Kukuca's Two Goals Slide T-Birds Past Ice
September 7, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KENT - Andrej Kukuca had two goals Friday afternoon to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 victory over the Kootenay Ice at the Red Lion Hotels' Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center.
The T-Birds defeated the Spokane Chiefs 3-2 on Thursday at the Tournament. They are now 3-2-0-0 on the preseason.
The T-Birds wrap up preseason play with back-to-back games against the Everett Silvertips. They will play on Tuesday, September 11, at 7:05pm at the accesso ShoWare Center. The T-Birds will travel to the Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, September 15, to play the Silvertips at 7pm in their final preseason game. Tickets for the preseason game on September 11 are now on sale.
Kukuca put the T-Birds in front 1-0 just 1:15 into the first period. Noah Philp and Tyler Carpendale had the assist on Kukuca's third goal of the preseason.
Seattle extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:51 of the first on Philp's first goal of the preseason. Zack Andrusiak had the only assist on the goal.
The T-Birds outshot the Ice 12-6 in the first period.
Kootenay cut the lead to one goal at 15:27 of the second period on a goal from Gunnar Wegleitner. Jaeger White and Jonathan Smart had the assists.
Both teams had eight shots on goal in the second period and Seattle led 20-14 in shots after two periods.
Kukuca scored on the power play at 16:02 of the third period to give the T-Birds an insurance goal. Simon Kubicek and Graeme Bryks had the assists.
Kukuca has a five-game point streak with four goals and four assists in the last five preseason games.
Seattle outshot Kootenay 28-25 in the game.
Seattle goalie Cole Schwebius had 24 saves on 25 shots and his preseason record is 1-1-0-0.
Kootenay goalie Jesse Makaj had 25 saves on 28 shots and his preseason record is 0-1-0-0.
The T-Birds start the 2018-19 Western Hockey League regular season against the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, September 22 at 6:05pm at the ShoWare Center.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2018-19 regular season are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
Season Tickets for 2018-19 season are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Seattle, Kukuca 3 (Philp, Carpendale), 1:15. 2, Seattle, Philp 1 (Andrusiak), 16:51. Penalties - Schaufler, Ktn (slashing), 8:35. Bateman, Sea (holding opponents stick), 13:06. Bauer, Sea (slashing), 15:48. McClennon, Ktn (slashing), 15:48.
Second period - 3, Kootenay, Wegleitner 1 (White, Smart), 15:27 (pp). Penalties - Lee, Sea (cross checking), 5:17. Ginnell, Ktn (slashing), 9:43. Carpendale, Sea (charging, misconduct-mouthguard), 14:08. Rempe, Sea (slashing), 17:58.
Third period - 4, Seattle, Kukuca 4 (Kubicek, Bryks), 16:02 (pp). Penalties - Lee, Sea (high-sticking), :13. McMaster, Ktn (closing hand on puck), 6:06. Kodak, Ktn (delay of game), 12:34. Makaj, Ktn (goalie throwing the puck), 15:32. Savey, Sea (roughing), 16:28.
Shots on goal - Seattle 12-8-8 28, Kootenay 6-8-11 25. Goalies - Seattle, Schwebius 25 shots-24 saves (1-1-0-0); Kootenay, Makaj 28-25 (0-1-0-0). Power plays - Seattle 1-6; Kootenay 1-6. Referees - Nick Panter, Ward Pateman. Linesmen - Steve Beck, Mateen Hessami.
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