EVERETT—The Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Everett Silvertips announced new Head Coach, Steve Hamilton, who will begin this upcoming season. Mike Fraser, promoted, will now assume his new role as General Manager for the team.
Dennis Williams, the head coach and general manager last year, left the organization to coach at Bowling Green University, resulting in the recent changes to the organization’s structure.
Fraser, Hamilton, and the Everett Silvertips will begin their quest for a U.S. Division Championship and World Hockey League playoff berth when the season starts this fall. Everett Silvertips opens its season on September 21 against the Vancouver Giants at Downtown Everett’s Angel of the Winds Arena.
Mike Fraser, General Manager
Fraser has been with the Everett organization since 2018 as the head scout. He advanced to director of player personnel in 2021 and assistant general manager in 2022 before becoming general manager of the Silvertips.
“[Mike] Fraser has worked really hard to move up through the WHL. Mike [Fraser] came to us a few years back; he worked with two other organizations in our league and understands the caliber of player needed to be a good junior hockey team,” said Zoran Rajcic, chief operating officer of the Everett Silvertips.
Fraser is eager to leverage his experience with the team in his new role.
“The Silvertips have treated me like family since Day One. I’ve learned a ton here since 2018, and the bonus for me is that the last three seasons working closely with Dennis has helped prepare me for this role,” Fraser said. “With Dennis [Williams] having been both coach and GM, he trusted me to handle a lot of the GM duties already so that more of his focus could be on coaching our club. It was a great way for me to learn some of the ins and outs of this role since coming out of the COVID season.”
Under Fraser’s leadership, fans can expect a hardworking, tenacious, and aggressive style. When searching for a new head coach, Fraser sought someone who would play to that hard-working style and excel at developing young players while achieving success on the ice.
“It’s our goal to continue to develop good young players while building successful teams on the ice and players our community can be proud of,” Fraser said.
Steve Hamilton, Head Coach of Everett Silvertips
After accepting the position in July, Steve Hamilton became the sixth head coach in Silvertips’ history. The Edmonton, Alberta, native joins Everett Silvertips after coaching with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen from 2018 to 2024. In Calgary, Hamilton compiled a 165-152-40 regular season record and led the team to the second round of the WHL playoffs in 2019 and the first round in 2023. Prior to Calgary, Hamilton also coached with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings and in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).
Rajcic, Chief operating officer of the Silvertips, was attracted to Hamilton’s attention to detail and preparation.
“He has a teaching background and has been a coach in the Western Hockey League for 12 seasons and understands what it takes to help mold and develop the young players personally and professionally as people and hockey players,” Rajcic said. Before coaching junior hockey in the AJHL, Hamilton taught for 17 years in public schools and spent 13 years providing on-ice instruction across several age groups.
Hamilton is excited to bring his coaching expertise to the Silvertips, an organization he admires.
“I have always considered Everett one of our league’s best organizations. The building and the crowd create a huge home ice advantage and feed the energy of the players,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton aims to develop a club that works hard and is difficult to play against.
“I want us to have an attacking mindset and put pressure on the puck all over the ice. We have a veteran group of defensemen that I expect to contribute at both ends of the rink and depth at the forward position, allowing us to play a relentless style,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton looks forward to collaborating with the new general manager to create a winning product.
“Mike Fraser and his scouting staff have done a great job finding players that match the identity of the team and bring a high level of skill and grit,” Hamilton said.
As summer draws to a close, Hamilton is eager to work with the players and staff in a highly competitive U.S. Division. He emphasized the need for the team to be focused every game.
Author: Merrick Parnell
