T-Birds, Sklenicka Force Game Five
WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds, Sklenicka Force Game Five

Published on April 2, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT, Wash. - Marek Sklenicka came up with 50 saves and the Seattle Thunderbirds staved off elimination with a 4-3 win over the Penticton Vees Wednesday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Game Four of their first round, best-of-seven, playoff series. Game Five is Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. If necessary, Game Six would be back in Kent Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

For the first time in the series, Seattle scored first with a Joe Gramer goal at 13:59 of the opening period, assisted by Matej Pekar. "It was a pretty low event first. We were pretty efficient, managing it well," said head coach Matt O'Dette of the start. "We managed to get the lead, which was nice."

O'Dette thought their second period wasn't as clean as the first but they did manage to add on three goals. "We turned a few pucks over at their blue line but we managed to capitalize on some chances and stake ourselves to a bigger lead."

The T-Birds made it 2-0 at 4:07 of the second when Matthew Gard tipped in Tai Riley's shot from the blue line. "I got a puck low to high. I was able to keep the puck in the zone," explained Riley of his assist on the Gard goal. "I was able to put it to the net and Gardo had a good tip."

The Thunderbirds stretched the lead to 3-0 with Brock England's goal at 7:53. Gramer and Antonio Martorana had the assists. Coster Dunn made it 4-0 with his second of the postseason at 12:31. Gramer earned another assist along with Noah Kosick.

Penticton pushed back, starting with a power play goal with three minutes left in period two. They cut the T-Birds lead to 4-2 with a goal 24-seconds into the final period, then made it a one goal contest with four and a half minutes remaining.

"They made a big push in the third," commented O'Dette as the Vees put 22 shots on the Seattle net the final twenty minutes. "We bent but we didn't break. Obviously Sklenny was good. He held the fort and we live to fight another day."

T-BIRD EXTRAS

Coster Dunn now has seven points (2g, 5a) in 12 career playoff games with Seattle.

The T-Birds only had one power play chance in the game and failed to convert. They are now 0-for-13 in the series with the man advantage.

In three games, regular season and post season combined, Seattle has put up 13 goals against Penticton goalie Ethan McCallum.

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2026


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