Nicholas Walters with Silvertips GM Doug Soetaert/Photo: Frank Deines III/Everett Silvertips

"The Everett Silvertips are very pleased to have Nicholas as a part of our organization," Soetaert said. "He has a bright future in the game of hockey and we look forward to his continued progress."

The 6'2, 170 pound defenseman was recently named the Alberta Bantam League Defenseman of the year after a season in which he posted four goals and 24 assists for 28 points and 68 penalty minutes in 32 games while playing for the St. Albert Sabres of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League. Described by Silvertips Director of Player Personnel Scott Scoville as a large, rangy defenseman adept at playing in his own zone, Walters also gained valuable experience with the Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy in Kelowna, BC, in which he was immersed in a rigorous training program that combined comprehensive hockey development with high academic and community standards.

"Signing this contract means a lot to me," Walters explained Friday morning at Comcast Arena. "I can't wait to make it back to training camp to play in this building. Everett is my second home, and I look forward to representing the Silvertips."

Ticket packages are on sale for the 2009-10 season which will begin in September. For ticket information, including season seats and mini-plans, please call the Silvertips' front office at (425) 252-5100. As always, radio coverage of Silvertips hockey will be provided by NorthSound 1380 KRKO, while highlights of audio broadcasts, video packages and relevant multimedia will be provided by the Western Hockey League's website, www.whl.ca. Further updates can also be found on the social networking site Twitter, where the Silvertips operate under the handle WHLsilvertips, as well as Facebook under "Official Everett Silvertips".