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.
No comments:
Post a Comment