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WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds Streaking Their Way Home

November 6, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Kennewick, WA. - The streaking Seattle Thunderbirds earned their sixth win in a row, and fifth straight on the road, with a 5-3 victory over the Tri-City American Friday at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. These same team teams will meet again Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. Game time is 7:05 p.m. It will be the Thunderbirds first home game since October 19th.

In a game that saw a combined 15 power plays, T-birds Head Coach Matt O'Dette was pleased with his team's effort. "I thought we played well. Obviously, there was a lot of special teams. The flow of the game just wasn't there at times tonight with all the penalties, but our guys did what they had to do." Despite the number of penalties, O'Dette said his players fought through it. "We had some really good stretches in the game. The second kind of got a little loose for us but I was happy with the third and the way we closed the game."

For the second straight game against Tri-City, Seattle surrendered an early power play goal. The Americans converted with the man advantage at 4:49 of the first period on Parker Bell's first of two on the night. The T-birds would strike back with two quick power play goals of their own, taking a lead they would not relinquish.

Conner Roulette got the Thunderbirds on the board at 8:09, with an assist to Henrik Rybinski. The goal was Roulette's sixth of the season, tying him for the team lead. 52-seconds later, back on the man advantage, it was Jared Davidson's turn, with Jordan Gustafson and Kevin Korchinski earning the helpers. Seattle added one more first period goal. This one came even strength at 15:21, off the stick of Mekai Sanders who buried a pass from Matt Rempe. Ty Bauer was credited with the second assist.

Sanders, who scored just once in 23-games last season, now has five through the first 11-games this go-round. He said he feels his line has been working well together, adding that a strong preseason has helped him get off to a good start.

"I definitely have a lot more confidence this year. Having a good preseason prepared me for the upcoming season," He added that his good start coincides with the team's good start. "The boys are just rolling. Everyone's playing well. Everyone is playing correctly, how we're supposed to, how we're taught. So, it definitely helps when it comes to individual success."

The two teams traded goals in the second period. It started when the T-birds Nico Myatovic potted his first of the season, shorthanded, at 2:32. The goal would stand up as the game winner. Myatovic says he just took advantage of what the opponent was giving him. "I picked it up in my own end, I got a step on the back checker, and they were kind of sagging on their gaps. I just tried to cut into the middle, let it rip on net and it ended up going in."

O'Dette says Myatovic is just another player stepping up for the team lately. "He kind of flies under the radar sometimes, as far as what he does for this team, but he does a lot. Obviously, a great penalty killer, but a very responsible two-way player."

The Americans responded with another power play marker at 3:25 from Jake Sloan. The T-birds answered with Reid Schaefer's fifth of the season 80-seconds later. Rybinski and Bauer each picked up their second assists of the night on Seattle's final goal. Tri-City pulled back within two when Bell scored shorthanded midway through the period, but that is as close as the Americans would get.

The third period was scoreless thanks to two Seattle penalty kills. On the night the T-birds killed off six of the Americans eight power play chances. Scott Ratzlaff turned aside 13-shots to earn his third win in three starts in goal this season. Dating back to last season, he is 4-0 in four starts as a Thunderbird.

T-BIRD EXTRAS

Three T-birds extended their point streaks. With his two assists, Rybinski now has a point in six straight games. While his goal streak was stopped at four games, Gustafson's one assist gives him points in five straight games and Myatovic's goal gives him a four-game point streak.

In his brief 23-game Thunderbirds career, which includes twelve games last season, Myatovic has scored four goals. All four have come at the expense of the Americans.

Earlier in the day two T-birds, Ratzlaff and Sam Oremba, were selected by Hockey Canada to participate in the U-17 Capital City Challenge. The tournament will be held in Ottawa and gets underway November 26th.

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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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