The Everett Silvertips are closing in on a WHL championship, with Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen leading the way.
Everett has rampaged through the first three rounds of the playoffs, losing just one game en route to a WHL Finals matchup against the Prince Albert Raiders. The series begins Friday at Angel of the Winds Arena.
Silvertips are all over the playoff statistical leader board. The top four plus-minus players are ‘Tips. Among goalies who have played in three or more games, Everett netminder Anders Miller is tops in goals-against average (1.79), tied for tops in save percentage (.936), and tied for tops with 12 wins.
This marks the third Silvertips appearance in the WHL Championship, previously appearing in 2004 and 2018. Everett has yet to claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
If the 3rd time’s the charm, the ‘Tips will advance to their first Memorial Cup. Hosted in Kelowna, BC, the round-robin tournament matches the winners of the WHL, OHL, QMJHL, and the host Kelowna Rockets. The Memorial Cup begins Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 31.
Season-Long Excellence
Everett excelled in every possible way this season. The ‘Tips record of 57-8-3 for 117 points was the best in franchise history. They had the WHL’s best road record, and tied for the best home record. Their offense finished 3rd, their defense 2nd. Both power play and penalty kill finished top-4. Coach Steve Hamilton was named coach of the year.
From CHL.ca: “The Silvertips have been led by 16-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont, who has recorded 17 points in 13 playoff games, along with 2026 NHL Draft prospect Matias Vanhanen and Seattle Kraken prospect Julius Miettinen.”
The Hockey News adds, “Miettinen provides the size and net-front presence necessary for playoff hockey. His ability to win puck battles along the wall and disrupt the Raiders’ goaltending will be a key “X-factor” in this series.”
Kraken Prospect A Plus For Silvertips
Kraken 2024 2nd round pick Miettinen has torn through the postseason. He’s scored 10 playoff goals in 13 games, tied for the WHL lead with teammate Vanhanen. The native of Helsinki has eight assists and is +15.
About reaching this year’s Finals, Miettinen said, “It’s a dream come true. We’ve been working for this for the whole season.”
Miettinen hasn’t missed a beat from a stellar regular season. The numbers: 35 goals, 41 assists, 76 points, and an eye-popping +60 in 53 games. Miettinen averaged 1.46 points per game. Five of his goals were game-winners, and 11 were scored on the power play.
He was named league player of the week in February after scoring 11 points in a three-game stretch. Feb. 27, three goals and two assists against the Kamloops Blazers; Feb. 28, two goals, including the overtime winner, against the Seattle Thunderbirds; Mar. 1, two goals and two helpers against the Wenatchee Wild.
For someone putting up such impressive offensive numbers, Miettinen hasn’t neglected the other two zones of the ice. “We like his 200-foot game,” Kraken player development consultant Frans Nielsen told NHL.com. “The way he works at it, his willingness in the defensive zone. His focus on faceoffs is big to him. He wants to be that guy.”
The 6-foot-3, 207 pound center is expected to join the Kraken’s AHL farm team in Coachella Valley next season.
Earlier Kraken:
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