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WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Rocket Past Kelowna

October 8, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KELOWNA, B.C. - Reid Schaefer scored twice and the Seattle Thunderbirds stayed perfect on the season with a, 5-4, win over the Kelowna Rockets Friday at Prospera Place. Kevin Korchinski added two assists in his first game since his return from NHL training camp with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Thunderbirds stay on the road with a game against the Vancouver Giants Saturday in Langley, B.C.

Thunderbirds head coach Matt O'Dette described the game as a mixed bag for Seattle. "Some good things in the game and some not so good things. We're still at that stage of the season where we're relearning our identity and how to win games." He said they're happy with the win but realize there are areas where they can improve. "We'd like to be better defensively, maybe shift our priorities a little bit."

Seattle opened the scoring when Schaefer scored their first power play goal of the season at 3:13 of the first period. "I think we started out well," said the draft pick of the NHL's Edmonton Oilers. "But I think we can still do a better job of closing out the game." Korchinski had the first of his two assists on the goal.

Just past the midway point of period one, Kelowna tied it on the first of Andrew Cristall's two goals on the night. The Thunderbirds went back on top when Jordan Gustafson one timed a pass out of the corner from Lucas Ciona. Korchinski picked up the second assist.

With the teams skating four aside, Seattle extended their lead t0 3-1 with Sawyer Mynio's first of the season just 24-seconds into period two. "Off the face off Gustafson won it back to me. I kind of walked the blue line. With a good net front presence by Ciona there, I just sifted one right through there, top left, and got lucky."

The Rockets closed to within a goal before the second period ended with Cristall registering his second of the game, this one on the power play at 15:05. Kelowna then forged a tie when Gabriel Szturc struck less than four minutes into period three.

The Thunderbirds had a quick response, scoring twice over the next two and a half minutes to take the lead for good. Nico Myatovic broke the tie when he pounced on a rebound at 4:44. Just over a minute later Schaefer scored unassisted from the right circle.

"That was a nice follow up response," said O'Dette. "The Sawchyn line had a good shift after Kelowna tied it, then another opportunistic goal to make it 5-3 after that to give us a little breathing room."

Kelowna did capitalize on a late Seattle penalty to pull within one on a power play goal from Dylan Wightman at 18:15 but the T-birds held them off the rest of the way to preserve the win.

T-BIRDS EXTRAS

The win was Seattle's eighth straight regular season road win against the WHL's B.C. Division, dating back to last season.

The Thunderbirds have not trailed at any point in any of their first three games.

Not since the 1998-99 has Seattle started a season without a loss in their first three games. That year the Thunderbirds started the season 3-0-1. The only blemish was a 3-3 tie in their third game.

Seattle had almost as many power play chances against Kelowna (4) as they had in their first two games combined (5).

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2022


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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