Q: How did the Everett AquaSox do in their 2026 home opener series?
A: The AquaSox dropped four of six games to the Tri-City Dust Devils in their first home series of 2026, including a brutal 17-2 blowout on Opening Night. But this is a deep, prospect-loaded roster returning 22 players from a championship team — the season has plenty of road ahead.

AquaSox Home Opener Was Rough. Here’s Why the 2026 Season Is Still Worth Getting Excited About.

Let’s be honest: that first home series at Funko Field was not fun to watch.

The Tri-City Dust Devils came into Everett and won four out of six games, including a 17-2 wipeout on Opening Night that had fans checking the score in disbelief before the fifth inning. Starter Taylor Dollard gave up six earned runs in two-and-two-thirds innings. A reliever got touched for five runs in less than an inning. The AquaSox were down 10-0 before they recorded their first hit.

It was bad. Manager Ryan Scott put the most optimistic spin he could on it — “games just aren’t going to go your way, and I really just want to see how the boys are going to compete” — and honestly, that’s the right lens for early April in the High-A Northwest League. Rough starts happen. What matters is what comes next.

And what comes next, starting this weekend, is a lot of reasons to get back to Funko Field.

This Is a Championship Team Coming Back

The 2026 AquaSox returned 22 players from the squad that won the 2025 Northwest League Championship. Twenty-two. That kind of continuity is rare in minor league baseball, where rosters churn constantly as players climb organizational ladders or get released. This group knows Everett, knows Funko Field, knows how to win together. The 17-2 loss doesn’t erase a championship; it’s four games in a 132-game season.

Context matters in the minors: player development is the mission, not the win-loss record. The Mariners sent these players to Everett to grow, to face High-A competition, to work through things. A rough first series against a legitimately good Tri-City squad is part of the process. The Dust Devils swept everyone this week.

Five Top-30 Mariners Prospects Are on This Roster

Here’s the real reason to keep coming to games: the Mariners pipeline is running through Funko Field right now, and it’s loaded.

Jonny Farmelo (Mariners’ No. 6 prospect) is back for a second taste of High-A after hitting .230 with 13 extra-base hits in 29 games last year. The tools are real — this is the kind of outfield prospect that shows up in Baseball America previews for a reason. Watch him turn on a fastball and you’ll understand why the Mariners are patient with his development.

Felnin Celesten (No. 7) is another outfield piece getting High-A reps after showing flashes at the lower levels. Both he and Farmelo have the athleticism that makes even a routine defensive play worth watching.

Luke Stevenson (No. 8) may be the most intriguing player on the roster. Selected 35th overall in the 2025 Draft out of UNC, Stevenson is a catcher — the hardest position to develop in baseball — who hit .280 with 23 walks in his professional debut at Single-A Modesto. Patient, high-IQ backstops who can hit are worth watching at every level. He drove in Everett’s first run of the home opener with a sacrifice fly. That’s the kind of small thing that tells you about a player’s makeup.

Carlos Jimenez (No. 21) and right-hander Lucas Kelly (No. 29) round out the top-30 contingent. The pitching development story at Everett this year will be worth tracking all season.

Some Bright Spots From the Rough Start

Even in the blowout series, a few players showed up. Josh Caron went 2-for-4 in Opening Night and ripped a triple. Axel Sanchez also went 2-for-4. These are the kinds of individual performance moments that make minor league baseball fun even when the scoreboard isn’t cooperating — watching a kid fight for his at-bat when the game is already out of hand says something about what kind of player he’s going to be.

The Rest of the Schedule Is Full of Reasons to Come Out

The AquaSox play 66 home games this season, running all the way into September. The Northwest League schedule is packed with rival affiliates — Tri-City, Spokane, Vancouver, Hillsboro, Everett knows all of them. The Mariners’ top prospects will be churning through this roster all summer, and some of the players you watch on a Tuesday night in April will be in Safeco Field by September or next spring.

Funko Field is also just a great place to watch baseball. It’s a short walk from downtown Everett, it’s affordable, and on a clear evening in June with the mountains out, there’s nowhere better to spend a Tuesday night in Snohomish County. Don’t let a rough first week of April keep you away.

The Honest Take

Yes, going 1-3 at home to open the year hurts a little, especially after a championship. And losing 17-2 on Opening Night in front of the home fans is embarrassing by any standard. The AquaSox need to sort out their pitching depth — six earned runs in under three innings from your starter is not acceptable even in April.

But this is April baseball in the minors. A roster full of returning champions, five top-30 Mariners prospects, and a manager who’s talking about watching his players compete through adversity — that’s the foundation. The AquaSox are worth your attention all summer long. Come out when the weather breaks, bring the kids, and watch a future Mariner figure it out in real time. That’s the whole deal.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the AquaSox play their next home games?

The AquaSox continue their home schedule at Funko Field throughout April. Check milb.com/everett for the full 2026 schedule and upcoming promotions.

Where is Funko Field located?

Funko Field (Everett Memorial Stadium) is located at 3802 Broadway in Everett, WA. It’s a short walk from downtown Everett.

Which Seattle Mariners prospects are on the 2026 AquaSox roster?

Five Mariners Top-30 prospects are on the 2026 roster: Jonny Farmelo (#6), Felnin Celesten (#7), Luke Stevenson (#8), Carlos Jimenez (#21), and Lucas Kelly (#29).

Are the AquaSox still defending champions?

Yes — the AquaSox won the 2025 Northwest League Championship. They returned 22 players from that championship squad to the 2026 roster.

Who manages the AquaSox in 2026?

Ryan Scott is the AquaSox manager for 2026. He also managed the 2025 championship team.

How many home games do the AquaSox play at Funko Field?

The AquaSox play 66 home games at Funko Field across the 2026 High-A Northwest League season, running from April through September.

Q: When do the Everett Silvertips start their second-round playoff series?
A: The Silvertips host the Kelowna Rockets in Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11. Puck drop is expected around 7:05 PM PT both nights.

Silvertips vs. Rockets Round 2 Preview: Everything You Need to Know Before Friday’s Puck Drop

The Everett Silvertips are back on home ice this weekend, and this time the stakes are even higher. After dismantling the Portland Winterhawks in a four-game first-round sweep, the WHL’s top regular-season team hosts the Kelowna Rockets in Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals at Angel of the Winds Arena. Friday, April 10. Saturday, April 11. Get your gear on and get loud, Everett.

This is not a series to sleep on. Both teams arrive at Round 2 unbeaten in the playoffs. Both swept their first-round opponents. And this is the matchup the WHL has been quietly circling since the regular season ended — the league’s best team against the host of this spring’s Memorial Cup.

How the Silvertips Got Here

Everett’s Round 1 performance was a statement. The Silvertips outscored the Portland Winterhawks 25-8 across four games, with 14 different skaters finding the back of the net. It was the kind of balanced, deep offensive performance that makes coaches lose sleep — you can’t key on one or two guys when everybody can score.

Leading scorer Carter Bear was everywhere, notching six goals in the four-game sweep. Forward Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen each finished with six points as well, combining for seven goals between them. And goaltender Anders Miller was virtually untouchable — a 1.08 goals-against average, a .954 save percentage, and one shutout in Game 3 when he turned aside 19 shots in a 7-0 blanking of Portland.

Oh, and by the way: Everett had lost to Portland in three consecutive postseasons before this year. That weight is gone. The Silvertips swept the Winterhawks for the first time since 2016, and they did it by scoring six unanswered in Game 4 after spotting Portland a 2-0 lead. That comeback tells you something about the character in this locker room.

Who Are the Kelowna Rockets?

Don’t let the fourth-seed fool you. Kelowna is dangerous, and their Round 1 stats against the Kamloops Blazers are frankly alarming: 25 goals for, just 5 against in a four-game sweep. That’s a plus-20 goal differential. For context, Everett went plus-17 in their sweep. The Rockets are on a run right now.

The offensive engine is the duo of Vojtech Cihar and Tij Iginla — and yes, that Iginla. Tij is the son of Hall-of-Famer Jarome Iginla, and he’s been every bit as dynamic in Round 1. Both players finished the Blazers series with 10 points each. Cihar went 6 goals and 4 assists. Iginla went 5 goals and 5 assists. When two players are combining for 20 points in four playoff games, the rest of the league takes notice.

On the power play, Kelowna converted at a sizzling 29.4% in Round 1 — nearly double Everett’s 14.3% rate. That’s the matchup to watch. If the Rockets get chances on the man advantage early in this series and cash them, they will absolutely test Angel of the Winds Arena’s nerves.

The Silvertips’ Edge: Anders Miller and the Penalty Kill

Here’s the chess match of this series: Kelowna’s power play is elite. Everett’s penalty kill is elite. Something has to give.

Miller enters Round 2 with a 1.25 GAA and a .947 save percentage — numbers that would make any playoff goaltender blush. The Silvertips’ penalty kill operated at 90.0% in Round 1, while Kelowna’s sat at just 70.0%. If Everett can keep its discipline, stay out of the box, and make Kelowna beat them five-on-five, the Silvertips’ goaltending edge should hold.

But Kelowna’s goalie, Harrison Boettiger, shouldn’t be dismissed either. He posted a 2.00 GAA and .934 save percentage in Round 1 — solid numbers that helped the Rockets cruise. He just hasn’t been tested the way Miller has.

The Regular-Season History Is Deceiving

Everett went 4-0 against Kelowna in the regular season. That sounds dominant, but three of those four games were decided by a single goal, including an overtime finish in late February. These teams know each other, and they know it doesn’t take much to flip a result. That 4-0 record does not mean a four-game sweep is coming.

Historically, the clubs have met three times in the postseason. Everett won in 2004 and 2006. Kelowna won a seven-game first-round battle in 2010. There’s no recent precedent to lean on heavily — these teams have changed dramatically since then — but the Rockets have beaten the Silvertips in the playoffs before, and they remember it.

The Memorial Cup Wrinkle

This series has an added layer that makes it genuinely interesting from a narrative standpoint: Kelowna is the 2026 Memorial Cup host. That means if the Rockets advance far enough, they’ve essentially secured home ice at the most prestigious event in Canadian junior hockey. The host city and organization have a built-in incentive to stay alive deep into May. That’s not nothing. That’s extra fuel.

For Everett, the Silvertips have never won a WHL Championship. They’ve been close — deep playoff runs, strong regular seasons — but the banner hasn’t gone up. This team, right now, with this goalie and this balanced attack, might be the best shot Everett has had. The home crowd at Angel of the Winds Arena has a chance to be part of something historic this spring. It starts Friday night.

Full Round 2 Schedule

• Game 1: Friday, April 10 — Kelowna at Everett, Angel of the Winds Arena
• Game 2: Saturday, April 11 — Kelowna at Everett, Angel of the Winds Arena
• Game 3: Tuesday, April 14 — Everett at Kelowna, Prospera Place
• Game 4: Wednesday, April 15 — Everett at Kelowna, Prospera Place
• Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, April 17 — Kelowna at Everett
• Game 6 (if necessary): Sunday, April 19 — Everett at Kelowna
• Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, April 21 — Kelowna at Everett

Tickets for Games 1 and 2 are available through Ticketmaster and the Les Schwab Box Office at the arena. Call (425) 322-2600 for group sales.

The Bottom Line

This is a legitimate test for Everett. Kelowna has weapons, a mission, and a power play that can take over a game. The Silvertips have the league’s best regular-season record, a goalie playing out of his mind, and two home games to open the series in front of the loudest building in the U.S. Division of the WHL.

Pack Angel of the Winds Arena. The Silvertips are right where they want to be — and this series is going to be worth every minute.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the Silvertips play this weekend?

Game 1 is Friday, April 10, and Game 2 is Saturday, April 11, both at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. Puck drop is around 7:05 PM PT both nights.

Where can I buy tickets to Silvertips playoff games?

Tickets are available on Ticketmaster and through the Les Schwab Box Office at Angel of the Winds Arena. Call (425) 322-2600 for group ticket information.

Who are the Kelowna Rockets’ best players?

Vojtech Cihar and Tij Iginla are Kelowna’s most dangerous forwards. Both had 10-point rounds against Kamloops in Round 1. Iginla is the son of NHL Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla.

How did the Silvertips do in Round 1?

Everett swept the Portland Winterhawks in four games, outscoring them 25-8. Fourteen different skaters scored at least one goal. Goaltender Anders Miller posted a 1.08 GAA and .954 save percentage with one shutout.

What is the Kelowna Rockets’ connection to the Memorial Cup?

Kelowna is the host city for the 2026 Memorial Cup, the WHL’s most prestigious championship event. As hosts, the Rockets have an automatic berth if they advance deep enough in the playoffs.

Has Everett ever beaten Kelowna in the WHL playoffs before?

Yes — Everett defeated Kelowna in the 2004 Western Conference Final and again in the 2006 second round. Kelowna won the only other postseason meeting between the clubs, a seven-game first-round series in 2010.

What is Anders Miller’s save percentage in the 2026 WHL Playoffs?

Through Round 1, Miller posted a .954 save percentage and a 1.08 goals-against average with one shutout in four wins. He enters Round 2 as one of the best goalies remaining in the WHL playoffs.

Is Angel of the Winds Arena easy to get to?

Yes. Angel of the Winds Arena is located in downtown Everett at 2000 Hewitt Avenue and is accessible via I-5 and Everett Transit. Parking is available in nearby surface lots and garages.

What’s happening: Naval Station Everett was promised 12 next-generation Constellation-class frigates that would have reshaped the base for decades. In late 2025, the Navy cancelled the program. Now, Snohomish County leaders have rebooted a Military Affairs Committee to fight for NAVSTA Everett’s future — and the stakes couldn’t be higher for Everett’s economy and identity.

A Promise Made, A Promise Broken

For years, Naval Station Everett had something rare in the defense world: a guarantee. In June 2021, the U.S. Navy formally announced that NAVSTA Everett would become the homeport for the first 12 Constellation-class guided-missile frigates (FFG-62), a new class of ships designed to restore America’s frigate capability and project naval power across the Pacific. It was a transformative commitment — the kind that brings hundreds of sailors, their families, infrastructure investment, and long-term economic stability to a military town.

That commitment is now off the table.

On November 25, 2025, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program beyond its first two ships. His reasoning was blunt: the program was delivering only about 60 percent of a destroyer’s capability at roughly 80 percent of the cost, while running years behind schedule and hundreds of millions over budget. The first ship — USS Constellation (FFG-62) — was only approximately 12 percent complete and had slipped from a projected 2026 delivery to an estimated 2029 arrival, according to a November 2025 report to Congress.

For Everett, the cancellation wasn’t just a Navy procurement headline. It was a direct blow to the community’s vision of its own future.

What NAVSTA Everett Means to Snohomish County

Naval Station Everett isn’t just a base on the waterfront — it’s one of the largest economic engines in Snohomish County. The installation is home to approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian employees, and the Navy’s own regional estimates put the total annual economic impact of military operations in Snohomish County at roughly $340 million.

That figure includes everything from housing and groceries to car purchases, school enrollment, and the spending of military families throughout the county. The base sits among the top ten largest employers in the region — and when you add in the support contractors, service businesses, and retail that cater to the military community, the ripple effect is enormous.

The promise of 12 new frigates wasn’t just about ships. It was a roadmap for sustained growth: new sailors relocating to Everett, new housing demand, infrastructure upgrades to the base’s piers and support facilities, and the long-term certainty that NAVSTA Everett would remain a cornerstone of the Pacific Fleet. The cancellation stripped that roadmap away.

Snohomish County Fights Back: The Rebooted Military Affairs Committee

Everett’s response has been swift and organized. The Economic Alliance Snohomish County — the region’s primary economic development and advocacy organization — has resurrected its Military Affairs Committee specifically to advocate for Naval Station Everett in the wake of the frigate cancellation.

The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) serves as the county’s formal liaison to military affairs at every level — from local community support for sailors and their families all the way up to congressional offices and the Pentagon itself. The committee’s relaunch signals that Snohomish County isn’t prepared to sit back and watch Everett’s naval future be decided in Washington, D.C., without a local voice at the table.

This is exactly the kind of advocacy that can matter. Homeporting decisions for major naval vessels aren’t made years in advance — they’re typically made much closer to a ship’s commissioning date, which means there’s a real window for Everett to make its case for the new FF(X) frigate program now being developed by the Navy.

What Is the FF(X) — And Could It Come to Everett?

The Navy didn’t abandon the frigate concept when it killed the Constellation-class program. On December 19, 2025, Secretary Phelan announced the FF(X) program — a new frigate initiative that will be based on the design of the U.S. Coast Guard’s proven Legend-class National Security Cutter. The first FF(X) will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries at its Pascagoula, Mississippi facility, with a target of having the first hull in the water by 2028.

The FY2026 defense appropriations bill, passed in February 2026, included $242 million in long-lead funding for the FF(X) program — canceling the last four planned Constellation-class frigates to redirect those resources to the new design. The Navy is planning 50 to 65 ships across multiple production flights, a fleet-building commitment that dwarfs the original Constellation program in scope.

Where those ships will be homeported is not yet decided. That’s the opening Everett is fighting for. The infrastructure already exists at NAVSTA Everett — piers, maintenance facilities, family support services, and a community that knows how to support a naval fleet. The argument for keeping Everett as the Pacific homeport for the new frigates is strong, but it won’t make itself.

What Happens to the First Two Constellation-Class Ships?

Under the cancellation plan, the first two Constellation-class frigates — currently under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin — remain in progress, at least for now. But even those ships are under review. The Navy has not committed to completing them, and no homeport designation has been announced for either vessel. A Navy spokesperson confirmed to the Everett Daily Herald that no decision has been made on where those ships would be based if they are completed.

For Everett, this creates a layered uncertainty: the 12-ship promise is gone, the replacement program hasn’t designated homeports, and even the two surviving Constellation-class hulls are in limbo. That’s a lot of open questions for a community that had counted on a frigate fleet as part of its identity.

The Military Community Stays Strong

Amid the policy uncertainty, one thing isn’t changing: NAVSTA Everett remains an active, operational base with a dedicated military community. The base’s seven guided-missile destroyers continue their rotation of deployments and homecomings. The Fleet & Family Support Center continues serving sailors and their families. The base’s MWR programs, its connections to local schools, and its community presence remain intact.

Everett has always understood that being a military town means riding waves of policy change. Bases are built up and scaled back according to strategic priorities that shift with administrations, budgets, and geopolitical realities. What distinguishes communities that thrive through those changes is active advocacy — and that’s exactly what the rebooted Military Affairs Committee represents.

The fight for NAVSTA Everett’s future is just beginning. And if history is any guide, this community won’t go quietly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Go Deeper: We’ve published detailed knowledge nodes expanding on this story for specific Everett audiences:

• NAVSTA Everett After the Frigate Cancellation: A Complete Guide to What’s at Stake
• What the Frigate Cancellation Means for Military Families at NAVSTA Everett
• Snohomish County’s $340M Fight: How Local Leaders Are Responding to the NAVSTA Frigate Loss

Quick Answer: The Everett AquaSox opened their 2026 home schedule on April 7 with a tough 17-2 loss to the Tri-City Dust Devils. Don’t panic — this is the defending Northwest League champion team with five top-30 Mariners prospects, and one rough night doesn’t define a long season.

Look, nobody said defending a championship was going to be easy. The Everett AquaSox opened their 2026 home schedule Tuesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium and ran into a buzzsaw — dropping their home opener to the Tri-City Dust Devils 17-2 in front of 1,414 fans. It was ugly. It was not representative of what this team is capable of. And if you’re an AquaSox fan, you already know: one game in April does not a season make.

Here’s what actually matters as the AquaSox settle into their first homestand of 2026.

What Happened Opening Night

The numbers were rough. Tri-City jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, extended it to 10-0 through three, and kept piling on. By the time the night was over, the Dust Devils had put up 17 runs against an AquaSox pitching staff that just didn’t have it on Tuesday.

For Everett, the highlights were few but real. Josh Caron grounded a triple down the left-field line in the fourth inning — a reminder of the kind of contact hitters the AquaSox have on this roster. Luke Stevenson drove in the first AquaSox run with a sacrifice fly. And in the bottom of the eighth, Jonny Farmelo launched a 381-foot solo home run to make it 17-2.

It’s a box score you’d rather forget. But before you write off this team, let’s talk about what they’re actually working with.

The 2026 AquaSox Roster Is Stacked With Mariners Prospects

The Everett AquaSox roster for 2026 is legitimately exciting for anyone who follows the Mariners’ farm system. This is a team built to compete — 22 returners from the 2025 Northwest League Championship squad, plus five of the Mariners’ Top-30 prospects and eight newcomers.

Here’s who to watch this summer at Everett Memorial Stadium:

Jonny Farmelo — Outfielder, Mariners No. 6 Prospect

Farmelo is the name everyone in the Mariners system is talking about. A left-handed hitter with real power (that 381-foot blast on Opening Night was no fluke), he’s back in Everett for his second taste of High-A baseball after battling through an ACL tear in 2024 and a stress reaction in his ribs in 2025. In 29 games last year, he hit .230 with 13 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. If he stays healthy in 2026, expect those numbers to look a lot better over a full season. He has the tools to move quickly through the system.

Felnin Celesten — Shortstop, Mariners No. 7 Prospect

Celesten is one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire Mariners organization — a switch-hitter at shortstop with serious upside. He got a brief taste of High-A last August (11 games), and now he’s back for a full season. The switch-hitting ability alone makes him valuable; add the defensive profile at short and you’ve got a guy who could be a key piece of Seattle’s future middle infield. Watch him closely in this homestand.

Luke Stevenson — Catcher, Top-10 Prospect

Stevenson drove in the AquaSox’s first run of the home season on Tuesday. He’s a catching prospect in the Mariners’ top 10 — a position where Seattle is actively building for the future. Behind the plate and at the dish, Stevenson is someone to follow all season long.

Carlos Jimenez — Outfielder, Mariners No. 21 Prospect

The 21st-ranked prospect in Seattle’s system, Jimenez adds another outfield bat to an already deep lineup. He’s one of the newcomers joining the returning championship core, and he’s coming in with something to prove.

Lucas Kelly — Right-Handed Pitcher, Mariners No. 29 Prospect

The Mariners need pitching depth like every organization does, and Kelly is one of the arms to watch this summer. On a night like Opening Night when the staff struggled, it’s easy to be critical — but over a full season, seeing how prospects like Kelly develop is exactly why you watch High-A baseball.

22 Champions Are Back — And That Matters

This isn’t a retooling project. Twenty-two players who won the 2025 Northwest League Championship are back in Everett uniforms this season. That’s continuity, that’s chemistry, and that’s a roster that already knows what it takes to win in the Northwest League.

Defending champions in minor league baseball always carry a target on their back — opposing teams game-plan for them, and there’s added pressure every night. One blowout in a six-game series at home doesn’t change who this team is.

For context: the AquaSox went 3-3 in their opening road series in Spokane before returning home. They picked up their first win of 2026 with a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Indians, powered by home runs from Josh Caron, Carter Dorighi, and Jonny Farmelo. The pitching showed its depth in that game, with Evan Truitt going 4.2 innings and Christian Little adding two shutout frames with five strikeouts.

These guys can play ball.

The 2026 Home Schedule: What’s Coming Up

The AquaSox play Tri-City again through Sunday, April 12, at Everett Memorial Stadium. After that, they’ll continue the home schedule through the summer. Everett Memorial Stadium remains one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest to watch live baseball — affordable tickets, a great atmosphere, and now a roster loaded with legitimate Mariners prospects worth tracking for years to come.

Tickets and the full schedule are available at milb.com/everett.

Tuesday was one bad night. The season is 132 games long. Come out to the ballpark and watch what this group can do when everything clicks — because with this much prospect talent, it’s going to be a fun summer in Everett.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 AquaSox

Quick Answer: The Everett Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks 4-0 in Round 1 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs, outscoring them 25-5. They now face the Kelowna Rockets in Round 2, with Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11.

The Everett Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks out of the playoffs like they weren’t even there. Twenty-five goals. Four games. Zero losses. Now, the best team in the Western Hockey League all season is heading into Round 2 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs — and the party starts right here at Angel of the Winds Arena this Friday night.

If you haven’t been paying attention to this Silvertips squad all year, now is the time to start. This is a team playing playoff hockey at a different level than everyone else.

The First Round Was a Statement

Let’s recap what the Silvertips just did to Portland, because it deserves a moment.

Game 1: 8-1. Eight goals. They didn’t ease into the playoffs — they detonated.

Game 2: 4-1. Four unanswered goals after falling behind.

Game 3: 7-0. Seven different skaters scored. A shutout. A statement.

Game 4: Down 2-0 in Portland, they scored six unanswered to win 6-3. Forward Zackary Shantz finished with a three-point night (1G, 2A) to seal the comeback.

Final tally: 25 goals for, 5 against in a four-game sweep. The Silvertips outscored Portland by twenty goals. That’s not a series — that’s a message to the rest of the Western Conference. This was the Silvertips’ first playoff series sweep since 2016 — and fittingly, it was also against the Winterhawks back then.

What Makes the 2026 Silvertips So Dangerous

The Silvertips entered the postseason as the regular season’s top team — winners of the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best record-holder — and the third-highest scoring team in the league. They’ve got a balanced attack that makes them nearly impossible to key on.

Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen have been the offensive engines in the playoffs so far, combining for 13 points (7 goals) through four games. Both players carried their strong regular-season form right into the postseason without missing a beat.

Carter Bear is the name to watch in this series. Against Kelowna in the regular season, Bear was flat-out dominant — 8 points on 5 goals and 3 assists in just four games. If that production carries over, the Rockets are going to have a very hard time containing him.

The Silvertips don’t just have one line. Seven different goal-scorers in Game 3 tells you everything you need to know about how this team is built.

The Opponent: Kelowna Rockets Bring Playoff Motivation

The Kelowna Rockets are not a team to sleep on. They swept the Kamloops Blazers in Round 1 and they’ll be playing with extra motivation as the host of the 2026 Memorial Cup. For Kelowna, every game this spring is a warmup for the biggest junior hockey tournament on the continent being played in their own building.

The Rockets’ top weapons are Vojtec Cihar and Tij Iginla, who combined for 11 goals and 20 points in the first round against Kamloops. Both players got hot at exactly the right time.

But here’s the thing: the Silvertips dominated Kelowna during the regular season. Everett went 4-0 against the Rockets in their regular-season matchups. Kelowna knows they’re facing an uphill battle — their own local press is acknowledging as much.

2026 WHL Playoffs Round 2 Schedule: Silvertips vs. Rockets

This is your window to be part of something special in person. The series opens in Everett with back-to-back home games:

• Game 1 — Friday, April 10 at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
• Game 2 — Saturday, April 11 at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
• Game 3 — Tuesday, April 14 at Prospera Place, Kelowna
• Game 4 — Wednesday, April 15 at Prospera Place, Kelowna
• Game 5 (if needed) — Friday, April 17
• Game 6 (if needed) — Sunday, April 19
• Game 7 (if needed) — Tuesday, April 21

Angel of the Winds Arena playoff hockey is some of the best live sports entertainment in the Pacific Northwest. The building gets loud, the energy is real, and the Silvertips have given their fans every reason to pack the house this weekend. Tickets are available at everettsilvertips.com and through the Angel of the Winds Arena box office.

Why This Run Feels Different

Being the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy winner means you had the best record in the WHL all season. That’s not luck — that’s consistency across 68 regular-season games. And then to open the playoffs by outscoring your opponent 25-5 in a sweep? That’s dominance.

The Silvertips have the offensive depth to grind teams down, the defensive structure to protect leads, and the playoff experience to handle adversity. That 6-3 comeback in Game 4 at Portland — down 2-0 on the road — is the mentality of a team that believes it’s going to win.

Kelowna has the motivation of the Memorial Cup and two dangerous forwards who can change games. This should be a quality second round. But right now, the Silvertips are the hottest team in the WHL, and they’re playing their next two games at home.

Get to the arena Friday night.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Silvertips 2026 Playoff Run

Q: What happened to the frigates coming to Naval Station Everett?
A: The Navy cancelled the Constellation-class frigate program in November 2025 after years of cost overruns and construction delays, ending a plan to homeport 12 new ships in Everett. Local leaders are now fighting to ensure the base secures a role in whatever comes next.

Naval Station Everett’s Fight for Its Future After the Frigate Program Collapse

For years, Naval Station Everett had a clearly defined destiny: become the Pacific homeport for 12 brand-new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates, transforming the base into one of the most significant surface combatant hubs on the West Coast. The frigates would bring thousands of additional sailors and their families to Snohomish County, generate billions in economic activity, and cement Everett’s identity as a Navy town well into the 21st century.

Then, on November 25, 2025, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan posted a message on social media: the Constellation-class frigate program was over.

The cancellation sent shockwaves through the Everett community — and set off a scramble that’s still playing out today.

What Happened to the Constellation-Class Frigates

The Constellation-class frigate program, designated FFG-62, was supposed to be the Navy’s answer to a capability gap in its surface fleet: a capable, affordable, medium-sized warship that could be produced faster and cheaper than the larger DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Congress funded the program starting in 2020, and in 2021 the Navy selected Naval Station Everett as the future homeport for all 12 ships.

The problems began almost immediately. Construction of the lead ship, USS Constellation (FFG-62), began at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Wisconsin — but the program struggled from the start to complete its functional design. Without design stability, construction stalled. By May 2024, the Government Accountability Office found that the first ship was running approximately three years behind its original schedule, with delivery pushed to at least April 2029 instead of the originally planned July 2026.

Costs climbed alongside the delays. The lead ship had gained nearly 759 tons of additional weight compared to original specifications, and the price tag ballooned. Secretary Phelan’s blunt assessment: “The Constellation-class frigate was canceled because, candidly, it didn’t make sense anymore to build it. It was 80 percent of the cost of a destroyer and 60 percent of the capability.”

Construction on the first two ships — USS Constellation (FFG-62) and one follow-on hull — will continue to completion. But homeporting decisions for those ships have not been made, and may not be made until much closer to their eventual commissioning dates. The remaining ships on order have been cancelled entirely.

What It Means for Everett

Naval Station Everett currently employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. The base’s economic footprint touches everything from local housing markets to small businesses that cater to military families.

The frigate program had been expected to dramatically expand that footprint. New personnel would have created demand for thousands of additional housing units, strained and eventually grown local schools, and generated ripple effects throughout the regional economy. The Navy had already secured $19 million from Congress to build 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point — 11 miles north of the main base in Marysville — specifically to prepare for the incoming frigate crews and their families. That construction was anticipated to begin in early 2026.

With the program cancelled, the region now faces a more uncertain equation. The housing investment may still proceed, but the population surge that justified it is on hold. And the question of what Naval Station Everett’s long-term mission will look like — with or without new frigates — is very much unanswered.

Everett Leaders Push Back

The response from Snohomish County’s political and economic leadership has been forceful, if not always optimistic.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), whose district includes Naval Station Everett and who has spent years advocating for the base on Capitol Hill, called the cancellation “disheartening” but immediately redirected his focus toward the future. In an interview in December 2025, Larsen said Naval Station Everett is “uniquely situated” to receive whatever next-generation frigates the Navy ultimately develops — pointing to the same geographic, logistical, and strategic advantages that originally made Everett the Navy’s choice for the Constellation-class ships.

Larsen has since been pressing defense officials to ensure that Everett is at the front of the line when homeporting decisions are made for the Navy’s new FF(X) program — the replacement frigate concept based on the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter. Congress has already appropriated $242 million in long-lead funding for the first FF(X) ships, and the program is moving forward, though no homeporting decisions have been announced.

On the local advocacy front, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County has re-activated its Military Affairs Committee — a group that had previously gone dormant — specifically to serve as what organizers called “a coordinated regional voice that understands both the national security implications and the local economic impacts” of decisions affecting the base. Representatives from the Port of Everett, the City of Everett, Snohomish County government, and the Economic Alliance have all been making trips to Washington, D.C., to make the case for Naval Station Everett’s continued relevance.

The FF(X) Program: Everett’s Next Best Hope

The Navy’s replacement frigate concept, officially called FF(X), represents a significant philosophical shift from the Constellation-class approach. Rather than designing an entirely new ship from scratch — the approach that led to the Constellation’s cost and timeline disasters — the FF(X) will be based on an existing, proven design: the Coast Guard’s 418-foot Legend-class National Security Cutter, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The theory is straightforward: use a design that’s already been built, add naval combat systems, and avoid the years of engineering uncertainty that plagued the Constellation program. The FF(X) program was announced in December 2025, with Huntington Ingalls Industries named as the builder.

No homeporting decisions have been made. The first FF(X) ships won’t be ready for years. But the Navy’s shift to a more producible design gives Everett advocates something concrete to fight for — and a program that at least has a realistic path to completion.

What the Base Means to This Community

Beyond the economics and the politics, it’s worth pausing to remember what Naval Station Everett actually is: a community. Roughly 6,000 service members and their families live, work, and raise children in Snohomish County. They fill the bleachers at high school football games. They shop at local businesses. Their spouses navigate the particular challenges of military life — frequent moves, long deployments, career uncertainty — often far from extended family.

The Everett Vet Center, located at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, provides confidential counseling and support for veterans, service members, and their families. The Snohomish County Veterans’ Assistance Program serves as a single portal for veterans seeking help with emergency financial assistance, employment, and benefits navigation. These aren’t abstract institutions — they’re the connective tissue of a military community that has made its home here.

Whatever happens with frigates and fleet allocations in the years ahead, that community isn’t going anywhere. The men and women of Naval Station Everett serve with distinction. Their families carry significant burdens with quiet strength. And the people of Everett have, by and large, embraced them as neighbors.

That relationship is worth fighting for — which is exactly what Everett’s leaders say they intend to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Naval Station Everett at risk of closing?

There are no current indications of closure. The base remains active with approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian employees. While the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program is a setback, local and congressional leaders are actively advocating for the base to receive future naval assets.

What happened to the 12 frigates that were supposed to come to Everett?

The Constellation-class frigate program was cancelled by the Secretary of the Navy in November 2025 due to construction delays and cost overruns. Only the first two ships (FFG-62 and FFG-63) will be completed; the remaining 10 planned ships have been cancelled.

Will Everett still get new ships?

It’s possible but not confirmed. The Navy has launched a new FF(X) frigate program based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter design. No homeporting decisions have been made, but Rep. Rick Larsen and other local leaders are advocating for Naval Station Everett to be a priority homeport.

What is the FF(X) frigate?

The FF(X) is the Navy’s next-generation small surface combatant, intended to replace the cancelled Constellation-class. It will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries and based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter design. Congress approved $242 million in long-lead funding for the program in early 2026.

What military housing is being built near Naval Station Everett?

Congress approved $19 million to construct 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point (Marysville), originally intended to house families of incoming frigate crews. The status of that construction in light of the frigate cancellation has not been formally announced.

How does Naval Station Everett affect the local economy?

The base employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. Military families’ spending, housing needs, and community engagement generate significant economic activity throughout the region.

What is the Economic Alliance Snohomish County doing about the frigate cancellation?

The Economic Alliance has reactivated its Military Affairs Committee to advocate for the base at the federal level, coordinating with the Port of Everett, City of Everett, and Snohomish County to present a unified regional voice in Washington, D.C.

See also: NAVSTA Everett After the Frigate Collapse: What the Base Fights For Next | What the Frigate Cancellation Means for Military Families at NAVSTA Everett