The Everett Silvertips were a force to be reckoned with in 2006-07, winning their third U.S. Division title in four years and earning the Scotty Munro Trophy with the best record in the WHL (54-15-1-2, 111 points) during the regular season. Although the ‘Tips suffered a disappointing playoff loss to the Prince George Cougars in the Western Conference Semifinals, there was still much to celebrate after the fourth season of Silvertips hockey. The club averaged over 6,400 fans per game in the regular season and nearly 6,800 in the 2007 playoffs while seeing a total of over 272,000 hockey fans attend Silvertips games at the Everett Events Center.
SILVERTIPS BREAK SINGLE SEASON FRANCHISE RECORDS
Not surprisingly, the 2006-2007 Silvertips smashed several franchise records on their way to the WHL’s Regular Season Championship. Everett set single-season franchise records for wins (54), points (111), goals scored (239), goals allowed (142) and shutouts (14) that still stand today. Their 142 goals allowed was the lowest total in the WHL and ranked fourth all-time in league history. The 14 shutouts recorded by the Silvertips tied the WHL shutout record held by the 2003-04 Kelowna Rockets and the 2004-05 Seattle Thunderbirds. Several Silvertips recorded individual single-season franchise records during the 2006-2007 campaign as well. Zach Hamill broke team marks for assists (61) and points (93), while goaltender Leland Irving established new records for goals-against average (1.86) and shutouts (11 ) in a single season.
ZACH HAMILL WINS WHL SCORING TITLE
Forward Zach Hamill enjoyed the most impressive offensive season in Silvertips history in 2006-07, capturing the Bob Clarke Trophy as the WHL’s top scorer. Hamill, an 18-year-old product of Port Coquitlam, BC, tallied 32 goals and a league-leading 61 assists for 93 points in 69 games to become the first Silvertip to win the WHL scoring title. The 5’11”, 190-pound center ranked third in the league in points-per-game (1.37) and enjoyed the longest point streak in the WHL (15 games). Hamill’s outstanding season also included being named the Husky WHL Player of the Month for January and the Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week for the week of January 22nd – 28th.
KYLE BEACH WINS WHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Forward Kyle Beach was honored as the 2007 recipient of the Jim Piggott Trophy, awarded to the WHL’s Rookie of the Year. He became the second consecutive Silvertip to win the award after Peter Mueller took home Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Beach had a phenomenal rookie season, leading all WHL 16-year-olds in scoring with 29 goals and 32 assists for 61 points in 65 games. The Kelowna, BC native finished first among all rookies in plus/minus rating (+27), second in powerplay goals (18) and tied for second in game-winning goals (6) during the 2006-2007 regular season. He also led the Silvertips in plus/minus and game-winning goals while finishing third on team in goals.
2006-2007 SILVERTIPS REGULAR SEASON LEADING SCORERS
Forward Zach Hamill (32 goals, 61 assists) led the team in scoring with 93 points, while Peter Mueller (21 goals, 57 assists) finished second with 78 points. Kyle Beach (29 goals, 32 assists) finished third on the team with 61 points. Hamill led the Silvertips in assists (61) while Moises Gutierrez led the team with 35 goals and 24 powerplay goals and Beach led the way with a +27 plus/minus rating. In goal, Leland Irving posted 34 wins, a 1.86 goals-against average, .929 saves percentage and 11 shutouts. David Reekie finished 20-6 with the Silvertips and posted a 1.77 GAA, .925 SV% and three shutouts.
SILVERTIPS 2007 PLAYOFF SCORING LEADERS
Forward Peter Mueller led the Silvertips in playoff scoring with seven goals, nine assists and 16 points. Moises Gutierrez (5 goals, 6 assists) and Kyle Beach (5 goals, 6 assists) finished tied for second on the club with 11 points each. Goaltender Leland Irving finished 6-4-1 in the postseason with a 2.82 GAA and an 88.7 SV%.
THANK YOU JASON, JESSE AND MOISES
The Everett Silvertips organization bid a fond farewell to the three Silvertips overagers that ended their WHL career in 2006-07. The Silvertips thanked defensemen Jason Fransoo and Jesse Zetariuk and forward Moises Gutierrez for their hard work and dedication on and off the ice. Fransoo finished his Silvertips career playing 143 regular season and 27 playoff games in his two seasons with the club. The North Battleford, SK native won back-to-back Silvertips Ironman Awards and was named a Second-Team Western Conference All-Star after the 2006-2007 regular season. In his WHL career with Swift Current and Everett, Fransoo recorded 15 goals and 67 assists for 82 points in 259 regular season games. Zetariuk was acquired by Everett in a trade with Moose Jaw in December 2006. The Brandon, MB native was named an Assistant Captain by the Silvertips in January and posted a goal and 6 assists in 40 games with Everett. Zetariuk was also a +11 during the regular season with the Silvertips. In his WHL career with the Red Deer Rebels, Moose Jaw Warriors and the Everett Silvertips, Zetariuk played in 297 career WHL regular season games and tallied 16 goals with 64 assists for 80 points. Gutierrez was acquired by the Silvertips in a trade with Kamloops in the summer of 2006. The Anchorage, AK native led the Silvertips with 35 goals in his lone season with the club. In his 326-game WHL career with Kamloops and Everett, Guiterrez posted 68 goals and 73 assists for 141 points.
FINAL REGULAR SEASON SCORING STATS