Vipers Alumni Help Silvertips Advance To Western Hockey League Finals:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Shea Busch, former Vernon Vipers forward Curtis

Fraser, former Vernon Vipers tryout Brooks Christensen and former Vernon Vipers Assistant Coach Chris Shaw & the Everett Silvertips advanced to the Western Hockey League Finals on Tuesday eliminating the Penticton Vees 4-2 in the Conference Finals winning the best of 7 series 4-0. The Silvertips will face the winner between Medicine Hat & Prince Albert.

Image credit: Everett Silvertips

Source: https://chl.ca/

Everett Silvertips eliminate Vees, advance to 2026 WHL Championship Series – Western Hockey League

Busch is in his second season with the Everett Silvertips. In 12 regular season games, Busch collected (13-goals-5-assists-18-points). In 11 playoff games, Busch has (3-goals-5-assists-8-points).

Busch split the 2024-25 season with the Vernon Vipers & Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips.

Busch had previously committed to Penn State University for the 2025-26 season.

The Florida Panthers selected Busch 128th overall in Round 4 of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Busch committed to the Vernon Vipers May 11th 2023 for the 2023-24 season. Busch played parts of two seasons with the 2023-24 Vernon Vipers and 2024-25 Vernon Vipers before leaving the team November 29th 2024 for the Western Hockey League Everett Silvertips. The Lethbridge Hurricanes traded the playing rights of Shea Busch to the Everett Silvertips November 29th 2024. In 75 games with the Vipers, Busch collected (20-goals-17-assists-37-points).

Shea Busch's Player Profile:

Shea Busch - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Fraser is in his first season as Scout with the Everett Silvertips.

Fraser spent the 2024-25 season as Head Coach of the Langley Hockey Academy 15U team.

Fraser last played professional hockey with EC Villacher SV (VSV) during the 2013-14 season. EC Villacher SV is an ice hockey team from Villach, Austria that plays in the Erste Bank Hockey League.

Fraser spent four seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks from 2003-2007 before playing four seasons in the ECHL & American Hockey League from 2007-2011 before finishing his hockey career overseas from 2011-2014.

Fraser played parts of one season in Vernon with the 2002-03 Vernon Vipers. The Victoria Salsa traded Fraser to Vernon January 10th 2003 for Marc Fulton & future considerations.  In 25 regular season games with the Vipers Fraser collected (19-goals-20-assists-39-points) and lead the Vipers in scoring that season with 105 points.

Curtis Fraser's Player Profile:

Curtis Fraser - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Christensen is in his first season with the Everett Silvertips as Director of Scouting.

Christensen spent eight seasons with his hometown Salmon Arm Silverbacks from 2015-2024 as Assistant/Video Coach, Director of Marketing, Operations Manager & General Manager.

Christensen played four seasons with the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League Princeton Posse and Revelstoke Grizzlies from 2007-2011 before joining the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in 2015.

Christensen attended the Vernon Vipers training camp in 2008.

Brooks Christensen's Player Profile:

Brooks Christensen - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Shaw is in his fourth season with the Everett Silvertips as Scout is also the Head Coach of the Yale Hockey Academy U18 Prep team.

Shaw played four seasons in the BC Hockey League from 1998-2002 with Trail, Prince George, Victoria and Burnaby. Shaw played five seasons in the UHL, CHL, Southern Professional Hockey League and the ECHL from 2003-2008 with nine different teams before retiring from professional hockey in 2008. Shaw got into coaching in 2008 as an Assistant Coach with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. 

Shaw spent one season in Vernon as an Assistant Coach with the 2011-12 Vernon Vipers. Shaw was released May 6th 2012.  The Vipers finished the 2011-12 season with a 30-27-1-2 record finishing 5th in the Interior Conference missing the BCHL playoffs.

Chris Shaw's Player-Coaching Profile:

Chris Shaw - Scout, Everett Silvertips (WHL) - Elite Prospects