For the second time in franchise history, the Everett Silvertips have won the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the Western Hockey League’s regular season champion.
The Silvertips clinched first overall with a 2-1 win against the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday, combined with an 8-4 Calgary Hitmen loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Everett climbed to the top of the overall standings in mid-October and never ceded their first-place ranking thanks to a balanced scoring attack and formidable back end.
The Silvertips rank third in scoring and second in goals-against and also went on a monster 11-0-1-1 point streak from November 9, 2024, to December 11, 2024.
While Everett has been dominant at Angel of the Winds Arena, where they boast a 24-6-1-2 record, they’ve done some of their best work in enemy territory with the league’s top road record (22-6-3-2).
2025 NHL Draft-eligible forward Carter Bear (40G-42A), veteran Tyler MacKenzie (33G-45A), Dominik Rymon (29G-36A) and Jesse Heslop (24G-32) have all surpassed the 20-goal mark, with Bear tied for fifth in goals among all WHL skaters. MacKenzie is ranked in the top-10 in faceoff wins.
The Silvertips’ scoring has also gotten a late boost with the return of Nashville Predators prospect Austin Roest, who was reassigned to the WHL club for a final swing at a championship after recovering from a pre-season injury.
Seattle Kraken prospect and co-captain Kaden Hammell has anchored a rock-solid blueline that includes his fellow ‘C’ and Calgary Flames pick Eric Jamieson, Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith and Landon DuPont, the first exceptional status defenceman to compete in the WHL full-time as a 15-year-old.
DuPont has made history in a breakout year.
With 16 goals and 43 assists for 59 points in 62 games, DuPont leads all WHL rookies in scoring while becoming the first defenceman aged 16 or younger to surpass 50 points in a season since Kamloops Blazers legend and Hockey Hall-of-Famer Scott Niedermayer in 1989-90.
The 5-foot-11, 179-pound defender has won WHL Rookie of the Month for September/October and December, in addition to a Tempo WHL Player of the Week win in late December.
In net, Jesse Sanche has been rock-solid since joining the ‘Tips in an offseason trade.
The 18-year-old was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for September/October after going 9-2-0-0 to start the season and recording his first shutout. He’s since put together his first 20-plus win campaign.
Rooke Raiden LeGall has rounded out one of the WHL’s strongest goaltending tandems with a 15-2-1-3 record and a .919 save percentage. He was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for December.
The Silvertips have never missed the WHL Playoffs since joining the WHL back in 2003-04.
Everett has racked up 10 U.S. Division titles – including this year- and have reached the WHL Championship series in their inaugural season and, more recently, in 2018.
The team clinched the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the first time in 2006-07 with a 54-15-1-2 record thanks to WHL Leading Scorer Zach Hamill, Rookie of the Year Kyle Beach and Western Conference All-Stars Peter Mueller and Leland Irving.
Everett’s battle for its first-ever WHL Championship begins on Friday, March 28 at 7:05 p.m. PST against a to-be-determined opponent.
For more home playoff dates and ticket information, visit EverettSilvertips.com.
