The OHL is invading Comcast Arena (updated with preseason schedule, home opener)

The Tips are branching out beyond the WHL.

Everett announced the details for this year’s Everett Silvertips Preseason Classic this morning, and for the first time ever an Ontario Hockey League team will be taking the ice at Comcast Arena. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (also known as the Soo Greyhounds), three-time champions of the OHL and the winners of the 1993 Memorial Cup, are joining the five U.S. Division teams in the three day event, which takes place Sept. 3-5. Everett will face Sault Ste. Marie on the first night.

The Greyhounds finished 36-27-1-4 last season and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Soo’s top players include 19-year-old center Brett Thompson, who scored 42 goals last season, an 17-year-old center Daniel Catenacci, a top prospect for the 2011 NHL draft.

Current Everett head coach Craig Hartsburg coached the Greyhounds from 2001-02 and 2004-08, compiling a 179-111-47 record and winning two division titles.

Everett will face Tri-City on the second day of the tournament and Seattle on the third day.

More immediately, the Tips will be adding a player Tuesday during he CHL import draft. Everett picks 52nd overall, which is scheduled to take place about 3 p.m. The Tips have an open European roster with the expected loss of defenseman Radko Gudas to the professional ranks.

—- UPDATE, 12:25 p.m.

OK, here’s some other bits of news from today:

– Completing the news about the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds coming for the preseason tournament, they’re scheduled to play Portland on Saturday and Tri-City on Sunday, so those teams get a taste of a different league, too.

– The league announced the entire preseason schedule. Everett’s preseason schedule is thus:

9/3, Sault Ste. Marie at Everett, 7 p.m.

9/4, Tri-City at Everett, 7 p.m.

9/5, Seattle at Everett, 7 p.m.

9/9, Everett vs. Seattle at Tri-City, 3 p.m.

9/10, Portland vs. Everett at Tri-City, 11 a.m.

9/17, Seattle at Everett, 7:35 p.m.

9/18, Everett at Vancouver (Ladner), 7:30 p.m.

– The league, in that same press release, announced each team’s home opener. Everett’s home opener is Saturday, Sept. 25, against the Vancouver Giants. Since the Tips aren’t listed as any other team’s home opener, and since no team is listed as starting on Thursday this year, I guess this means the Vancouver game is also Everett’s season opener.