The Everett Silvertips (42-6-2-1) became the first team in the Western Conference to officially clinch a postseason berth following a hard-fought 6-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels at the Marchant Crane Centrium on Tuesday night.   

 It took less than a minute for the Silvertips to assert their dominance. Captain and Anaheim Ducks prospect Tarin Smith set the tone just 51 seconds into the opening frame, rifling a shot from the point through traffic to give Everett the early lead. Minutes later, Matias Vanhanen doubled the cushion with a clinical power-play marker.

Since October, the Silvertips have occupied the No. 1 spot in the CHL Top 10 rankings four separate times, boasting a league-leading 42 wins and a staggering .850 points percentage. 

Carter Bear has evolved into a premier game-breaker. With 23 goals and a league-leading knack for clutch markers, Bear has been the focal point of an Everett power play that currently clicks at a league-best 30.2%. While Landon DuPont has lived up to every ounce of the hype, tallying 45 points in 46 games this season.

Mid-season trades for Zackary Shantz and Luke Vlooswyk provided the necessary support for a deep run. The acquisition of Matias Vanhanen also paid immediate dividends, as the Finnish import currently leads the team with 62 points. 

Since the franchise's inception in 2003-04, the Silvertips have never missed the playoffs—a 22-year run of excellence that is unparalleled in the CHL.