You earn you losses just as much as you earn your wins and no question the Thunderbirds earned each of their three losses on the season, just as they earned their ten wins.
Not too sound too cliche but the T-bird right now have to believe in the phrase, what doens't kill us makes us stronger. Are they disappointed that they've dropped three of their last four games? Of course. But they knew there would be bumps along the way. The road was not going to be clear from here to the playoffs next spring. They're still 10-3 despite still looking for their A game.
It is a process. Just like last season was a process. Right now the team is in the exact spot they were at this time last season. They had a similar record and were in third place in the U.S. Division behind Everett and Portland. I'm not saying things will go exactly as they did in 2021-22 but it does show you that it is a long season and how you start isn't how you'll finish.
This team is currently the yougest team in the WHL. They have just two 20-year olds on the roster and only one of them played this weekend. They are playing three rookies on the blueline almost every game. They are going to take their lumps. Of the five youngest rosters in the league, only Seattle, the youngest of them all, has a winning record. Wait until they have a half season under their belt. they're only going to get better.
One thing Seattle has done in the past decade is let their young players play. They throw them to the wolves and let them learn on the job. It will make they that much better by season's end and into the playoffs.
The Thunderbirds special teams are definitely out of sorts right now. The power play certainly missed Jared Davidson this weekend. But 2-for-15 on the weekend, with both goals scored while skating 5-on-3, is not just the result of Davidson's absence. Shooting opportunities were passed up. Don't be afraid to take the shot because you're worried it might get blocked. So many power play goals are scored off rebounds or deflections. Th esliver lining is that they generated 15 power play chances against Portland.
The penalty kill was tops in the WHL a season ago. But some key components from that top ranked PK have moved on. Seattle doesn't have Henrik Rybinski or Ryan Gottfried any more. So it might take time for players to settle into those roles.
Seattle had a very defined leadership group last season. I said at the end of last season's playoff run that their hasn't been a better captain in my tenure with the Thunderbirds than Tyrel Bauer. But Rybinski and Gottfried were big parts of that leadership group as well. You don't replace that overnight. It's is very possible that a little adversity will bring a leader or two forward for this group.
My T-Birds three Stars for the Weekend:
Third Stars: The goalies. Seattle allowed ten goals in two games but with the exception of maybe the first goal Friday in Portland, you can't lay blame at the feet of Scott Ratzlaff and Thomas Milic. Seattle continues to give up way to many ten bell scoring chances against. These two are doing all they can to give the team in front of them a chance. They're just being forced into making too many highlight reel saves.
Second Star: Sam Popowich. Seattle's Swiss Army knife. He's all effort. Can play up and down the lineup and be on the ice in all situations. He reminds me of Donovan Neuls in that regard. Teams don't win without a few Popoiwich's on the roster.
First Star: Mekai Sanders. Welcome back! After an eight month rehabilitation he's back on the ice and playing with the same controlled abandoned that makes him such an effective player. the orginal prognosis was for him to be out potentially a year. He put in the work to get back four months early. His return will make the Thunderbirds an even deeper forward group.
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