WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds fall to Americans

March 18, 2007 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


SEATTLE, March 18, 2007 - The Tri-City Americans beat the Seattle Thunderbirds 7-4 Sunday night in front of 3, 572 at KeyArena.

The Thunderbirds finish the 2006-07 regular season 37-21-3-11. Their 88 points is good for a third place finish in the U.S. Division. They will move on to the First Round of the WHL Playoffs on Friday, March 23, in Kennewick against these same Tri-City Americans. The puck drops in the Toyota Center for Game 1 at 7:05 p.m.

The Americans (47-23-1-1) struck first at 4:43 of the first period on a goal from Travis Gorman. Joel Broda had the lone assist.

The T-Birds tied the game at 10:22 of the first on a short-handed goal from David Richard.

Greg Scott stole the puck in the T-Bird zone and hit Richard streaking up ice towards the American goal. Richard fought off two defenders and jumped out in front of the pack with only Tri-City goalie Chet Pickard between him and the net. Richard went left and backhanded the puck off the edge of his stick, past Pickard, high at the left post. The goal was Richard's ninth of the season.

The T-Birds took the 2-1 lead at 16:41 of the first on the 16th goal of the year from Brett Robertson. Robertson skated up the near boards and dumped the puck right, as he sidestepped his defender on the left side. Robertson gained a step on his defender and recovered in time to poke the loose puck past the outstretched leg of Pickard low at the left post. Scott Jackson and Sena Acolatse assisted on the T-Birds second short-handed goal of the period.

Seattle outshot Tri-City 13-8 in the first.

Alex Aldred tied the game at two apiece with a power- play goal 31 seconds into the second period. Broda had the lone assist.

Tanner Gillies gave the Americans a 3-2 lead on a short-handed goal at 8:35 of the second.

Robertson made it 3-3 at 14:20 of the second on a power-play goal. Jan Eberle slid a pass up to Robertson stationed right of the slot. Robertson skated into the slot and fired a one-timer that beat Pickard high on the glove side. Jackson had the other assist on Robertson's second goal of the night.

Gorman gave the Americans a 4-3 lead at 15:18 of the second. Chris Inglis and Broda had the assists.

Both Seattle and Tri-City each had 10 shots apiece in the second. The T-Birds led 23-18 through two periods.

The T-Birds tied the game at 6:15 of the third period on a goal from Scott. Robertson took the Prab Rai pass right of the point and fired a one-timer into the crowd gathered in front of the net. The puck hit a body and fell into the crease for Scott to poke it in past Pickard for his 18th of the year. With the assist, Rai increases his point streak to four games.

The Americans took the lead at 14:51 of the third on a power-play goal from Aaron Boogaard. Gillies and Kruise Reddick had the assists.

The Ams added one more at 17:27 on Eric Mestery's first goal in the WHL. Aldred and Brock Cornish had the assists.

Reddick added one at 18:57 of the third. Cornish and Pickard had the assists.

Tri-City outshot Seattle 17-9 in the third and 37-32 on the night.

Jacob DeSerres finished the night stopping 30 of 37 shots. His record falls to 7-9-0-2.

Pickard stopped 28 of 32 shots and improves his record to 17-10-0-1.

The Thunderbirds announced their 2006-07 season awards in a ceremony held after the final regular season game.

SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS 2006-07 SEASON AWARDS

HUMANITARIAN - Aaron Gagnon

SCHOLASTIC PLAYER - Jacob DeSerres. Honorable mention - Isak Quakenbush

MOST SPORTSMANLIKE PLAYER - Aaron Gagnon

MOST IMPROVED - Benn Olson and Josh Schappert

MOST DEDICATED - Isak Quakenbush

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Jan Eberle

TOP SCORER - Aaron Gagnon

DEFENSEMAN OF THE YEAR - Thomas Hickey

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER¬ - Aaron Gagnon

Single game playoff tickets are currently on sale for the first round series against the Americans. Single game playoff tickets are $22, $18 and $14 and may be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 206-628-0888 or online at www.seattlethunderbirds.com. Playoff tickets can also be purchased by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825) or at all TicketMaster outlets, the KeyArena West Box Office Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and The Hockey Store located at 14326 124th Ave NE in Kirkland.

Ten-game playoff ticket packages are $220 and are available by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825).

First Round Playoff Schedule

Game 1: Friday, March 23 at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center

Game 2: Saturday, March 24 at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center

Game 3: Tuesday, March 27 at 7:05 p.m. at KeyArena

Game 4: Wednesday, March 28 at 7:05 p.m. at KeyArena

Game 5: Friday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center*

Game 6: Saturday, March 31 at 7:05 p.m. at KeyArena*

Game 7: Tuesday, April 3 at 7:05 p.m. at Toyota Center*

* - if necessary

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2007


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