, defenseman Taylor Ellington and right wing Brady Calla as three who might break through next year.
Fore: The Silvertips took a day off from practice Wednesday, instead taking a team golfing outing at Kayak Point Golf Course in Stanwood.
Playing a scramble format, the team of Bryan Nathe, Mark Kress, Cody Thoring, Riley Armstrong and Jeff Harvey pulled out the victory with a birdie on the final hole.
“It was nice,” Nathe said of taking a golfing break. “They planned it for earlier in the week and it didn’t work out, but we got it in yesterday. We had a little workout, watched a little video before that, and then went out and had a little fun.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
