T-Birds Headed to the Semifinal
June 1, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KAMLOOPS, B.C.- Two goals, eight seconds apart, in the second period propelled the Seattle Thunderbirds past the Kamloops Blazers, 6-1, in the final game of the round robin portion of the 2023 Memorial Cup. With the win Seattle advances to Friday's semifinal game. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
"That's the identity, that's the T-bird formula that we need," remarked Thunderbirds head coach Matt O'Dette of his team's effort. "That's how we played for our biggest wins in the playoffs."
Seattle got off to a good start. For the first time in the tournament, they scored the game's first goal as Lucas Ciona popped home his second of the tournament at 4:02 of the first period. "You go to the net, you get rewarded," said the Thunderbirds captain. "We knew we didn't go to the net enough against Quebec. Tonight, we put an emphasis on it."
Ryan Hofer scored for Kamloops midway through the first to tie the game. Seattle broke the tie with the two quick goals in period two. Jared Davidson struck on the power play at 6:39 and Jordan Gustafson followed with a goal at 6:47.
Kyle Crnkovic setup the Gustafson goal with a pass from behind the Blazers net. Crnkovic now has six points (4g, 2a) in three games. "We haven't really changed the way we play much. Just getting some bounces here and there," he explained of his production. "Obviously these are big games, so you want to come up big in these moments and my line has been able to do that."
The T-Birds pulled away with a three goal third period. Crnkovic got his fourth of the tournament at 5:33 with Kevin Korchinski and Jared Davidson assisting. Davidson ended that night with three points (1g, 2a) and a game winning goal. His line, with Crnkovic and Ciona, compiled seven points (3g, 4a).
"We've been playing together all year long," said the Montreal Canadians prospect. "We know how everyone plays and how we work with each other. The chemistry is working right now."
Luke Prokop pushed the Seattle lead to 5-1 with a goal sixty-four seconds after the Crnkovic goal. Colton Dach finished the scoring at 14:38.
"That's what we needed," said O'Dette of the win. "You have to stay on path, stay with what we did to get here and we kept at it for the majority of the sixty minutes."
Seattle will face either Kamloops or the Peterborough Petes in Friday's semifinal. Those two teams face each other in the tie breaker game Thursday.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
This is the first time Seattle has won two games in a Memorial Cup Tournament. They went 0-3 in 2017 and 1-3 in 1992.
Seattle's top line of Brad Lambert, Reid Schaefer and Dylan Guenther still haven't scored a goal in the tournament but they combined for six assists in the win over Kamloops and were a combined +5.
Through three games in Kamloops Seattle goalie Thomas Milic is 2-1 with a 2.02 GAA and a .923 save percentage.
Ashton McNelly made his Memorial Cup debut skating on Seattle's fourth line.
Western Hockey League Stories from June 1, 2023
- Rockets Launch Charity Auction - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Advance to the Semifinal - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Bedard, Svozil & Suzdalev Named to CHL All-Star Teams - Regina Pats
- Petersen Signs with Hurricanes - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Warriors Sign Four Top Picks from 2023 WHL Prospects Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Pats Sign Zach Lansard - Regina Pats
- Thunderbirds Secure Berth in Memorial Cup Semi-Final - Seattle Thunderbirds
- CHL's Best & Brightest Set to be Recognized at this Saturday's CHL Awards - WHL
- T-Birds Headed to the Semifinal - Seattle Thunderbirds
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.
