T-Birds Double Up Winter Hawks
December 31, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Portland, December 31, 2007 - The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Portland Winter Hawks 6-3 Monday night in front of 6,762 at Memorial Coliseum.
The T-Birds improved to 17-12-5-1 in the US Division.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal by Ian McKenzie at 6:37 of the first period. McKenzie made a move around a Portland defender and beat Portland goalie Kurtis Mucha with a quick shot over the glove side. It was McKenzie's ninth goal of the year. Jan Eberle put the T-Birds up 2-0 at 10:30 of the first when he put back a rebound of a Prab Rai shot. Jim O'Brien chipped the puck into the Portland zone where Rai got to it. Rai split two defenders and put a shot on goal. Mucha made the save but the rebound came to Eberle and he beat the goalie high on the glove side for his fifth goal of the year.
Portland (7-30-0-1) got on the board at 15:11 of the first when Radim Valchar scored a power-play goal. Bo Montgomery and Matt Schermund had assists.
Portland outshot Seattle 14-8 in the first period.
Scott Jackson scored his third goal of the year at 3:29 of the second period to put the T-Birds up 3-1. Lindsay Nielsen won a faceoff back to Jackson at the point. Jackson put a slap shot on goal that beat Mucha high.
The T-Birds outshot the Winter Hawks 17-12 in the second period but Portland had the lead in total shots after two periods, 26-25.
Seattle went up by two goals for a second time in the game when Bud Holloway scored a power-play goal at 5:19 of the third period. Benn Olson and Eberle had the assists on the goal.
Kevin Undershute scored a power-play goal at 16:33 of the third to cut the T-Birds lead to one goal. Travis Ehrhardt and Travis Bobbee had the assists.
David Richard scored his fourth goal of the year at 17:54 of the third to put the T-Birds back in front by two goals. McKenzie had the only assist on the goal. Holloway added an unassisted empty-net goal at 18:39 of the third for the final T-Birds goal.
Seattle outshot Portland 15-10 in the third period and 40-36 in the game.
Seattle goalie Jacob DeSerres got the win by stopping 33 of 36 shots and improved his record to 9-5-0-1.
Mucha made 34 saves on 40 shots and his record is now 6-15-0-1.
Up next the T-Birds have a home-and-home series with the Vancouver Giants on Friday, January 4, and Saturday, January 5. The T-Birds are in Vancouver on Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. game and they are at KeyArena on Saturday for a 7:05 p.m. game.
Season tickets are currently on sale for 2007-08 at KeyArena. Fans purchasing 2007-08 season tickets will have the highest seating priority for the 2008-09 season as the Thunderbirds open the new Kent Events Center. Priority can be established right now by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825) or for more information go to www.seattlethunderbirds.com.
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from December 31, 2007
- T-Birds Double Up Winter Hawks - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Keller Scores Winner in Spengler Cup - Saskatoon Blades
- Chiefs Make Annual New Year's Date With Americans - Spokane Chiefs
- Hitmen to play five games in six nights - Calgary Hitmen
- Team Sweden Wins Pool A, Advances to Semis - Chilliwack Bruins
- Tigers' Ennis Named BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Pats Weekly - Regina Pats
- Blazers Rally Past Giants In Shootout - Kamloops Blazers
- Giants Weekly Recap - Vancouver Giants
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Seattle Thunderbirds Stories
- T-Birds Acquire Draft Picks in Trade with Red Deer
- T-Birds Season Comes to an End
- T-Birds Face Must Win Game Six
- T-Birds, 'Tips Tied at Two
- T-Birds Double up 'Tips in Game 3
