T-Birds Race Past Swift Current
January 5, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
SWIFT CURRENT, SK - Keltie Jeri-Leon, Andrej Kukuca and Conner Roulette each had two points Sunday afternoon at the Innovation Credit Union I-plex to help lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos.
T-Birds next home game at accesso ShoWare Center is Saturday, January 11, against the Everett Silvertips at 6:05pm in our annual Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss presented by WARM 106.9 FM. Single game tickets are on sale online on the T-Birds website and at the accesso ShoWare Center box office.
Seattle goalie Roddy Ross had 27 saves and improves his record to 12-14-2-1.
Swift Current took a 1-0 lead at 7:06 of the first period on a power-play goal by Aiden Bulych.
Seattle tied the game just over a minute after Swift Current's opening goal. Conner Bruggen-Cate took a pass from Matthew Rempe and skated into the left circle. Bruggen-Cate took a shot that missed the net and rimmed around the boards to Kukuca on the right wall. Kukuca took a shot from a sharp angle and beat Swift Current goalie Isaac Poulter.
It was Kukuca's fourth goal in two games as he had a hat trick Saturday in Medicine Hat. Bruggen-Cate now has a six-game point streak with four goals and seven assists in the last six games. Rempe has a two-game assist streak.
The T-Birds took a 2-1 lead at 2:14 of the second period. Kukuca passed the puck to Ryan Gottfried in the left circle. Gottfried held the puck and then took a shot with Roulette in front of Poulter. Roulette tipped the puck past Poulter for his 12th goal of the season.
Jeri-Leon gave the T-Birds a two-goal lead at 3:15 of the third period. Owen Williams passed the puck up the left wing to Roulette who entered the zone. Roulette centered the puck for a trailing Jeri-Leon. Jeri-Leon beat Poulter with a wrist shot over the glove from the slot for his 14th goal of the season.
Jaxan Kaluski scored for Swift Current at 15:06 of the third to cut the T-Birds lead to 3-2.
Swift Current pulled Poulter with 1:32 left in the game for an extra attacker. Jeri-Leon sealed the win when he hit the empty net at 1:21 left in the game. Max Patterson and Payton Mount assisted on the goal.
Seattle was called for a delay of game penalty with 40 seconds left and had to win the game on the penalty kill. Poulter was pulled a second time but the T-Birds defense and Ross held the Broncos from getting a third goal.
The T-Birds are now taking orders for Flex-24 Ticket packages. Fans that purchase the 24-Flex Ticket Package will be able to select any available premium seat for any game, in any ticket combination, during the 2019-20 season.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period - 1, Swift Current, A. Bulych 9 (Kaluski, K. Bulych), 7:06 (pp). 2, Seattle, Kukuca 15 (Bruggen-Cate, Rempe), 8:08. Penalties - Rempe, Sea (interference), 5:15. Nagy, SC (10-minute misconduct), 18:34. McNelly, Sea (interference), 19:16.
Second period - 3, Seattle, Roulette 12 (Gottfried, Kukuca), 2:14. Penalties - A. Bulych, SC (high-sticking), 4:38. Wood, SC (interference), 9:06. Gottfried, Sea (roughing), 13:24.
Third period - 4, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 14 (Roulette, Williams), 3:15. 5, Swift Current, Kaluski 9 (Ostir), 15:06. 6, Seattle, Jeri-Leon 15 (Patterson, Mount), 18:39 (en). Penalties - Patterson, Sea (hooking), 5:23. Alkhimov, SC (tripping), 6:59. Rybinski, Sea (delay of game), 19:20.
Shots on goal - Seattle 12-11-14 37, Swift Current 18-9-4 29. Goalies - Seattle, Ross 29 shots-27 saves (12-14-2-1); Swift Current, Poulter 36-33 (8-17-1-1). Power plays - Seattle 0-3; Swift Current 1-5. Referees - Jordan Lightbown, Bob Millette. Linesmen - Sean Dufour, Greg Sarauer.
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