February 28, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\nNow, in what is likely his final season with the Tips before turning pro, Miettinen is looking to lead the franchise to its first WHL championship in team history. He\u2019s focused on leading his team by dominating in tight areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust small details that the pro game needs you to have. Those are what I\u2019ve been focusing on right now because the jump (to the pros) is gonna be hard,\u201d Miettinen said. \u201cNow I feel like I\u2019m so much better than I was. And I mean, just everything you do as a center affects the game so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miettinen played in his second World Junior Championship in Minnesota. While wearing an A, he had two goals and two assists in six games, helping lead the team to a silver medal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was awesome,\u201d Miettinen said. \u201cTo be there with the Finnish guys as a second-year player, and having that first-year experience under your belt, helped so much.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Miettinen, the Kraken have been paying close attention, monitoring his development ahead of the jump to the pros. He\u2019s worked on his skating and edge work over the last two seasons since being drafted.<\/p>\n
He has been in a locker room filled with NHL talent over the past four seasons, including former Silvertips captains Austin Roest and Ben Hemmerling. He named those players as guys who made the jump to the pros and lead by example.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew place, new guys, new team \u2014 that\u2019s always a jump. But I try to live in the moment,\u201d Miettinen said. \u201cIt\u2019s cool to see guys live their dreams. Not a lot of guys get the chance to do that. But from their last years, just seeing how they do things, like the life they live \u2014 you gotta be a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n
Plus, playing with that Landon DuPont guy has been pretty cool, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat guy\u2019s just unbelievable at everything he does,\u201d Miettinen said. \u201cHe is so mature. I wouldn\u2019t believe he\u2019s 16 if I didn\u2019t know. How he practices, how he treats his body \u2014 it\u2019s just unbelievable. Just everything he does, he\u2019s a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been an incredible year for the green and white once again. At 47-7-2-1 with 97 points and first place in the Western Conference, they sit a staggering 36 points ahead of the second-place team in the U.S. Division.<\/p>\n
The Silvertips seem to be well on their way to another deep playoff run with Miettinen at the helm. The team has fallen short in prior years, but this year feels more promising to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year is a new year. You have a different team, different guys with you. But I feel like this year is different. I don\u2019t know how many games we\u2019ve been trailing in the last period, and then we just find a way to come back and win the games.<\/p>\n
From the experience of last year, we know what it\u2019s like. We know it\u2019s a battle. It\u2019s one game at a time. We\u2019ve got to focus on the little details. One shift might change the whole season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photo Courtesy of Evan Morud and the Everett Silvertips<\/p>\n
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