SERIES PREVIEW: Vancouver Giants (6) vs. Everett Silvertips (3)
There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned playoff rematch.
It took six games for the eighth-seed Vancouver Giants to knock off the first-seed Everett Silvertips in 2022.
With plenty of players from that team still on the squad, the Silvertips look for redemption in Round One of the 2024 WHL Playoffs.
This time, the sides meet in the third seed (Everett) and the sixth seed (Vancouver).
Everett has put together a solid season right out of the gate, passing 40 wins for the sixth time in the past eight regular seasons.
The ‘Tips may not rely on a single star player, but the team boats four 30-plus goal scorers and another two who have cracked 20. The Silvertips have scored the fourth-most goals in the WHL this season with 296 and allowed the fourth-fewest goals against with 208.
Vancouver had a slow start after a battery of injuries, including one to Captain and Calgary Flames prospect Samuel Honzek, but the team healed up and battled their way back to become one of the fiercest threats in the Western Conference. The Giants also bolstered their lineup by trading for Connor Levis at the WHL Trade Deadline in January. Levis has registered 14 goals and 13 assists in 28 games with Vancouver.
Levis, a Winnipeg Jets draft pick, is one of three NHL prospects on Vancouver’s roster, joining Lipinski and Honzek (both CGY).
Everett also has three NHL prospects in co-captains Ben Hemmerling (VGK), Austin Roest (NSH) and Kaden Hammell (SEA).
Game One of the First Round series goes from Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett in Everett, Wash. on March 29 at 7:05 p.m. PDT.
STAT PACK
Everett Silvertips | Vancouver Giants | |
Record | 45-18-2-3 | 32-32-4-0 |
Leading Scorers | Ben Hemmerling (30G, 61A, 91PTS)
Dominik Rymon (34G, 47A, 81PTS) Austin Roest (38G, 33A, 71PTS) |
Jaden Lipinski (24G, 42A, 66PTS)
Ty Halaburda (21G, 45A, 66PTS) Cameron Schmidt (31G, 27A, 58PTS) |
Leading Goaltender | Tyler Palmer (30-9-2-3, 2.57, .907) | Brett Mirwald (29-22-3-0, 3.10, .913) |
Powerplay | 26.6% (5th) | 20.7% (16th) |
Penalty Kill | 73.5% (17th) | 78.4 (7th) |
2023 WHL Playoffs | Lost First Round (Portland) | Lost First Round (Kamloops) |
Last WHL Championship | – | 2006 |
Regular Season Series: Everett leads 3-1-0-0
November 11, 2023- Vancouver 2, Everett 6
December 8, 2023- Vancouver 1, Everett 4
December 9, 2024- Everett 8, Vancouver 7
February 3, 2024- Everett 3, Vancouver 4
GAME BREAKERS
Everett Silvertips: Everett has gone with a co-captain system this year, with Ben Hemmerling and Austin Roest having a profound effect on their team’s success. both captains were also a part of the 2022 Silvertips side that was upset by Vancouver, and they’d love to serve up a slice of revenge. Roest led all Silvertips with a career-best 38 goals while Hemmerling became the fourth member of the team to hit the 30-goal milestone. Hemmerling, who signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in November, is also second on Everett with seven game-winning tallies and put up four goals and 11 assists against Vancouver in four regular season contests.
Vancouver Giants: Calgary Flames prospect Jaden Lipinski was just a rookie in that fateful 2022 series against Everett, but added a goal and assist to help the Giants pull off the unthinkable. Two seasons later, the Vancouver alternate captain has cracked 20 goals for the first time, putting up a career-high 24 goals and 42 assists in 67 games. The Scottsdale, Ariz. product is tied with Ty Halaburda and Cameron Schmidt with seven playoff goals.
GOALTENDING
Everett Silvertips: Veteran Tyler Palmer has shined in all categories this season while flying relatively under the radar. The Fernie, B.C. product earned the second-most wins of any WHL netminder with a 30-9-2-3 record, joining Moose Jaw’s Jackson Unger as the only goalies to hit 30 or more wins. His 2.57 goals-against average is fifth-best and his .907 save percentage is sixth-best. Palmer was in net for Everett’s First Round loss to Portland in 2023, but battled hard by earning his first playoff shutout in a must-win Game 4 and shined in a 3-2 overtime loss in Game 5.
Vancouver Giants: Brett Mirwald was tasked with backstopping a team battered by injury to start the season, but still managed to put up career-best numbers. The 20-year-old put up a 29-22-3-0 record, a 3.10 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage and two shutouts. His 29 wins are the third most among WHL goaltenders. His .913 save percentage also ranks third. The dependable veteran played the most minutes of any goalie through the regular season (3,190) and made the most saves (1,723). Mirwald was named Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week a league-leading five times, including back-to-back awards after Mirwald went on an 8-0-1-0 run. Mirwald only has two playoff games under his belt and looks to take his team on a deeper run.
X FACTOR:
Everett Silvertips: Both Everett and Vancouver have leaned on some sensational rookies to help provide offence. 2024 Top NHL Entry Draft-eligible prospect Julius Miettinen had a respectable start to the season, putting up 10 goals and 14 assists as he adjusted to hockey in North America, but exploded in the second half for 21 goals and 22 assists in his final 32 games. He wrapped up the season sitting third in goals on Everett (31) and fourth in points (67). Miettinen leads the Silvertips with eight game-winning goals and is tied for the team lead with 10 powerplay markers. His 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame makes him a constant netfront threat, helping him clinch Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week three times. He also added a goal and three assists against Vancouver in the regular season set.
Vancouver Giants: Cameron Schmidt actually tied Miettinen for third in the rookie goals race with 61 despite playing six fewer games. The Prince George, B.C. product also added 27 assists for 58 points in 59 games. Schmidt’s seven powerplay goals put him in a three-way tie for most on the Giants, and has the second-most game-winners with three. Schmidt has experience playing in big games, sniping the overtime winner for Canada to claim gold at the 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge in November. He was named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week in late February after scoring four goals in three games, including a hat trick against Kamloops. Schmidt had two goals in three appearances against the Silvertips in the regular season.
SERIES SCHEDULE
Game | Date | Away | Home | Time |
1 | Friday, March 29 | Vancouver | Everett | 7:05 p.m. PST |
2 | Saturday, March 30 | Vancouver | Everett | 6:05 p.m. PST |
3 | Wednesday, April 3 | Everett | Vancouver | 7:00 p.m. PST |
4 | Friday, April 5 | Everett | Vancouver | 7:00 p.m. PST |
5* | Sunday, April 7 | Vancouver | Everett | 4:05 p.m. PST |
6* | Tuesday, April 9 | Everett | Vancouver | 7:00 p.m. PST |
7* | Wednesday, April 10 | Vancouver | Everett | 7:05 p.m. PST |
*- If necessary