WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

In The Corners with Thom Beuning

Published on December 8, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Once again the Thunderbirds continue to amaze with their uncanny ability to bounce back from a loss with a win. Their ability to refocus after a loss is a tribute to head coach Rob Sumner and his assistants, as well as the leadership of the veteran players. I think what it boils down to is the bitter taste they get in their mouths after a loss. While some teams shake off a defeat as just one of those games that got away during the course of a 72-game season, the T-Birds attitude after a loss is one of almost disgust. They don't like losing, they don't accept losing and they don't want to get used to losing. While Rob is not a ranting and raving "in your face" kind of coach, one thing he won't accept is complacency. As he said after the loss to Kootenay on Friday, you have to have a sense of urgency each and every time you hit the ice. Now, the players realize that too.

The T-Birds could have easily settled for a tie or an overtime loss Saturday against Tri-City in Kennewick, after all, they would have earned one point. But that wasn't acceptable and they kept playing hard in the overtime until they got the game winner. Then, knowing that reclaiming first place in the division was at stake; they went out and took care of business by shutting out Swift Current Sunday.

Despite their just concluded busy weekend of three games in three nights, the Thunderbirds have still played the fewest games of any team in the WHL at 26. They begin to catch up to the rest of the league, starting tonight in Kamloops, as the team begins a stretch of six games in ten days; all on the road. This is where they can make hay and stretch their lead in the U.S. Division. But, many a team has had a season of hope dashed by a poor eastern swing.

One thing the T-Birds have proven in the first third of this season is that, unlike the recent past, they can win on the road. In 13 games away from the Key they have posted a 9-4-0 record. Remember too, that the T-Birds have already had stretches where they played five straight and then four straight games on the road and did well. This trip will be different though because the T-Birds are playing so many games in such a short span.

How will they perform out east? A season ago the T-Birds put an end to a nearly three year winless streak on their eastern road trips. They went through the Central Division of the Eastern Conference and came out with a 2-2-0-1 record. This season their eastern swing goes through the Eastern Division and the likes of Brandon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. If the rest of the U.S. Division is a fair barometer of how the T-Birds will perform, they should have a positive road trip. Everett, Spokane and Tri-City have all been out east already and had good success. Last season, when the T-Birds hosted the Eastern Division teams they went 3-1-0-1

Though these will be the only regular season games against the Eastern Division this season, a few games provide some interesting matchups. In Saskatoon they will face former teammates Aaron Bader and Ryan Cyr. Bader could be the answer to a unique T-Birds trivia question. Is he the only player the Thunderbirds have traded twice in less than 12 months? He was traded early last season to Kootenay for Bryan Bridges, reacquired from the Ice in the off-season only to be traded to Saskatoon before camp started this season in exchange for Derek Couture.

Then, when Seattle arrives in Moose Jaw, two more former teammates await them. Josh Lepp and Cole Simpson were dealt to the Warriors less than a month ago. The other intriguing aspect to this trip is how the team will play just before the holiday break. With six players on the roster from Saskatchewan and Manitoba can they stay focused on the task at hand and not the vision of sugar plums dancing in their heads? Because these players know that at the end of the trip they won't be getting back on the bus for the long ride back to Seattle, instead they'll be heading home with family for the holiday.

NO "I" IN TEAM: Seattle sports the best winning percentage in the WHL, they have played the fewest games in the league to date, yet still have the most wins. They haven't lost two in a row all season and they have allowed the least number of goals against, yet when it came time to select players for Canada's World Junior Team tryout camp, not one T-Bird was invited. Of the 32 invitees, 21 hail from the WHL, but no Thunderbird among them. Just more evidence that it takes a team, and not individuals, to win.

If there is a T-Bird deserving of an invite but was slighted, it is goalie Bryan Bridges. He leads the WHL in most statistical categories including goals-against-average, shutouts and save percentage. Team Canada only invited four goalies to camp; all four are from the WHL (Rejean Beauchemin, Devan Dubnyk, Kevin Nastiuk and Jeff Glass). The T-Birds still should be represented at the tournament in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Ladislav Scurko will be on the roster for Slovakia.

This season Seattle Thunderbirds play-by-play voice Thom Beuning is writing a weekly column for Thunderbirds E-News. Each week Thom will take an in-depth look at the T-Birds. He will wrap up the previous week's games and preview upcoming T-Bird opponents. Thom will also spotlight T-Birds who are making contributions that you won't see on the score sheet. You can listen to the game on KKNW, 1150-AM or on the webcast at www.seattlethunderbirds.com. The broadcast begins with the T-birds pregame show, "Crash the Net" 25-minutes before the first period face-off.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2004


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