The Thunderbirds certainly aren't the only team in the WHL dealing with Covid issues. They are one of the few teams, maybe the only team though, that has not had to completely shut down their hockey activity. They didn't have two games postponed earlier this month because they didn't have enough players to ice a team. No, it was primarily a weather issue, as heavy snow closed all mountain passes connecting Western Washington and Eastern Washington keeping them from their scheduled game in Kennewick January 7th.
It was those same closed passes, and a shutdown of Spokane's hockey activities, that postponed the T-birds home game versus the Chiefs on January 8th. Other team have had games postponed because of Covid ripping through their rosters. Seattle has had multiple players out in Covid Protocol, but they have played on. They played a game with just 15 skaters. they played a game with just 17 skaters and this past week they played four straight games with only 16 skaters available.
And think of the players Seattle has had to play without. Three defensemen sidelined who eat up big minutes: Tyrel Bauer, Jeremy Hanzel and Sawyer Mynio. And then this weekend they played three games in three nights with those players still out and another top six defenseman, Sam Knazko left to go prepare for the Winter Olympics.
They dressed just 11 forwards these last four games as Matt Rempe and Sam Oremba were sidelined too. And yet, they didn't bat an eye. Instead, they pressed on through a difficult circumstance. Where they could have wilted, they went 2-1-0-1. When the third period rolled around in Everett Sunday and the T-bird were trailing, they could have sagged back, exhausted playing their fourth game in seven nights with that short bench. Instead, they surged. They put 17 shots on net and went on the attack, using every drop of fuel left in the tank.
They came up short, but it doesn't even seem possible they could do what they did under those circumstances. They nearly pulled off the impossible. They stared adversity down and didn't blink.
We've only truly seen the T-birds with a full roster a couple of times since Christmas. Well, actually no, we haven't. Bauer is out long term and has been sidelined since December 10th. So, let's say the closest they've been to 100-percent the second half was the weekend of January 14-15. And what did we see? two absolutely dominant performances against Portland and Everett. They outshot those two teams 96-41. If not for a stand-on-his-head performance by Portland's goalie, Seattle would have swept those two games. Instead, they settled for a win and an overtime loss.
But even this past week, playing understaffed in those four games, they outshot their opponents 148-111 and outscored them 22-11. You don't do what Seattle did this past week without having players with talent, character, grit and, most importantly, heart.
Knock on wood, here's hoping we get to see this team as close to full strength the rest of the way. If I was an outsider looking in, the one team out West that would scare me come playoff time is a healthy, complete Seattle Thunderbirds.
My T-birds three stars for the week:
Third Star: C Henrik Rybinski. Seattle's first line center has been on a role in the month of January, but especially this past week. In the four games he piled up nine points (5g, 4a) and finished with a +6 rating. It is his energy and effort that sets the tone.
Second Star: D Kevin Korchinski. There have been a number of ratings services that have put out their midterm rankings for the upcoming 2022 NHL Entry Draft. I haven't seen one yet that doesn't have Korchinski in the top 30. With so many of his rear-guard teammates out of the lineup he's been playing big minutes for the T-birds. He's definitely making the most of it. In the four games he compiled six assists. He is now eighth among WHL defenseman in scoring with 35 points (4g, 31a).
First Star: C/W Jared Davidson. Coming into the season Davidson had earned 39 points over three seasons. In just over half a season this year, he has 48 points, which is 15th best in the league. He leads the team in both points and goals scored (20). In the four games last week he scored five goals and added four assists and finished with a +9 rating.
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