"That's T-birds style hockey. Hard-working, physical, making plays." That's how Thunderbirds Head Coach Matt O'Dette described his team's effort this weekend as they earned three of a possible four points. In doing so they controlled most of the play both nights and ended up outshooting their two opponents on the weekend, 96-41. And not just any two opponents, but two of the top teams in the league in Portland and Everett.
If not for the exceptional play in goal by Portland netminder Taylor Gauthier Friday, Seattle would have won both games. Instead, they had to settle for a win and an overtime loss. That happens sometimes. You can't always control the final result, but you can control your effort and the T-birds effort both nights was relentless. It was T-birds style hockey.
What made it more impressive was they did it coming off a two-week layoff. A number of players were returning to action after battling Covid. Practice time had been limited. Yet there seemed to be very little rust. Maybe it was a lot of pent-up energy being released. We'll have to see as they go forward, but that's the way this team has to play every game. That's their brand.
Goalie Scott Ratzlaff is still just 16 years old. He won't turn 17 until early March. Yet here is, nine starts into his young WHL career and he has yet to lose a game in regulation, 8-0-1-0. The overtime loss Friday to the Winterhawks was the first time he had not won a game in regulation. And I'm sure he'd agree a couple of those goals he allowed to Portland should have been stopped. Yet he shrugged that one off, put it behind him and was on his game again Saturday in the 5-1 win over Everett.
Did he face a lot of rubber in either game? No. But I think when the play is at the other end of the ice most of the night, that makes it harder on a goalie to stay sharp. His biggest save of the weekend came early in the second period against Everett. With the T-birds up 1-0, he cold-stoned stopped Jackson Berezowski, who was all alone at the top of the crease. It prevented the Silvertips from tying the game and possibly changing the momentum. With Thomas Milic unavailable for either contest, Seattle needed Ratzlaff to be good and he delivered.
Since coming back from the holiday break Jared Davidson is averaging 2.5 points a game. He's picked up ten points (4g, 6a) in the four games played. He now leads the team in scoring with 37-points (14g, 23a) in 33-games. All this from an undrafted camp invite. Over his last 56-games he had 56-points. I think General Manager Bil LaForge and his team of scouts know what they're doing.
Last week NHL Central Scouting released its midterm rankings for North American skaters eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. T-birds d-man Kevin Korchinski came in at #20 on the list and center Jordan Gustafson was at #43. No surprise for two players selected by Seattle in the top ten of the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. Also on the list, at #85, was Reid Schaefer.
Schaefer, selected by the T-birds in the eighth round of the 2018 WHL Prospects Draft (#164 overall) is a late birthday and wasn't eligible for last summer's draft. He's making the most of that extra year to impress the scouts. In his first game back from Covid Saturday versus Everett he had a four-point night (2g, 2a). He is tied for the team lead in goals scored with 14. His effort didn't go unnoticed by O'Dette. "He pieced together a really nice game. First game back after being on the shelf. that's pretty impressive."
O'Dette says Schaefer is a legitimate NHL prospect. "Yeah, he's a big guy that's capable of playing very physical and, obviously, the skills to match it. He's got good hands, a good shot. He's starting to put it all together and it's fun to see."
A similar player is Seattle's 2020 top draft pick, Sam Oremba, who just turned 17 last week. O'Dette believes in his talent too. "Guys can get lost sometimes in the shuffle, but Sam, he's had some really good games for us this year. We're working with him on his consistency, and I think this weekend is a really nice confidence booster for him. We needed all the guys, and him, to step up. He had a really nice weekend, played hard and it's good to see him get rewarded for it." Don't be surprised to see Oremba's name listed high on a lot of rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft.
In their last two home games versus Everett, the T-birds are 2-0, have outscored the Silvertips 10-3 and have put 89-shots on goal. In fact, in three home games against the 'Tips this season, Seattle is 2-0-1-0 and have scored 14-times on 119-shots. That's 4.6 goals a game and almost 40 shots per contest (39.7). They need to find a way to bottle that and take it on the road to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett where they are 0-4-0-0. In those four road losses, Seattle has scored just five goals.
The T-birds still are not at full strength. So, as impressive as they were this weekend, you have to believe they have another gear we haven't seen yet. Knock on wood they get some of those missing players back soon.
The WHL trade deadline is Monday afternoon. Will the T-birds stand pat, or is there another move to be made? Stay Tuned!
My T-birds Three Stars for the Weekend:
Third Star: LW Reid Schaefer. He missed Friday's overtime loss to Portland. Seattle could have used him. Going into the weekend he was the T-birds leading scorer against the Winterhawks this season (3g, 3a). He made the most of his return to the lineup Saturday with his four-point night. The only question is, did he or did he not get a hat trick? There is some controversy on whether Seattle's game winning goal was his or Henrik Rybinski's.
Second Star: D Kevin Korchinski. A three-assist weekend. he now has 24 assists on the season, which leads the team. With just 56-games under his belt, he still hasn't played a full season of WHL hockey, but he plays with the confidence of a seasoned vet. Not only ranked at #20 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, but TSN's Craig Button has him as the 26th best player for the 2022 NHL Draft.
First Star C/W Jared Davidson. A four-point weekend (2g, 2a). His 37-points leads the team, and he is tied with Schaefer for the goal scoring lead on the club with fourteen. His trajectory over his T-birds career reminds me of how Zach Andrusiak and Keltie Jeri-Leon improved over their time in Kent, only I think Davidson is a more complete 200-foot player. Far and away the team leader in shots on goal. Remember, you can't score if you don't shoot. Be like Davy...shoot!
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