T-Birds Advance Past Blazers
May 9, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Jared Davidson scored once and assisted on the winning goal as the Seattle Thunderbirds edged the Kamloops Blazers, 4-2, Monday at the Sandman Centre in Game Six of the Western Conference Championship Series. With the win Seattle captures the series, four games to two, and advances to the Western Hockey League Championship Series where they will face the Winnipeg ICE. The series begins Friday in Winnipeg.
Davidson's goal at 4:46 of the second period, tied the game at 1-1, after the Blazers had scored the only goal of the first period. His assist came on Kyle Crnkovic's goal at the ten-minute mark of the third period, giving the Thunderbirds a 3-1 advantage. "Everyone was pulling on the same rope today," said Davidson of the team's winning effort. "That's the way we can play, and it showed in a big win tonight."
Head coach Matt O'Dette had a similar assessment of his team's performance. "I thought we played the right way tonight," he remarked. "Signs of a mature team to regroup (after a Game Five loss). We prepared the right way and played a really sound hockey game tonight and closed out a very good Kamloops team."
Despite outshooting and out chancing the Blazers through the first two periods, it was still a 1-1 game five and a half minutes into the third period. That's when Sawyer Mynio flung one on net and snuck it under the crossbar at the back post, giving Seattle a lead they would not relinquish. It was the first goal of the postseason for the second-year defenseman.
"It felt really good, obviously the first of the playoffs," said the Kamloops native. "It's something I'll never forget, and in the hometown too. It missed the first guy who was trying to block it and just floated in over his (the goalie's) right shoulder."
The Crnkovic goal came four and a half minutes later, off a strong forecheck led by Davidson. "That's kind of our identity," said the Montreal Canadians 2022 fifth round draft pick. "We like to forecheck and pressure hard and it worked throughout most of the series."
A late Seattle penalty allowed Kamloops to score a 6-on-4 power play goal but Reid Schaefer's empty net goal at 19:22 ended the suspense, restoring the Thunderbirds two-goal lead.
"It's not easy," said O'Dette of winning back-to-back Western Conference Championships. "Last year, we kind of snuck up on some people. This year was different. Targets have been on our backs the whole year. I'm proud of the guys. They've come together and become a team. But were not done. We have to finish the job."
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Davidson's two points gives him 50 playoff points (42 games) in his Thunderbirds career, putting him all alone in third place all-time. Next on the list is Ethan Bear (55 points). Mat Barzal is the franchise record holder with 65 career playoff points.
This will be Seattle's second straight appearance and fifth overall trip to the WHL Championship Series (1997, 2016, 2017 and 2022).
Four of Seattle's five Western Conference Championships, along with their only WHL title, have been clinched on the road. Only their 2016 Western Conference Championship was captured on home ice.
Seattle was credited with 122 shots on goal in the last three games versus Kamloops.
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