EVERETT – The Everett Silvertips and Everett Youth Hockey (EYH) today announced the hiring of former Silvertips forward and NHL prospect Kellan Tochkin as the new Head Coach of the Jr. Silvertips 16U AAA team. Tochkin will conclude his professional playing career to take over the coaching reigns for the second year of the Jr. Silvertips Tier I elite midget program, where he will be assisted by Tyler Narsing (also an Assistant for the 16U AA Jr. Silvertips) and EYH General Manager Jerry Weir.

Tochkin, 24, brings a great deal of hockey experience to the coaching ranks following a successful playing career. A first-round WHL Bantam Draft pick of the Silvertips in 2006, he went on to play 185 games for the ‘Tips over parts of four seasons. He totaled 178 points in that time (65g/113a) along with a +30 rating and 133 penalty minutes and signed a free-agent NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks in 2009. Tochkin finished his junior career with stints in Medicine Hat and Prince Albert before going on to play the past three seasons professionally in the Central Hockey League, ECHL and in Sweden.

“It’s very exciting to get a coach who has – very recently – played at a level all of our players hope to achieve and for which we are training them,” said EYH General Manager Jerry Weir. “He understands the players’ view extremely well and has also played for some exceptional coaches, who have served as mentors and helped guide him toward the coaching profession. Welcoming Kellan back to the Silvertips family is satisfying, and it’s great to see how the ‘Tips staff has embraced the opportunity to assist him in learning and becoming an outstanding coach as well.”

In addition to his Silvertips coaches (Kevin Constantine, John Becanic and Craig Hartsburg), Tochkin also learned the game from other proven bench bosses such as Shaun Clouston of the Medicine Hat Tigers, Scott Hillman of the ECHL’s Missouri Mavericks, Greg Poss of the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and Jeff Pyle of the ECHL’s Evansville Icemen. The Abbotsford, BC native also served as a Team Leader for the Under-17 BC Hockey Development Camp in 2009 and was an Assistant Coach for the Langley Bulldogs summer hockey team in 2010 along with other volunteer-oriented experience working with kids in Everett and other communities in which he has played.

Jr. Silvertips tryouts for the 2015-16 16U AAA team are set for the weekend of June 5 – 7. The opening session will be held on Friday, June 5 at 5:15 pm at XFINITY Arena in Everett. Additional sessions will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 7:45 am and 9:00 am, with the final Green and Grey game scheduled for Sunday at 8:15 am.

CLICK HERE to register for 2015-16 Jr. Silvertips 16U AAA tryouts.

The Silvertips are currently preparing for the 13th season of WHL hockey in Everett in 2015-16. To keep up with all the latest Silvertips news and information throughout the offseason, visit www.everettsilvertips.com, “like” the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club on Facebook or follow @WHLSilvertips on Twitter. For questions, call the team office at 425-252-5100.