Hart, Tuulola Returning to Everett
EVERETT, Wash. – The Everett Silvertips (@WHLSilvertips), proud member of the Western Hockey League, and general manager Garry Davidson announced today the team has been reassigned goaltender Carter Hart from the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) and forward Eetu Tuulola from the Calgary Flames (NHL), and assigned defenseman Gianni Fairbrother to the Vancouver Northwest Giants (BCMML).
Hart, 18, is preparing for his third season in a Silvertips uniform after capturing the Vaughn Canadian Hockey League and Western Hockey League Goaltender of the Year (Del Wilson Memorial Trophy) awards last season, followed by his selection of the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (48th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft as the first netminder picked by any NHL team in June’s draft.
Honored on Sept. 6 by the Seattle Mariners by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Safeco Field, he is the first greater Seattle area based goaltender to win the CHL Goaltender of the Year award since 1998-99 (Cody Rudkowsky, Seattle).
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound goaltender was named Silvertips Most Valuable Player last season, earning a WHL best 35 wins and was second in goals against average (2.14), tied for second in shutouts (6), and second in minutes (3,693), en route to a 35-23-1-3 record and First Team All-Star selection in the Western Conference of the WHL. He suited up in the CHL/NHL Prospects Game in Vancouver and last summer earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Hart is 53-29-3-7 with a .917 save percentage in 95 career games with the Silvertips.
Tuulola, who fills an import roster spot (maximum of two per team) along with forward Dominic Zwerger, was selected by the Silvertips in the first round (40th overall) of the 2016 CHL Import Draft and was additionally selected by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round (156th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to suiting up in one preseason game with the Flames, he participated in their development camp in July, posting a hat trick in a camp game on Jul. 7 in Calgary. The native of Hämeenlinna, Finland was ranked 19th by NHL Central Scouting among skaters (European) entering this year’s draft, and participated in the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo.
Tuulola, 18, posted two goals and an assist through four games in Silvertips preseason action.
The 6-foot-3, 227-pound forward skated for HPK U20 in the Jr. A SM-liiga league last season, earning nine goals and 14 points (9g-5a) in 29 games. In 62 career games with the league, Tuulola posted 42 points (30g-12a) and 30 goals along with a +9 rating. Suiting up for Finland at the U18 World Junior Championship, he helped guide the program to a gold medal with four points in seven games of competition. Tuulola also represented Finland’s Under-18 squad at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, earning four points (2g-2a) in five games.
Fairbrother, born Sept. 30, 2000, made his debut by suiting up in three Silvertips playoff games last season and previously was named CSSHL Elite15 Top Defenseman last season with the Burnaby Winter Club, recording 18 points (5g-13a) in 35 games.
The Silvertips return to play this Friday, visiting the Portland Winter hawks at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. (Fox Sports 1380 AM / Tips App / WHL Live) and come back home next to host the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for the Oct. 5 home game at XFINITY Arena are available at the Silvertips website for as low as $8 for “Midweek Madness” at www.everettsilvertips.com/ticketpromos or by calling (425) 252-5100.
Silvertips season ticket or mini-plan packages are available at www.everettsilvertips.com/season.
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