Two games, two ties at the end of regulation, one shootout loss and one overtime loss. Sounds a little unsatisfying, and to be clear the team was disappointed that they couldn't pull out the wins, but earning two very meaningful points on the weekend keeps this team in the driver's seat for a playoff spot. Seattle's record over their last five games reads 1-2-2-0. Reality is they had just one non-competitive game in that stretch, the 8-0 loss in Everett. Otherwise, they were in every game until late in the third period or beyond. That's what you play for, a chance to be in there at the end of the game.
One of the reasons shootouts were introduced into the North American game was because a lot of folks were left with an unfulfilled feeling when games ended in a tie. If you were at the game Saturday night against Portland, a tie was probably the best result. That game had everything. Most of all it had lots of drama and high entertainment value. It was what a rivalry game should be. It was back and forth. there were big hits, highlight reel goals, plenty of offense and big saves by two NHL drafted goalies. If you had walked out of that building with a 5-5 tie would you have been disappointed?
What left me feeling "meh" after the game was the shootout to decide the winner. You wait seven or eight minutes while the Zamboni does a scrape then sit back while shooters line up to take their chance. It's sort of like being at one of those games of chance on the Midway at the State Fair. Sure, I guess there is drama in a shootout but it's not the same as the action we witnessed for 65 minutes. The game that was action packed for over an hour, ended with a one-on-one skills competition that, and this is just my opinion, sucked some of the air out of the arena. I'm fine with games that end in ties.
I'm also more then fine that the coaches weren't going to give the team a complete pass for coming from behind against Portland to forge that 5-5 tie. Young team or not, the coaches expect to win every night. I like how they let the team know that straying from the game plan is not okay. Seattle built their two goal lead by playing the T-bird way. they lost their two goal lead because they tried to force things that weren't there. They got caught up trying to out-Portland, Portland.
If this weekend proved anything, it proved that Matt O'Dette's systems work against any team in the league. When the T-birds played their heavy game, whether it was against the Winterhawks or up in Kelowna Friday, when they got pucks in deep and forced the opposing team to play below their own goal line Seattle got the advantage territorially. When they manage the puck properly leaving their defensive zone, they won the puck possession battle. O'Dette and staff drum that into the players at every practice, at every pregame meeting, in between periods. But, teenagers. If you're a parent, you understand. I'm always reminding my kids about putting things away or cleaning their rooms. Once is never enough.
Eighty-five percent of the time this weekend the coaches believed their team did things the right way. It was the other 15-percent that was the difference between a 2-0 weekend record and an 0-0-1-1 mark. That 15 percent was the difference between earning four points and settling for two.
The T-birds are halfway through their season series with Portland and are 2-3-1 against their long time rivals. Against the team that currently holds the top record in the WHL and hasn't lost in regulation in 21 games, the T-birds have earned five points. Half the games have gone past regulation to decide. Another was a 2-1 nail biter. Another six games to go with the Winterhawks and there is no reason Seattle can't earn another five or more points in the series.
Three of the T-birds next four games are against two teams behind them in the standings. Tuesday they host Tri-City. After a game next weekend down in Portland, Seattle travels up to Prince George for two against the Cougars. There are no easy games in the WHL. Fighting for a playoff spot with PG and the Ams, the T-birds have a chance to solidify their hold on the eighth seed. You know both the Americans and Cougars are looking at those Seattle games as "must wins". Seattle has to have the same approach. In fact, three of Seattle's next six games will be against Prince George. It's a stretch of games that could decide who goes into the postseason and who stays home.
Want to win the puck possession battle? Win your faceoffs. This weekend Max Patterson won 30 of 47 draws including 20 of 28 Saturday against Portland. A good chunk of those were in the third period, in the defensive zone while Seattle was shorthanded. That's an underrated stat that helped Seattle earn two points on the weekend.
Just my take, but Lucas Ciona has been Seattle's best rookie over the course of the season. It's not head and shoulders better then the rest of them but he displays a consistency from game to game that I like. It's like picking your favorite puppy from the litter when in reality, you want them all.
My T-bird Three Stars for the weekend:
Third Star: D Cade McNelly. McNelly had his first two-point game of his T-birds career. His second period goal Saturday sparked the three goal comeback. He is showing off his skill with the puck. He is becoming more adept at getting pucks up ice. I'll say this about his penalty that led to Portland's first power play goal; he delivered a clean hit but officiating in this league has him a marked man such that even when he delivers a clean hit, he expects a penalty or a challenge from an opposing player. Yes, part of that reputation has been earned but when he plays the game the right way, which he's been doing recently, he's a force. Credit the officials for not calling a penalty that last two times he delivered booming clean hits, but lets give Cade time to adjust to that as well.
Second Star: G Roddy Ross. Not often a goalie surrenders five goals in a game and you still point to him as a reason you got a point out of the contest. But Ross made some huge saves to deny Portland a sixth goal in regulation, particularly in the third period when the Winterhawks had two power play chances to break the tie. Ross was also one of Seattle's best players on the ice Friday in Kelowna and has strung together three solid starts going back to last Sunday vs. Everett.
First Star: D Simon Kubicek. Goals in back to back games. Heady play to keep driving the net late in the second period Saturday on a Seattle dump in that Portland goalie Joel Hofer misplayed. Kubi turned a nothing burger into a game tying goal that led to Seattle earning a crucial point in the standings. He has six points (2g,4a) and is +3 since returning from World Juniors including a two goal, +4 weekend.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
Footing The Bill
As well as the Thunderbirds have been playing recently, and they have been playing quite will since early December, we knew the young squad would still stub their toe a time or two the second half of the season. Well, this past weekend they did just that. Not Friday in the 4-2 come-from-behind win over Regina, or even Sunday in the 2-0 loss to Everett. The "toe stub" came Saturday on the road to the Silvertips in the 8-0 loss.
Even though they ended up dropping two of the three games, I actually liked their effort Friday in the third period and Sunday from the start to the finish. Notice I said the effort and not the result. You can't control the result. The only thing you have control of on the ice is the effort and energy you play with. It was an effort and level of energy that was lacking up at Angel of the Winds Arena Saturday night. It was a flat 60 minutes of hockey made all the more stunning because it was so out of character from what the team had been doing on the ice over the last month and a half.
Adversity can reveal character and after such a subpar performance you naturally wonder if they would have the right response the next time out. They did. They got back to playing the right way Sunday. It wasn't the perfect performance but they battled. The way the game was going, you knew it would come to one goal. And though Everett would score twice over the final half of the third period, it was the first goal, the penalty shot goal, that decided this one.
Seattle scored just four times on the weekend and all four goals came in one game. When you dress as many as six rookie forwards each night, the offense can be a struggle at times. You're asking your veteran forwards to produce each and every night and that's just not possible. They will have nights off. Goal scorers go through scoring streaks and scoring droughts. Among Seattle's older forwards, only Andrej Kukuca has had a 20-plus goal season in the WHL when he potted 25 last season. He's gone without a goal in his last four games. Conner Bruggen-Cate, who two season's ago had an 18-goal campaign with Kelowna, put together a nice 8-game point streak coming out of the break. He's gone scoreless in his last three. That's just the nature of the game.
Speaking of scoring goals, I'll keep saying it until it happens but rookie winger Brendan Williamson will get that first WHL goal. It's coming. He certainly hasn't had any puck luck yet. But I like his tenacity. When he gets that goal it will probably be a result of his speed and taking a puck hard to the net. I thought he was one player who had energy all three nights. And it might just be when the first one goes in, the goals start coming more regularly. Sunday he and Mekai Sanders displayed the same type of game. They are fast and physical and play the game like linebackers, hunting down opposing puck carriers. They're going to be fun to watch the rest of this season and over the next few seasons with that style of play.
Again, playing .500 hockey over their last 10 games may not seem like much. In actuality, until the back-to-back-losses on the weekend the T-Birds had a stretch where they won seven of ten. But even just going 5-5 has allowed them to stretch their lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Seattle gained six points on Tri-City and four on Prince George. Seattle is still just three back of the Vancouver Giants for the seventh seed.
None of those teams has an easy schedule going forward. Seattle still has 13 games remaining against the top three teams in the U.S. Division (Portland, Everett and Spokane). Tri-City plays those three teams 15 times and still has two left against the Kamloops Blazers as well as a trip east to face the high flying Medicine Hat Tigers. Prince George and Seattle still have four games head-to-head remaining on the schedule but the Cougars also play nine games against Kamloops, Everett and Victoria.
My T-Bird three stars for the weekend:
Third Star: W Brendan Williamson. He may have gone the weekend without a point but his effort level was possibly the highest over the course of the three games. I thought the penalty he was assessed late in the second period Saturday in Everett was, let's just say, a little suspect. But he was still playing hard in a game that was all but decided at that point. Sunday Seattle's bottom six forwards were much more effective than Everett's and Williamson was the leader of the pack. It may feel like a lost weekend, but big picture, the play of the rookie forwards gave a glimpse into the future and Williamson is a big part of that.
Second Star: W Keltie Jeri-Leon. Keltie gave himself an early 20th birthday present (by two days) when he scored twice Friday night in the comeback win over Regina. It included the tying and winning goal. Raise your hand if you had the Kelowna native leading the team in goals scored in late January. I see Keltie's hand is the only one up! He now has 19 on the season well past his previous season best of eight scored last season. A very underrated pick up by GM Bil LaForge.
First Star: G Thomas Milic. A last second phone call brought him here at the start of the weekend after Blake Lyda was injured in practice. Less then 24 hours after arriving he is in net for his WHL debut Friday night against the Regina Pats. 23 saves later he has his first WHL win. Got some mop up duty Saturday in Everett as well. Another piece of the future he is the seventh member of the T-Birds 2018 Bantam Draft class to make his Seattle debut less then two years after being selected in the third round.
Even though they ended up dropping two of the three games, I actually liked their effort Friday in the third period and Sunday from the start to the finish. Notice I said the effort and not the result. You can't control the result. The only thing you have control of on the ice is the effort and energy you play with. It was an effort and level of energy that was lacking up at Angel of the Winds Arena Saturday night. It was a flat 60 minutes of hockey made all the more stunning because it was so out of character from what the team had been doing on the ice over the last month and a half.
Adversity can reveal character and after such a subpar performance you naturally wonder if they would have the right response the next time out. They did. They got back to playing the right way Sunday. It wasn't the perfect performance but they battled. The way the game was going, you knew it would come to one goal. And though Everett would score twice over the final half of the third period, it was the first goal, the penalty shot goal, that decided this one.
Seattle scored just four times on the weekend and all four goals came in one game. When you dress as many as six rookie forwards each night, the offense can be a struggle at times. You're asking your veteran forwards to produce each and every night and that's just not possible. They will have nights off. Goal scorers go through scoring streaks and scoring droughts. Among Seattle's older forwards, only Andrej Kukuca has had a 20-plus goal season in the WHL when he potted 25 last season. He's gone without a goal in his last four games. Conner Bruggen-Cate, who two season's ago had an 18-goal campaign with Kelowna, put together a nice 8-game point streak coming out of the break. He's gone scoreless in his last three. That's just the nature of the game.
Speaking of scoring goals, I'll keep saying it until it happens but rookie winger Brendan Williamson will get that first WHL goal. It's coming. He certainly hasn't had any puck luck yet. But I like his tenacity. When he gets that goal it will probably be a result of his speed and taking a puck hard to the net. I thought he was one player who had energy all three nights. And it might just be when the first one goes in, the goals start coming more regularly. Sunday he and Mekai Sanders displayed the same type of game. They are fast and physical and play the game like linebackers, hunting down opposing puck carriers. They're going to be fun to watch the rest of this season and over the next few seasons with that style of play.
Again, playing .500 hockey over their last 10 games may not seem like much. In actuality, until the back-to-back-losses on the weekend the T-Birds had a stretch where they won seven of ten. But even just going 5-5 has allowed them to stretch their lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Seattle gained six points on Tri-City and four on Prince George. Seattle is still just three back of the Vancouver Giants for the seventh seed.
None of those teams has an easy schedule going forward. Seattle still has 13 games remaining against the top three teams in the U.S. Division (Portland, Everett and Spokane). Tri-City plays those three teams 15 times and still has two left against the Kamloops Blazers as well as a trip east to face the high flying Medicine Hat Tigers. Prince George and Seattle still have four games head-to-head remaining on the schedule but the Cougars also play nine games against Kamloops, Everett and Victoria.
My T-Bird three stars for the weekend:
Third Star: W Brendan Williamson. He may have gone the weekend without a point but his effort level was possibly the highest over the course of the three games. I thought the penalty he was assessed late in the second period Saturday in Everett was, let's just say, a little suspect. But he was still playing hard in a game that was all but decided at that point. Sunday Seattle's bottom six forwards were much more effective than Everett's and Williamson was the leader of the pack. It may feel like a lost weekend, but big picture, the play of the rookie forwards gave a glimpse into the future and Williamson is a big part of that.
Second Star: W Keltie Jeri-Leon. Keltie gave himself an early 20th birthday present (by two days) when he scored twice Friday night in the comeback win over Regina. It included the tying and winning goal. Raise your hand if you had the Kelowna native leading the team in goals scored in late January. I see Keltie's hand is the only one up! He now has 19 on the season well past his previous season best of eight scored last season. A very underrated pick up by GM Bil LaForge.
First Star: G Thomas Milic. A last second phone call brought him here at the start of the weekend after Blake Lyda was injured in practice. Less then 24 hours after arriving he is in net for his WHL debut Friday night against the Regina Pats. 23 saves later he has his first WHL win. Got some mop up duty Saturday in Everett as well. Another piece of the future he is the seventh member of the T-Birds 2018 Bantam Draft class to make his Seattle debut less then two years after being selected in the third round.
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Conner-ing the Market
It was a good weekend to be a player named Conner and wearing a Seattle Thunderbirds jersey. The T-Birds two Conners, Bruggen-Cate and Roulette, finished the weekend with a combined seven points (5g, 2a) and a plus four rating. I like the symmetry of it too. One Conner, Bruggen-Cate, is a 20-year old in his last season in the WHL, a leader showing a young team the way before he goes off in pursuit of the next step in his hockey journey. The other Conner, Roulette, is a 16-year old rookie, just beginning his WHL career, playing the game he loves with an infectious brand of enthusiasm. Both players, with their contrasting personalities and styles, are combining with their teammates, both old and young, to make T-Birds hockey a compelling, must watch to start the second half of the season.
In eight games since returning from the Christmas break the Thunderbirds are 5-3 and have won three in a row. Over their past ten games the T-birds are 7-3. They've caught and surpassed the Tri-City Americans for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference and they ended the weekend just a point back of the Vancouver Giants for the seventh seed. All this after they traded away their captain back in early December. I saw it written back in November by one "pundit" that this team was one of six in the league that had folded shop and was assuredly going to miss the playoffs. According to that opinion, their season was over before it began. That so called "expert" must not have noticed what this team did last season. Rising from the ashes, they won 21 second half games and leapt into the postseason. Well, they're at it again.
There is a difference this time around. It's a different formula to the one General Manager Bil LaForge and Head Coach Matt O'Dette used a year ago. There was no January trade deadline roster reset as was the case last season when the club brought in fresh faces and a new attitude. This time around LaForge and O'Dette have employed patience. They waited for this version to get healthy. They waited for the veterans to get going. They waited for the plethora of young first and second year players to get comfortable and confident and up to speed with the level of play in the WHL. O'Dette and his staff tinkered with the lineup to find the right line combinations and chemistry. They'll continue that work. It's called coaching.
There is still a long way to go to the postseason and a playoff berth hasn't been won. A team featuring one of the youngest rosters in the league will probably still stub their toe a time or two going forward. Like a season ago, they still face one of the toughest second half schedules. But this version of the T-Birds, like last year's version, has climbed up into a position to make the second half matter. They didn't fold their tent. They unfolded their sail. They didn't raise the white flag of surrender. They hoisted the battle flag and are ready to face the rough seas with all hands on deck.
It was a strange weekend. Because of weather and road conditions up on Snoqualmie Pass, the team treated both contests like road games even though the Saturday tilt was at home. They left earlier than usual for the Friday trip in Eastern Washington. After the 8-5 win Friday over Tri-City the team made the decision to stay overnight in Kennewick. They bussed back to Kent for Saturday's game at the accesso ShoWare Center against Everett. They arrived for the game against the Silvertips as they would for an away game, two and a half hours before puck drop. I do think it took them a period to shake off those bus legs. Feeding off the energy of the sold out building on Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss Night, the T-Birds were the better team the final two periods. It amazes me that after a long two days of travel the team could be stronger at the end of the night then they were at the beginning, especially against a well rested team that didn't play the night before. That's a hallmark of T-Birds hockey the past decade though. It started in the Steve Konowalchuk era and continues under the O'Dette regime.
Sixteen year old rookie winger Lucas Ciona didn't register a point this weekend. He was credited with three shots over the two games and finished with a plus one rating. There is an old phrase in sports that says statistics are for losers. It's an exaggeration to make a point. Of course statistics matter. Goals are statistics and you don't win without them. The same with saves. The point is, you can be a winner, help your team to win, without scoring a goal or getting an assist. This weekend Ciona was a prime example of that. He affected the game with his physical play, his hustle and his willingness to engage. If there was a vote for the unsung hero on the weekend, mine would go to him. He, Max Patterson and Payton Mount have come together to form a solid checking line.
With his first WHL goal and first WHL assist Friday in Kennewick, Mekai Sanders became the sixth 16-year old to register a point for Seattle this season. He joins Ciona, Roulette, Kai Uchacz, Sam Popowich and Reid Schaefer in doing so. Through a combined 111 games that group has compiled 41 points (17g, 24a). Playing in the present, working toward the future.
My T-Birds Three Stars for the Weekend.
Third Star: C Jared Davidson. Centering the team's fourth line, Davidson lit the fuse for the team's offensive explosion in Kennewick, registering three points (2g, 1a) in the first period of an eventual 8-5 win over Tri-City. For his effort he was named the game's first star. Over the course of both games the 17-year old second year player showed an ability to win faceoffs as well, taking 11 of 18 draws in the two games.
Second Star: W Conner Roulette. He got the Teddy Bear Toss goal Saturday against Everett and then assisted on the eventual game winner. He almost scored again, coming a pad save away from possibly the goal of the week in the third period. He scored Friday night in Kennewick as well. He finished the weekend with three points (2g, 1a) and a +2. The topper? He was the star of the Kiss Cam Friday night in Kennewick.
First Star: W Conner Bruggen-Cate. Yes, you probably smell smoke and see flames but don't call the fire department. It's just The Network and he is on fire. He's riding a hot hand with points in all eight games since the Christmas break, including three goals, a game winner, an assist and a +2 rating over the weekend. In those eight games he has compiled 15 points (7g, 8a) and is a +6. That doesn't even account for his leadership both on and off the ice. What seemed like a throw in piece in last spring's Draft Day deal with Kelowna has become one of the most important pieces on the roster.
In eight games since returning from the Christmas break the Thunderbirds are 5-3 and have won three in a row. Over their past ten games the T-birds are 7-3. They've caught and surpassed the Tri-City Americans for the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference and they ended the weekend just a point back of the Vancouver Giants for the seventh seed. All this after they traded away their captain back in early December. I saw it written back in November by one "pundit" that this team was one of six in the league that had folded shop and was assuredly going to miss the playoffs. According to that opinion, their season was over before it began. That so called "expert" must not have noticed what this team did last season. Rising from the ashes, they won 21 second half games and leapt into the postseason. Well, they're at it again.
There is a difference this time around. It's a different formula to the one General Manager Bil LaForge and Head Coach Matt O'Dette used a year ago. There was no January trade deadline roster reset as was the case last season when the club brought in fresh faces and a new attitude. This time around LaForge and O'Dette have employed patience. They waited for this version to get healthy. They waited for the veterans to get going. They waited for the plethora of young first and second year players to get comfortable and confident and up to speed with the level of play in the WHL. O'Dette and his staff tinkered with the lineup to find the right line combinations and chemistry. They'll continue that work. It's called coaching.
There is still a long way to go to the postseason and a playoff berth hasn't been won. A team featuring one of the youngest rosters in the league will probably still stub their toe a time or two going forward. Like a season ago, they still face one of the toughest second half schedules. But this version of the T-Birds, like last year's version, has climbed up into a position to make the second half matter. They didn't fold their tent. They unfolded their sail. They didn't raise the white flag of surrender. They hoisted the battle flag and are ready to face the rough seas with all hands on deck.
It was a strange weekend. Because of weather and road conditions up on Snoqualmie Pass, the team treated both contests like road games even though the Saturday tilt was at home. They left earlier than usual for the Friday trip in Eastern Washington. After the 8-5 win Friday over Tri-City the team made the decision to stay overnight in Kennewick. They bussed back to Kent for Saturday's game at the accesso ShoWare Center against Everett. They arrived for the game against the Silvertips as they would for an away game, two and a half hours before puck drop. I do think it took them a period to shake off those bus legs. Feeding off the energy of the sold out building on Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss Night, the T-Birds were the better team the final two periods. It amazes me that after a long two days of travel the team could be stronger at the end of the night then they were at the beginning, especially against a well rested team that didn't play the night before. That's a hallmark of T-Birds hockey the past decade though. It started in the Steve Konowalchuk era and continues under the O'Dette regime.
Sixteen year old rookie winger Lucas Ciona didn't register a point this weekend. He was credited with three shots over the two games and finished with a plus one rating. There is an old phrase in sports that says statistics are for losers. It's an exaggeration to make a point. Of course statistics matter. Goals are statistics and you don't win without them. The same with saves. The point is, you can be a winner, help your team to win, without scoring a goal or getting an assist. This weekend Ciona was a prime example of that. He affected the game with his physical play, his hustle and his willingness to engage. If there was a vote for the unsung hero on the weekend, mine would go to him. He, Max Patterson and Payton Mount have come together to form a solid checking line.
With his first WHL goal and first WHL assist Friday in Kennewick, Mekai Sanders became the sixth 16-year old to register a point for Seattle this season. He joins Ciona, Roulette, Kai Uchacz, Sam Popowich and Reid Schaefer in doing so. Through a combined 111 games that group has compiled 41 points (17g, 24a). Playing in the present, working toward the future.
My T-Birds Three Stars for the Weekend.
Third Star: C Jared Davidson. Centering the team's fourth line, Davidson lit the fuse for the team's offensive explosion in Kennewick, registering three points (2g, 1a) in the first period of an eventual 8-5 win over Tri-City. For his effort he was named the game's first star. Over the course of both games the 17-year old second year player showed an ability to win faceoffs as well, taking 11 of 18 draws in the two games.
Second Star: W Conner Roulette. He got the Teddy Bear Toss goal Saturday against Everett and then assisted on the eventual game winner. He almost scored again, coming a pad save away from possibly the goal of the week in the third period. He scored Friday night in Kennewick as well. He finished the weekend with three points (2g, 1a) and a +2. The topper? He was the star of the Kiss Cam Friday night in Kennewick.
First Star: W Conner Bruggen-Cate. Yes, you probably smell smoke and see flames but don't call the fire department. It's just The Network and he is on fire. He's riding a hot hand with points in all eight games since the Christmas break, including three goals, a game winner, an assist and a +2 rating over the weekend. In those eight games he has compiled 15 points (7g, 8a) and is a +6. That doesn't even account for his leadership both on and off the ice. What seemed like a throw in piece in last spring's Draft Day deal with Kelowna has become one of the most important pieces on the roster.
Monday, January 6, 2020
2020 Vision
The Thunderbirds are going to miss playing the Central Division. In two separate trips out there this season, the T-birds posted four wins in six games. In late October they beat Red Deer and Calgary with a lone loss to Edmonton. To start off the New Year Seattle took two of three this past weekend, beating Lethbridge and Swift Current while losing to Medicine Hat. To take four of six on the road from a very competitive division was no easy task, but mission accomplished.
This most recent trip was made tougher by the fact it was three games in three nights, in three different arenas. Remember too, the trip east didn't start in Kent, but in Portland New Year's Eve, after a tough 3-2 loss to the Winterhawks. That was game one of five straight on the road. So far the T-birds are 2-2 with the remaining game of the five away contests coming up Friday in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans. A win would give them an above .500 mark for the five game road stretch. It would also keep them in eighth place, the second wild card spot, in the Western Conference standings. In fact, a win Friday would give Seattle a four-point cushion over the Americans. Tri-City does have a couple of games in hand on Seattle so winning the head-to-head matchups are critical.
The T-birds will look both up and down at the standings going the rest of the way. While, for the moment, they have caught and passed Tri-City in the standings, they are also just five points back of the Vancouver Giants for the first wild card spot but the Prince George Cougars (as well as Tri-City) will be looking to make up ground on Seattle. The T-birds have ten games remaining against those three teams. Friday's game and a January 28th game remain against the Ams while the T-birds still have four games left on the schedule against both the Giants and Cougars.
It was great to finally see Mekai Sanders get into a regular season game. After missing the entire first half rehabbing an injury suffered in preseason, he made his debut down in Portland New Year's Eve. The Gig Harbor native got into three of the four games last week. Some rust was expected after not seeing game action since early September but you could see him get more comfortable with the speed of the game with each shift. It's hard to judge off just three games the total Sanders hockey package, but you can see he is a hustle player. Now that he's healthy he'll battle to get into the lineup with the other young players on the roster the rest of the way. That competition for ice will make him and the other rookies, better players. He is the sixth 16 year old to play for this team. In fact, Seattle has utilized nine players age 16 or younger at various times this season.
It was nice to see the Thunderbirds offense break out with a 14 goal weekend. They also allowed 14 and that's the first thing head coach Matt O'Dette brought up when I asked him about the offensive explosion. Yes, the 14 goals over the three games was nice to see, but he said they have to limit chances at the other end. That's the reaction I'd expect from the coach. Your best defense is usually a good offense, but more specifically, the better you manage the puck, the more puck possession you have and the fewer chances the opponents get. Getting up ice is still an area the young T-birds are working on improving. With that being said, Seattle did face two of the more prolific offenses in the WHL when they took on Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
It may not necessarily show in the league rankings, but Seattle's special teams are improving as well. The utilization of five forwards seemed to give the power play some jump. I'll be curious to see if that continues especially with the return of defenseman Simon Kubicek from World Juniors competition. Kubi took advantage of lots of ice time representing the Czech Republic at that tournament. He was especially effective on the power play. Hopefully he can find the same success on the power play for Seattle going forward. The T-birds are still being assessed too many penalties, whether deserved or not. That skews their work on the penalty kill, but since returning from Christmas they have blocked a busload of shots when shorthanded.
I thought Seattle's three 16 year olds who have been in the lineup most games this season, all had solid weekends on the Central Division swing. Conner Roulette ended up with four points (2g, 2a) and was +4. Roulette now leads the team with a +9 rating. Lucas Ciona chipped in a couple of assists on the road, but his worth was really in his physical play and his penalty killing. And while Kai Uchacz didn't record a point, he too was excellent on the PK but also gave the coaches strong shifts on the fourth line.
Another rookie, 17 year old Matt Rempe, is quietly putting together a solid first season. He is nearly a point a game players with 18 points (5g, 13a) through 22 games. After serving out a one-game suspension, he returned to the lineup for the last two games out east and earned three assists and a +3. He was often part of the T-birds five forward power play unit as well, planting himself in front of the opponent's crease.
The WHLL trade deadline is Friday at 2 PM PST. I don't think Seattle is moving anyone in or out but if the right deal presents itself, General Manager Bil Laforge will not hesitate. Stay tuned!
My T-Birds three star for the weekend:
Third Star: Lots of different directions I could go with this choice but I'm going with Ciona. It wasn't just that he picked up two assists. I really liked his total game, playing with some sandpaper. He's fitting in well on a line with Max Patterson and Payton Mount.
Second Star: W Conner Bruggen-Cate. the 20 year old has a six game scoring streak going that included a four game goal scoring streak. Like Ciona though, it was The Network's complete game that stood out, especially his work on the PK. I don't know how vocal he is in the room, but on the ice the example he sets with his hustle should be easy for the young players to follow.
First Star: W Andrej Kukuca. It was a year ago at this time, when he returned to the team after representing Slovakia at the World Juniors, that Kukuca caught fire. Hopefully history is repeating itself. With 16 points in his last 11 games he now leads the club in both goals (15), assists (20) and points (35). In the four recent road games he earned seven points (4g, 3a) including his first WHL hat trick.
This most recent trip was made tougher by the fact it was three games in three nights, in three different arenas. Remember too, the trip east didn't start in Kent, but in Portland New Year's Eve, after a tough 3-2 loss to the Winterhawks. That was game one of five straight on the road. So far the T-birds are 2-2 with the remaining game of the five away contests coming up Friday in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans. A win would give them an above .500 mark for the five game road stretch. It would also keep them in eighth place, the second wild card spot, in the Western Conference standings. In fact, a win Friday would give Seattle a four-point cushion over the Americans. Tri-City does have a couple of games in hand on Seattle so winning the head-to-head matchups are critical.
The T-birds will look both up and down at the standings going the rest of the way. While, for the moment, they have caught and passed Tri-City in the standings, they are also just five points back of the Vancouver Giants for the first wild card spot but the Prince George Cougars (as well as Tri-City) will be looking to make up ground on Seattle. The T-birds have ten games remaining against those three teams. Friday's game and a January 28th game remain against the Ams while the T-birds still have four games left on the schedule against both the Giants and Cougars.
It was great to finally see Mekai Sanders get into a regular season game. After missing the entire first half rehabbing an injury suffered in preseason, he made his debut down in Portland New Year's Eve. The Gig Harbor native got into three of the four games last week. Some rust was expected after not seeing game action since early September but you could see him get more comfortable with the speed of the game with each shift. It's hard to judge off just three games the total Sanders hockey package, but you can see he is a hustle player. Now that he's healthy he'll battle to get into the lineup with the other young players on the roster the rest of the way. That competition for ice will make him and the other rookies, better players. He is the sixth 16 year old to play for this team. In fact, Seattle has utilized nine players age 16 or younger at various times this season.
It was nice to see the Thunderbirds offense break out with a 14 goal weekend. They also allowed 14 and that's the first thing head coach Matt O'Dette brought up when I asked him about the offensive explosion. Yes, the 14 goals over the three games was nice to see, but he said they have to limit chances at the other end. That's the reaction I'd expect from the coach. Your best defense is usually a good offense, but more specifically, the better you manage the puck, the more puck possession you have and the fewer chances the opponents get. Getting up ice is still an area the young T-birds are working on improving. With that being said, Seattle did face two of the more prolific offenses in the WHL when they took on Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
It may not necessarily show in the league rankings, but Seattle's special teams are improving as well. The utilization of five forwards seemed to give the power play some jump. I'll be curious to see if that continues especially with the return of defenseman Simon Kubicek from World Juniors competition. Kubi took advantage of lots of ice time representing the Czech Republic at that tournament. He was especially effective on the power play. Hopefully he can find the same success on the power play for Seattle going forward. The T-birds are still being assessed too many penalties, whether deserved or not. That skews their work on the penalty kill, but since returning from Christmas they have blocked a busload of shots when shorthanded.
I thought Seattle's three 16 year olds who have been in the lineup most games this season, all had solid weekends on the Central Division swing. Conner Roulette ended up with four points (2g, 2a) and was +4. Roulette now leads the team with a +9 rating. Lucas Ciona chipped in a couple of assists on the road, but his worth was really in his physical play and his penalty killing. And while Kai Uchacz didn't record a point, he too was excellent on the PK but also gave the coaches strong shifts on the fourth line.
Another rookie, 17 year old Matt Rempe, is quietly putting together a solid first season. He is nearly a point a game players with 18 points (5g, 13a) through 22 games. After serving out a one-game suspension, he returned to the lineup for the last two games out east and earned three assists and a +3. He was often part of the T-birds five forward power play unit as well, planting himself in front of the opponent's crease.
The WHLL trade deadline is Friday at 2 PM PST. I don't think Seattle is moving anyone in or out but if the right deal presents itself, General Manager Bil Laforge will not hesitate. Stay tuned!
My T-Birds three star for the weekend:
Third Star: Lots of different directions I could go with this choice but I'm going with Ciona. It wasn't just that he picked up two assists. I really liked his total game, playing with some sandpaper. He's fitting in well on a line with Max Patterson and Payton Mount.
Second Star: W Conner Bruggen-Cate. the 20 year old has a six game scoring streak going that included a four game goal scoring streak. Like Ciona though, it was The Network's complete game that stood out, especially his work on the PK. I don't know how vocal he is in the room, but on the ice the example he sets with his hustle should be easy for the young players to follow.
First Star: W Andrej Kukuca. It was a year ago at this time, when he returned to the team after representing Slovakia at the World Juniors, that Kukuca caught fire. Hopefully history is repeating itself. With 16 points in his last 11 games he now leads the club in both goals (15), assists (20) and points (35). In the four recent road games he earned seven points (4g, 3a) including his first WHL hat trick.
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