WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Record Crowd Throws 5,031 Bears On Ice

Published on January 30, 2011 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Kent - The Portland Winterhawks defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2 Saturday night in front 6,158 fans, a ShoWare Center record crowd for a hockey game. The game was the T-Birds annual Teddy Bear Toss game.

At 9:16 of the first period, 5,031 stuffed animals rained down on the ShoWare Center ice when Travis Toomey beat Portland goalie Mac Carruth five-hole on the power play. Colin Jacobs took a shot that deflected to Tyler Alos in the left corner. Alos centered the puck to Toomey in the left circle and he beat Carruth with a quick snap shot.

The bears and stuffed animals were collected by the WARM 106.9 Teddy Bear Patrol and will be given to fire and police departments to give to children in times of emergency and crisis. The Winterhawks tied the game 1-1 on a goal by Brad Ross, assisted by Ryan Johansen at 15:18 of the first period.

After one period of play, Portland was leading Seattle in shots, 19-14.

The Winterhawks struck early in the second, scoring a power-play goal at 2:49. Ryan Johansen received a centering pass from Brad Ross and beat Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard. Joe Morrow also got an assist on the play.

In the second period, Portland outshot Seattle 14-9, giving them a 33-23 advantage through 40 minutes.

Portland extended their lead to 3-1 on a Ty Rattie goal, assisted by Brendan Leipsic and William Wrenn at 7:13 of the third period.

A Craig Cunningham goal at 10:58 of the third period increased Portland's lead to 4-1. Rattie assisted on Cunningham's 18th of the year.

Marcel Noebels wristed a power-play goal past Carruth from the left circle at 17:58 of the third period to make it 4-2 Portland. Dillon fed Noebels, whose shot beat Carruth over the glove through a slew of bodies in front of Portland's net.

William Wrenn scored an unassisted empty-net goal with 36 seconds remaining in the game to give Portland a 5-2 advantage.

Seattle outshot Portland 22-9 during the third period, and led the game's total shot count 45-42.

Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard (18-21-3-5) stopped 37 of the 41 shots that he faced.

Portland goalie Mac Carruth (24-12-0-1) saw 45 shots and saved 43 of them to earn the victory.

The T-Birds will face the Everett Silvertips Sunday at 5:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center. They will then face the Edmonton Oil Kings, Tuesday, February 1st at the ShoWare Center.

T-Birds single game tickets for the 2010-11 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds group tickets are currently on sale. Group tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2011


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