Silvertips raise money for Boys & Girls Club

LAKEWOOD — Arlington resident Rene White’s granddaughter Kayla stared up at Everett Silvertips defenseman Brennan Yadlowski as he autographed her stuffed bear.

Even with him kneeling and her standing on her grandfather’s lap, the curly-haired, scruffy-chinned young hockey player towered a full head over the little girl in the miniature Silvertips cheerleader’s uniform.

“This is just fantastic,” White said. “I’ve been a fan of the Silvertips since they started, so seeing the faces of these kids as they get to meet the players who they root and cheer for is great.”

White and his granddaughter were among the many area families who showed up at Boston’s Pizza in Lakewood on Jan. 24 to help the Everett Silvertips raise an evening total of $1,105 for local Boys & Girls Clubs. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the Silvertips turned out to work as hosts, servers and doormen at the restaurant as part of the second “Tip a ‘Tip Night” this season.

Sam Milich and Seth Brisendine came all the way from Stanwood to have Silvertips defenseman Evan Morden autograph their hockey sticks, while young Arlington fan Tristan Eagen had a shirt autographed by center Ryan Harrison. Defenseman Ryan Murray pitched in by grating Parmesan cheese over customers’ pizzas, and center Clayton Cumiskey even found the time to sit down and chat with customers like Patrycia Sulewski of Edmonds.

Silvertips goaltender Kent Simpson had taken part in the previous “Tip a ‘Tip Night” in Everett, and he remained enthusiastic about the event even as he bused tables in Lakewood.

“The hardest thing to deal with is the heat,” Simpson said. “I don’t know how these folks lift all these heavy trays, much less balance them. Still, it’s pretty cool to interact with the fans, and to let them see us doing things like this where we’re out of our element, using cheese-graters and pepper-shakers.”

Silvertips radio announcer Jon Rosen noted that Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the region have seen drastic cuts in funding, and brought Silvertips mascot Lincoln the bear with the team to help encourage attendance and donations. The Silvertips also offered raffle-prizes ranging from game-used equipment to tours of the Silvertips locker room, rides on the Silvertips “Fanboni” and chances to watch the team warm up and practice.

“We just want to thank the community for all its support,” said Simpson, who’s staying with a billet family in Everett. “Helping to support the Boys & Girls Clubs is one way of doing that. It’s great that this community works so well together.”

Contact Arlington Times Reporter Kirk Boxleitner at kboxleitner@marysvilleglobe.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5052.

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