T-Birds Blast Blazers
December 11, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Kamloops, B.C. - Henrik Rybinski contributed a goal and two assists while Thomas Milic kicked out 25 of 26 he shots faced and the Seattle Thunderbirds opened a three-game road swing with a, 6-1, win over the Kamloops Blazers Friday at the Sandman Centre. The T-birds continue their road trek Saturday with a stop in Kelowna to face the Rockets.
Seattle took the game's first penalty, but they put their league-best penalty kill to use to open the scoring while shorthanded. Thunderbirds captain Tyrel Bauer stole the puck at center ice and raced into the Blazers zone, scoring off his backhand. The unassisted goal was his fourth of the season and started a T-bird onslaught as they would score three more in the opening period.
T-birds Head Coach Matt O'Dette said the early penalty kill was a table setter for his team. "The first special teams opportunity, whether it's power play or penalty kill, kind of sets the tone for that particular special team and that was a good one, with the end result being a shorthanded goal. That can get you off on the right foot for sure."
A minute and a half later the T-birds added to their lead on Rybinski's fifth of the season, knocking home a pass from Lucas Ciona. Rybinski who missed seven games recently, including the first two meetings this season against Kamloops, was ready for his chance to skate against them. "Oh, for sure, I was really excited. I was shaking. I think all the boys were excited to play them." Rybinski was glad to have success in an arena that hadn't been kind to the T-birds the last time they played in Kamloops. "It was great to get a win in this barn. Two years ago, we lost 10-1, so it was nice to give them a little payback."
It took all of 14-seconds for Seattle to add to their lead. Jeremy Hanzel snapped home a one-timer off a feed from Sam Knazko at 7:52. Rybinski had the second assist. The T-birds weren't done scoring in the opening period as Ciona got in on the act at 16:28 with his fourth. Both Hanzel and Rybinski picked up an assist on the Ciona goal. Ciona had one of his stronger performances of the season in the win. "We were successful tonight. We got pucks in, we got pucks on the net, and we played hard. The results were there tonight, and it was fun to play this game."
Kamloops tried to get back in the game in period two. They got an early goal from Josh Pillar at 1:53, but Seattle and Milic closed the door from there. Milic made his best save while the Blazers were on the power play. Daylan Kuefler got in behind the T-birds defense only to be denied on the doorstep by Milic's right pad.
The T-birds salted the game away with a pair of third period goals. The first came from Sam Popowich at 3:42 as he cleaned up a rebound of a Jordan Gustafson shot. The second, at 8:36, came from Reid Schaefer, assisted by Knazko.
O'Dette says the win was a complete effort. "We have a formula that's been working for us, and when we stick to it we have success." He said it is a matter of doing it the whole game. "We've obviously seen spurts of it. I thought for the most part our formula and our game plan was there."
T-BIRD EXTRAS
Schaefer has goals in each of his last three games. As a result, he now leads the team in goal scoring with eleven in 24-games. Schaefer did not score once last season in 18-contests.
This was Seattle's first game in Canada since March 6th, 2020.
Bauer was hurt early in the third period. While he returned to the Seattle bench, he did not take another shift. He is day-to-day with a lower body injury.
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