They’re back

  • By Nick Patterson / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, September 30, 2004 9:00pm
  • Sports

EVERETT – Beginning at 7:05 p.m. tonight, the jungle is officially back open for business.

The Everett Silvertips face the Portland Winter Hawks in their 2004-05 home opener tonight, and once again the Everett Events Center is expected to be rocking and rolling, thanks to some of the most enthusiastic fans in the Western Hockey League.

“It’s going to be nuts, it’s going to be amazing,” Everett winger Curtis Billsten said. “When we said we had the best fans in the league, we weren’t kidding, and it will be proven (tonight).”

Four months after watching the Silvertips make an improbable run to the WHL Championship Series as an expansion team, the Everett fans finally get their chance to watch their team play another meaningful game. That pent-up enthusiasm is expected to be unleashed in full force.

“Home openers are always fun,” Everett coach Kevin Constantine said. “The important thing for our guys is to make sure we’re focusing on what we need to do as a team and not get too concerned about the hype. Our job is to go out and do our jobs. But it’s always fun. I think the fans will be excited to have hockey back in the arena, so we’re really looking forward to it. Now we just have to stay with our game plan and not worry too much about the fact it’s our home opener.”

More than 7,000 tickets have been sold for tonight’s game – about 1,000 tickets were still available Thursday. Emotions are expected to run high, and the Silvertips are anxious to see their fans again.

“We all feed off the crowd,” Billsten said. “Games will be going slow and we’ll get one big hit and all of a sudden our fans just start going nuts. We want to have a good game for them, we want to show them a good time. So it fires us up and brings out the best games in the boys.”

There should be a different type of excitement at this season’s home opener. Last year, Everett was an 0-3-1 expansion team in its home opener and the buzz was based on the curiosity surrounding a new team, a new sport and a new building.

But after last season’s success and the way the fans embraced the team – and the fact the Silvertips come into this home opener 2-0 after wins at Kelowna and Kamloops last weekend – this year’s excitement is more about supporting a contending team. That sentiment will be enhanced tonight by a pregame ceremony that includes the raising of banners for winning the U.S. Division championship and the Western Conference championship.

“In a way (the home opener will feel more comfortable than last season) and in a way it won’t,” Everett captain Mitch Love said. “You have to expect there’s going to be a lot more pressure on us this year after the season we had last year. The fans will expect a lot more, where last year the fans didn’t know what they were going to see or what to expect. So in that regard, there’s more pressure. But hopefully we’ll come out here and have a good first five minutes and set the tone for the game.”

And Everett’s success last season has just added fuel to the fire. More than 3,000 season tickets have been sold, which is about 900 more than the team sold at this point last season, and the Silvertips received enthusiastic feedback during the offseason.

“We’ve had tremendous feedback with regards to support from our local fans and the surrounding area,” Everett general manager Doug Soetaert said. “We’ve increased our season-ticket base and increased our corporate sales. It’s been a very, very positive step in year one and we feel very good about what we were able to do last year. But last year was last year. Now we’ve got to move on to this upcoming year. But obviously the fans are the ones who can remember what went on here and want to be a part of what’s going to happen again this year.”

Everett has 10 rookies on its roster this season, so tonight many of the Silvertips will be experiencing the Everett Events Center for the first time.

“They’ve heard a lot of stories,” Billsten said of the rookies. “We talk about our fans all the time and they’ve seen the highlight tape we have, and after seeing that I think they might be even more nervous now after seeing how our fans react. But they’re going to be fine.”

Most importantly, the Silvertips want to use the home opener as a springboard to yet another winning season.

“We have to establish that again this year,” Love said. “It’s a new season and we have new personnel for the fans to cheer on. This is our team for the 2004-05 season and we’re going to try to bring them another run like we did last year.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.