T-Birds Will Play for the Memorial Cup
June 3, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
KAMLOOPS, B.C. - Colton Dach's goal early in the third period stood as the game winner and the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Peterborough Petes, 4-1, in the semifinal of the 2023 Memorial Cup. With the win Seattle advances to the championship game Sunday where they will play the Quebec Remparts. Game time at the Sandman Centre is 4:00 p.m.
"It wasn't easy," said head coach Matt O'Dette. "Their goalie played really well. I think some frustration was setting in with all the saves he was making. We just needed to stay on the path, stick with the process, not waver and we eventually broke through."
The game was scoreless until late in the second period, despite Seattle ending the night outshooting the Petes 47-28. They finally broke through at 15:37 on Brad Lambert's first of the tournament on an assist from Nico Myatovic.
"We had a guy coming off the bench," said Lambert of the play that led to his score. "He took a shot and it kind of bounced to me. I took a shot off my backhand, so I just tried to get it on net, and I think it went through his five-hole."
Dach's game winner came at the 1:28 mark of the third period, on an assist from Kyle Crnkovic. "Our plan is to always get net presence," remarked the Chicago Blackhawks prospect. "We have a lot of big guys who can be the net front presence and get to those rebounds. Kyle made a great pass, and it was a wide-open net for me to put it in there."
Peterborough made it 2-1 at 2:41 on a Brennan Othmann goal. It was after that when Seattle goalie Thomas Milic came with a couple of his biggest saves of the game. "That was obviously a crucial point of the game. They had just cut the lead and got some momentum," said O'Dette. "Thomas made some big saves there to stem the tide. That's what Milly's been doing all year for us. Tonight, was no different."
Seattle restored their two-goal cushion when Crnkovic pushed a bouncing puck just over the goal line at 9:33. "A good goalie like that, you're not going to beat him on shots." he said of his tournament-leading fifth marker. "If he can see it, he's going to stop it. So just getting to the net, causing havoc and get some bounces."
Desperate to get back in the game, Peterborough pulled goalie Michael Simpson with just over two minutes remaining, but Myatovic scored into the empty net on a pass from Reid Schaefer at 17:51 to seal the win.
"One more step to take," commented O'Dette. "We've worked extremely hard to get here but the job's not done. We'll savor this win for the next hour or so then focus on the next game." He then paused and added, "It's obviously a big one."
T-BIRD EXTRAS
Not only did Crnkovic score his tournament-leading fifth goal, with his assist he now has eight points in four games, one point behind Kamloops's Logan Stankoven for the tournament lead.
Jared Davidson picked up two assists and now has six points (1g, 5a) through four games.
Seattle stayed out of the penalty box and kept the Petes off the power play. Seattle was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Seattle lost, 3-1, to Quebec in round robin play.
Western Hockey League Stories from June 3, 2023
- WHL Stars Bedard and Zellweger Honoured at 2023 CHL Awards - WHL
- Connor Bedard Makes History at Saturday's CHL Awards - WHL
- Bedard Takes Home Three CHL Awards - Regina Pats
- Thunderbirds Advance to Final of 2023 Memorial Cup Presented by Kia - Seattle Thunderbirds
- T-Birds Will Play for the Memorial Cup - Seattle Thunderbirds
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