Kukuca Has Hat Trick But T-Birds Fall to Tigers
January 5, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
MEDICINE HAT, AB, January 4, 2020 - The Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 8-5 Saturday night at the Canalta Centre.
This was the second of three games in the Central Division for the T-Birds. They beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 5-4 in overtime Friday and play Swift Current Broncos on Sunday at 2pm.
Andrej Kukuca had a hat trick in the game and now leads the T-Birds in goals scored this season with 14. Kukuca's hat trick is the second this season by a T-Birds. Conner Roulette had a hat trick in a 5-3 win against Victoria on October 5 at accesso ShoWare Center.
T-Birds next home game at accesso ShoWare Center is Saturday, January 11, against the Everett Silvertips at 6:05pm in our annual Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss presented by WARM 106.9 FM. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
The T-Birds have a 14-20-2-1 record for 31 points which ties them with the Tri-City Americans for the second wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference. Tri-City has a 13-17-4-1 record and has played two less games than the T-Birds.
Medicine Hat took a 1-0 lead 1:07 into the first period on a goal from Brett Kemp then went in front 2-0 at 14:40 on a goal from Nick McCarry.
Kukuca tied the game 2-2 with two goals 22 seconds apart. Kukuca got the puck all alone in front of Medicine Hat goalie Garin Bjorklund and went forehand backhand roofing the puck over the goalie's blocker at 15:32.
On the ensuing shift Conner Bruggen-Cate skated up ice on a two-on-one with Kukuca. Bruggen-Cate crossed the puck on his backhand from the right circle to Kukuca in the slot. Kukuca slid the puck under Bjorklund at 15:55 of the first. Kukuca's 13th goal of the season tied Keltie Jeri-Leon for the team lead in goals. Matthew Rempe had the second assist.
Medicine Hat's James Hamblin scored seven seconds after Kukuca's second goal to give them a 3-2 lead.
Roulette tied the game 3-3 at 18:03 of the first. Jeri-Leon took a shot from the high slot that rebounded off Bjorklund to the right of the net. Henrik Rybinski got the puck and sent it behind the net to Roulette. Roulette brought the puck out at the left post and banked a shot off the defenseman's skate and past Bjorklund.
Rybinski got the T-Birds a 4-3 lead at 2:21 of the second period converting on a two-on-one break. Roulette passed the puck up to Jeri-Leon to create a two-on-one. Jeri-Leon crossed the puck from the right circle to Rybinski in slot. Rybinski one-timed the pass and beat Bjorklund high for his 10th goal of the season.
Medicine Hat tied the game 4-4 on a power-play goal by Dylan Plouffe at 7:15 of the second.
Kemp scored at 12:42 of the second with the teams playing four-on-four to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
Hamblin scored a shorthanded goal 12 seconds into the third period to give the Tigers a 6-4 lead.
Plouffe scored at 11:30 of the third to get the Tigers seventh goal.
Medicine Hat's Cole Sillinger made it an 8-4 lead at 13:57 of the third.
Kukuca scored his third goal of the game at 14:59 of the third. Bruggen-Cate jammed at a puck in the crease that came to Kukuca to the left of the net. Kukuca lifted the puck over Bjorklund as the goalie lunged to make the save. Kukuca took the team lead in goals scored with 14 on his third goal of the game.
The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2019-20 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Medicine Hat, Kemp 17 (Chyzowski), 1:07. 2, Medicine Hat, McCarry 6 (Kemp), 14:40. 3, Seattle, Kukuca 12, 15:32. 4, Seattle, Kukuca 13 (Bruggen-Cate, Rempe), 15:55. 5, Medicine Hat, Hamblin 22 (Baker), 16:02. 6, Seattle, Roulette 11 (Rybinski, Jeri-Leon), 18:03. Penalties - Clayton, MH (hooking), 18:33.
Second period - 7, Seattle, Rybinski 10 (Jeri-Leon, Roulette), 2:21. 8, Medicine Hat, Plouffe 7 (Hopwo, Brinkman), 6:54. 9, Medicine Hat, Kemp 18 (Chyzowski, Baker), 12:42. Penalties - Williams, Sea (tripping), 5:27. Gavlas, MH (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:06. Bauer, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:06. Lockner, MH (roughing), 18:28.
Third period - 10, Medicine Hat, Hamblin 23 (Gavlas), :12 (sh). 11, Medicine Hat, Plouffe 8 (Clayton, Hopwo), 11:30. 12, Medicine Hat, Sillinger 13 (Kemp), 13:57. 13, Seattle, Kukuca 14 (Bruggen-Cate), 14:59. Penalties - No penalties.
Shots on goal - Seattle 15-9-6 30, Medicine Hat 9-22-17 48. Goalies - Seattle, Lyda 48 shots-40 saves (3-6-0-0); Medicine Hat, Bjorklund 30-25 (12-3-0-0). Power plays - Seattle 0-2; Medicine Hat 1-1. Referees - Jeff Ingram, Troy Murray. Linesmen - Darren Holeha, Mason Stewart.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 5, 2020
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