
T-Birds Earn First Road Win in Kelowna
Published on October 10, 2025 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KELOWNA, B.C. - Marek Sklenicka stopped 35 of 36 shots and the Seattle Thunderbirds earned their first road win of the season, skating past the Kelowna Rockets, 3-1, Friday at Prospera Place. This was the first of three games in three days for Seattle. They return home to the accesso ShoWare Center Saturday to host the Spokane Chiefs at 6:05 p.m. They finish the weekend Sunday in Wenatchee.
"A really good response tonight," said head coach Matt O'Dette of his team's effort coming off a humbling 10-4 loss. "We challenged the guys to raise our attention to detail defensively, our work ethic and our compete level. That's the type of effort we need to win on the road."
Seattle (3-3-0-0) got on the board early with an unassisted goal from Kaleb Hartmann, his first of the season. The goal at 6:47 of the first period carried into the first intermission.
After a scoreless second period, the Thunderbirds doubled their lead with a power play goal from Antonio Martorana at 3:42 of period three. Matej Pekar and Coster Dunn had the assists on Martorana's third goal of the season. The goal would stand as the game winner.
The Rockets made it a game, scoring while skating 5-on-3, they closed to within 2-1 with 9:35 remaining. The T-Birds clamped down from that point and Sawyer Mayes was able to bury a puck into an empty net at 18:55 with Martorana assisting.
Sklenicka was at his best in the final period, making 14 saves. "Our goalie was really good tonight," remarked O'Dette who added it was a team effort. "Guys were sacrificing, blocking shots, taking hits to make plays and sticking up for each other."
With two more games this weekend, O'Dette said there is little time to enjoy this one. "We're happy with the win. Now we need to respond again and match that effort in back-to-back nights."
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Ashton Cumby played in his first game of the season for the T-Birds after being returned to Seattle earlier in the week by the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.
The T-Birds played without Simon Lovsin who began serving a five-game suspension for a kneeing major assessed in Seattle's loss last weekend in Penticton. He's eligible to return October 24th.
With his third period assist Matej Pekar has a three-game point streak with five points (3g,2a) over that stretch.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2025
- T-Birds Earn First Road Win in Kelowna - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wild Kill All Six Spokane Power Plays, But Chiefs Score 4-0 Win Friday - Wenatchee Wild
- Hitmen Double-up on Tigers, 4-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- Campion Nets First Career WHL Goal, Chiefs Tame the Wild with 4-0 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets Fall, 3-1, to Thunderbirds - Kelowna Rockets
- High Octane Offense Carries Hawks Past Hurricanes on Friday Night - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos Fall to Blades in First Meeting of the Season - Swift Current Broncos
- Campion Nets First Career WHL Goal, Chiefs Tame the Wild with 4-0 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Claim Connor Dale off Waivers from Swift Current - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Americans at Cougars - October 11, 2025 - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Lose Tight Contest to Wheat Kings - Vancouver Giants
- Tigers Fall, 4-2, to Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Down Rebels - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Stronger Defensive Effort Earns Wheat Kings First Victory Of Season Over Vancouver - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Warriors Acquire Petersen from Hurricanes - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hurricanes Acquire Dupuis and Pick from Warriors for Petersen - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Americans claim 2005-born forward Connor Dale off waivers - Tri-City Americans
- Eight Winterhawks Alumni Included on AHL Opening Night Rosters - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Game 7 at Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Host Wild Friday Night for Sturm Heating Clothing Drive Benefiting Teen & Kid Closet - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Head to Alberta for First Weekend Road Trip of the Season - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Game Day Hub: October 10 at Lethbridge - Portland Winterhawks
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.
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