T-Birds Fire Past Blazers
November 10, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Thomas Milic turned aside 38-shots and Reid Schaefer scored the game winner as the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Kamloops Blazers, 2-1 in overtime, Wednesday at the Sandman Centre. The win snapped the Thunderbirds two game losing skid, Seattle remains on the road for their next game. They travel to Spokane Friday to face the Chiefs.
Thunderbirds head coach Matt O'Dette said the win started and ended with Milic. "He played great, just in control all game long, made some big saves. I think that was a signature Milly type game."
For his part Milic said he didn't think the shot clock dictated the whole game. "Our team did a good job of keeping the shots to the outside. It makes those saves a lot easier for me to track them all the way in."
The only goal Milic allowed came late in the first period, on a 2-on-1 rush, when the Blazers Caeden Bankier got in behind the Seattle defense and beat Milic five hole at the 18:26 mark. Seattle responded early in the second period when Sam Popowich scored shorthanded off a feed from Schaefer at 1:19.
Schaefer got the puck in the defensive zone and headed up ice. "I saw Poppy flying down the weak side wing. I got the puck to him, and he did the rest with a nice shot, so credit to him."
After a scoreless third period the game headed to overtime. Kamloops had a chance to win it when Logan Stankoven was awarded a penalty shot 65-seconds into extra time, but Milic forced the shot wide. "I think it was a case of giving him absolutely nothing to shoot at and I guess he shot it wide."
Twenty seconds later Schaefer ended it with his 14th goal of the season, assisted by Gracyn Sawchyn It was also Schaefer's fifth game winning goal of the season. The play started in behind the Seattle net. "I kind of gave Sawch a bad pass there off the end boards but he beat out the icing and found me in the slot."
The win marked the debut of defenseman Luke Prokop in a Thunderbirds jersey. Seattle obtained Prokop's rights from the Edmonton Oil Kings October 25th. A prospect of the NHL's Nashville Predators, he had been playing in the ECHL with the Norfolk Admirals until the Predators re-assigned him to the Thunderbirds Tuesday.
"He was great out there," said O'Dette of Prokop. "You can see the maturity that he plays with. He's a big guy who makes smart plays and can control the game when he's out there. A really big addition for our team."
Seattle's next home game is Saturday when they host the Calgary Hitmen at the accesso ShoWare Center. Game time is 6:05 p.m.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Thunderbirds defenseman Jeremy Hanzel played in his 100th WHL game.
Seattle's once again played without Jared Davidson, who missed his third straight game with an upper body injury. He is listed as day to day.
Coster Dunn, who was injured last Friday in Portland, was out of the lineup for a second straight game.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 10, 2022
- Wheat Kings Host Rebels on Remembrance Day - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blake Berglund to Perform at Western Night this Saturday - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Acquire Goaltender, Draft Picks from Winnipeg in Exchange for Mason Beaupit - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Prospect Graham Jones Named to Team Manitoba - Portland Winterhawks
- Former Rocket Named To World Junior Coaching Staff - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Return Home to Host Winterhawks for Two-Game Weekend Set - Victoria Royals
- T-Birds Fire Past Blazers - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Goals Galore as Rockets Top Cougars - Kelowna Rockets
- Cougars Fall Short in Goal Scoring Battle in Kelowna - Prince George Cougars
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