Aaaaaand We're Off!!

So nice to once again be writing about actual hockey games being played! But first let's acknowledge those who are making it possible for the five WHL U.S Division teams to hit the ice again for this abbreviated, 24 game season. From the owners, to the front office staffs, from the equipment managers to the off-ice officials and from the bus drivers and the Zamboni operators to the cleaning crews this is truly a team effort. Let's hope it's a once-in-a-lifetime team effort, but a team effort nonetheless.

There is probably not enough space here to thank everyone.  If you are involved in making this return to play possible, take a bow.  No person's task in getting this season going is insignificant.  Some roles though have been more prominent then others and I want to take a moment to acknowledge the work of Thunderbirds Athletic Trainer Phil Varney.  I've written about Phil in the past.  He's not just an ace bandage and ice pack guy.  Those days are long gone.  His career field is a science and Phil follows the science.  He is a highly trained medical professional (he has a Masters Degree) and he has been working with the league on this return to play since last March.   

If you follow him on Twitter (@pvarney) you'll rarely if ever see him post opinion, unless maybe it's about the Red Wings.  Instead you find he tweets or retweets facts posted by the professionals who deal with this virus every day.  From the testing to the treatment, to sanitizing the benches and penalty box, he's been putting in some long days.  Just as an example, I know he read every study he could find on face coverings and whether they are effective, and which ones are the most effective.  So, if you're on Twitter, give him a follow and then give him a #ThanksPhil.

Now to the actual hockey played by the T-birds his weekend.  Seattle earned a split of their two games and I think "earned" is the right word here.  Seattle was the better team opening night in their 4-3 shootout win over Spokane. The team played well Saturday night against Portland, just not well enough to win and fell 4-1.

The results really aren't too surprising.  Remember, the division had just a couple weeks to train after a year long layoff.  Player conditioning is going to be a factor early on. The T-Birds used a lot of pent up emotion and energy Friday against the Chiefs.  They had a fast start Saturday against the Winterhawks but you could see some of the players tiring as that game wore on.  For both teams it was their second game but one of Portland's slight advantages was having a day of rest between their opener Thursday and the game Saturday.  

In the two games, the T-Birds outshot their opponents in the first period by a combined 27-12.  The problem was they had nothing to show up on the scoreboard for that decided early edge in puck possession and territorial play.  Through two games they've yet to score a first period goal while allowing one against.

Despite showing some rust at times, despite settling for a split, there was so much to like about what we saw from this young team over six plus periods.  Matt Rempe already wears the battle scars of a player who parks out in front of the opposing net.  At 6'8", 240 lbs., the New York Rangers prospect knows he has, as Liam Neesom would say, a particular set of skills.  Saturday night those skills led to his first goal of the season, off a tip of a point shot on the power play.  A tip of the hat to Portland goalie Dante Gianuzzi, who prevented Rempe from scoring a few more.  Gianuzzi won this battle, but the war continues.  

I don't know if it comes across as too much tooting the horn when it comes to the effusive praise given the young talent on this team but it was on full display this past weekend. 

We often say a team takes on the identity of it's coach.  The fact this team works hard for 60 minutes every game is a direct reflection of Matt O'Dette.  But General Managers are called the architects and Bil La Forge is the master planner behind this roster.  One of the cornerstones he laid was back in May of 2019, when on draft day he dealt Dillon Hamaliuk, Jake Lee and Cole Schwebius to the Kelowna Rockets.  

Among the pieces he got back was the Rockets 2019 first round pick.  It gave La Forge two selections in the first 10 picks.  He used his own pick, the eighth overall choice, on center Jordan Gustafson,  and with the 10th overall pick obtained from Kelowna, he chose defenseman Kevin Korchinski. Recall too, that back in January of that same year, at the league trade deadline, he had traded Zack Andrusiak to Everett for a second round pick.  He turned that pick into winger Gabe Ludwig. 

Now, if you were listening to the broadcast or watching the streaming of the first two games this weekend, you couldn't help but hear about or see those three player positively impact both games.  These three rookies played like seasoned vets.  All picked up their first career point.  Gustafson plays bigger then his 5'10" frame would suggest.  A prolific scorer at lower levels of hockey, he isn't afraid to get his nose dirty and I have no hesitation calling him a 200 foot player.  Through the first two games he's won 50 percent of his faceoffs (9 of 18).  He's already had an impact on the power play, registering an assist on each of Seattle's two power-play goals.

I hesitate to compare a young player to a former Thunderbirds player who has established himself as a top player in the NHL.  But there were a number of times this weekend when I watched Korchinski skate the puck out from behind the Seattle net and I had a "deja vu, flashback, where-have-I-seen-that-before" thought.  Let me stop and just call it hints of Shea Theodore because Korchinski is going to be his own player, but it was a bit eerie.  

Ludwig is a bundle of energy.  He's a pitbull with finesse.  He is speed and quickness on ice.  Think of a package that combines a little Scott Eansor, Nolan Volcan, Donovan Neuls and Sami Moilanen with potentially, a much higher ceiling.  I've always wanted to say this, but I heard from an unnamed source that NHL scouts like Seattle's draft class for this summer's NHL Draft, but they are really excited about the group that will be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.  

My Three Stars for opening weekend:

Third Star: Lots of players to choose from here.  That's how well I though the team showed.  From goalie Thomas Milic flashing terrific lateral movement in the crease to defenseman and newly minted captain Ty Bauer laying out to block numerous shots, there was so much good hockey to describe on the broadcasts.    

Four rookies earned their first points as T-Birds but my Third Star goes to Gustafson who earned two assists and showed he will be a force to reckon with on the T-Birds power play.  It says something about the coaches confidence in him that he was out there Friday night for much of the 3-on-3 overtime period.

Second Star: RW Keltie Jeri-Leon.  If not for hitting two posts Seattle's lone 20-year old on the roster may have had a four goal game opening night.  Instead he settled for two and added an assist for a three point weekend.  The coaching staff and front office rave about his character and leadership.  Talk to him for just five minutes and you'll understand why.  Just wait until the pandemic is over to do it though!

First Star:  C Henrik Rybinski.  The Florida Panthers prospect is back, baby!  I think Rybinski had a slightly off season a year ago.  But over the weekend he was the player Seattle got from Medicine Hat at the 2018-19 trade deadline.  He set the tone with his ferocious forecheck.  He was darting in and out of traffic with the puck, creating numerous scoring opportunities.  He won over 50% of his faceoffs (24/41).  A young team needs a veteran tone setter and this weekend, Rybinski was just that for Seattle.