Everett Silvertips Win First WHL Championship in History

The Everett Silvertips made history Friday night, capturing their first WHL Championship in franchise history with a convincing 7-2 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders. After more than two decades of near misses, the team finally brought home the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The Silvertips dominated from the opening faceoff, scoring just 68 seconds into the game and never looking back. By the end of the first period, they led 2-0 while holding Prince Albert to just five shots on goal.

The feel-good story of the night belonged to 18-year-old forward Shea Busch. He missed most of the regular season after suffering a wrist injury in late October, despite scoring 13 goals in his first 12 games.

Busch stayed positive through months of recovery, determined to return for the playoffs. His patience paid off in the best way possible when he scored a hat trick in the championship-clinching game, including both the opening goal and two late scores that sealed the victory.

Goaltender Anders Miller capped off an incredible playoff run with the win, finishing the postseason with a 16-1-1 record. Julius Miettinen earned playoff MVP honors after leading all players with 27 points in 18 games.

The 2025-26 Silvertips finished with 57 regular season wins, establishing themselves as one of the greatest teams in WHL history. Head coach Steve Hamilton, who had won two previous championships as an assistant coach, warned his team that closing out the series would be the hardest game of the season.

Why This Inspires

This championship represents the power of patience and perseverance paying off. For a franchise that had come close before but never quite reached the summit, the Silvertips showed that staying the course eventually leads to breakthrough moments.

Busch's journey from injured star to championship hero reminds us that setbacks don't define us. His positive attitude during recovery and triumphant return in the biggest game possible proves that maintaining hope through difficult times can lead to the sweetest victories.

The Silvertips finally have their championship, and an entire community gets to celebrate a dream 23 years in the making.