As WHL debuts go, that was pretty pedestrian for Nico Myatovic don't you think? I mean, only two goals on two shots? I think he needs to shoot the puck more, how about you?
Okay, all kidding aside, where ever his future hockey endeavors take him, Myatovic will always remember his first T-Birds game. Two goals scored during a pandemic shortened season, with no fans in the building. Of course he would have preferred fans be there. We all would. How loud would the accesso ShoWare Center have been after that first goal, on a Two-for-Tuesday no less?
I do have one suggestion. If he's gonna score at this pace, he should change his first name to Otto. Then he can be Otto Myatovic (the last name is pronounced My-ATT-uh-vic, with emphasis on the second syllable). I'm not sure his mother would be on board with that idea though.
By getting into the lineup Myatovic became the fifth player from the Thunderbirds 2019 WHL Draft class, to suit up for a game. In other words, every player from that draft they have signed to a standard WHL Player Agreement, has played in at least one game.
In 46 combined games that group has already compiled 19 points (7g, 12). Myatovic also became the 19th skater on this season's roster to record a point. Seven of those 19 skaters are rookies. Six are in just their second season. Only Spencer Penner, who's played in just five games, and Reid Schaefer, who is currently out with injury after playing in the first eight games are, so far, without a point.
The leader of that draft class is Seattle's top pick from that year, Jordan Gustafson. In 12 games he has eight points (4g, 4a) and two game winning goals. He plays in all situations. He's already a key component to Seattle's improved power play. And once again, late in a game, protecting a one goal lead, he was out their taking defensive zone faceoffs. It's obvious the coaching staff has the utmost confidence in him.
I think it is also obvious that the organization has great depth, thanks to GM, Bil La Forge, and his scouting staff. La Forge did a masterful job of making trades that brought back a good number of high draft picks but the scouts did their homework and the T-Birds made good use of those picks, choosing the right players to fit their system.
Think about this; Seattle loses one of their best players in Conner Roulette, to Team Canada for the U18 World Championships. They lose their second line center, the NHL drafted Matt Rempe, to a long term injury. That's 17 points out of the lineup. So they make a phone call to have Myatovic join the team for the rest of the season and he promptly scores twice in his first game.
And Myatovic was not a high pick. He was chosen in the sixth round, 119th overall. When you get selected in Round Six, that's probably because an area scout really likes your game, believes in your talent and convinced the head honchos that you are a fit for this team. That's how you get players like Myatovic or, you know, an eighth rounder who became a valuable piece of a championship team like Donovan Neuls.
Average hockey age of Seattle's roster Tuesday night versus Tri-City was 17.25 years old.
With Rempe out, third year player Jared Davidson has moved into the number two center role. He's responded well with seven points (3g, 4a) in 12 games. He's also won 77 faceoffs. Davidson is the epitome of plug and play because you can use him up and down the lineup. It makes it easier on the coaches when you have that versatility.
Three games over the past week for Seattle and they earned two wins and came oh-so-close to getting at least a point in the third game with a terrific third period comeback last Friday versus Everett, only to give up a late goal and fall 4-3. While this team has an abundance of team speed, they showed they can grind out wins as they did in two games against Tri-City.
There was a sequence in the third period Tuesday against Tri-City that led to scoring chances at both ends. First T-Birds defenseman Tyrel Bauer got loose in the slot, skated the puck below the hashes only to be denied by Americans goalie Talyn Boyko. Off that save Tri-City transitioned into a 2-on-1 break the other way. Except that odd man rush dissipated because one T-Bird player hustled back and the Ams didn't even end up with a shot on goal. Who was that hustling T-Bird? Tyrel Bauer.
Quick shout out to the medical staff, Athletic Trainer Phil Varney, the team doctor and the paramedics on scene, for the abundance of caution they took at the end of the game with Payton Mount, who was struck in the head by an errant puck while on the bench at the end of the game.
Sadly, we have reached the midway point of this pandemic shortened 24 game season. The second half begins Friday with a home game against Everett. Basically there are just over three weeks left and it will go by in a flash. Let's enjoy it.
My T-Birds Three Stars for the past three games:
Third Star: W Keltie Jeri-Leon. Riding a five game scoring streak, he registered five points over the three games with three goals and two assists. The "old man" on the roster has been coming through in the clutch with timely goals and as always he provides an invaluable, positive brand of leadership. It has to be disappointing to have his final season in the WHL cut down to just 24 games but he is making the most of it.
Second Star: The goaltending combo of Thomas Milic and Jackson Berry. I lost count of how many odd man rushes and breakaway chances these two stopped this past week, but everyone one of those saves kept Seattle within striking distance of victory. The T-Birds young roster is going to be prone to errors that lead to Grade A chances for the opposition and these two rose to the occasion.
First Star: C Henrik Rybinski. This is sounding like a broken record. We could just put this on repeat because he's the best player on the ice every night. He had six points (2g, 4a) in the three games and as a result has taken over the overall team scoring lead with 14 points (3g, 11a) through 12 games. He's doing this while also being tasked with shutting down the opposition's top line. He makes the players around him better and on a team with 12 rookies on the roster, that's definitely a good thing.
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