Birkholz Inks AHL Deal with San Antonio

EVERETT – Former Everett Silvertips leading scorer Josh Birkholz, who completed his overage season with the club last year, has signed an American Hockey League contract with the San Antonio Rampage for 2012-13.  Birkholz is a draft pick of San Antonio’s NHL parent club, the Florida Panthers.

Birkholz, 21, led the Silvertips in scoring from start to finish in 2011-12, pacing the club in goals (29), points (57) and powerplay goals (T-7) and finishing second in assists (28).  The 6-1, 190-pound winger produced numerous highlight-reel moments last season, including a hat trick in a 5-2 win over Seattle on January 4 and a season-best four points in a 5-4 overtime win vs. the Thunderbirds on January 21.  His nine-game point streak in November tied for the longest by a Silvertip all year.

Hailing from Maple Grove, Minnesota, Birkholz played one collegiate season at the University of Minnesota after being selected by Florida in the third round (#67 overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.  He then joined the Silvertips for the 2010-11 campaign, scoring 18 goals and totaling 29 points as a first-year WHLer.  He served as an alternate captain for Everett last year and wore the captain’s “C” for a time while Ryan Murray was away at the World Junior Championships.

Season tickets and mini-game packages for the Silvertips’ tenth anniversary season at Comcast Arena are on sale now.  For more information call 425-252-5100, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter.