WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds Push Past Everett

Published on December 17, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


KENT, Wash. -Luke Prokop returned to the lineup after an eleven-game absence and helped lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 4-1 win over the Everett Silvertips Friday at the accesso ShoWare Center. Prokop had a goal and an assist as the Thunderbirds improved to 22-4-1-1. Seattle plays their last game before the ten-day Christmas break Saturday. They travel to Everett for a rematch with the Silvertips. Game time is 6:05 p.m. at Angel of the Winds Arena.

Prokop last played November 12th. He then suffered a lower body injury. "It was just really nice to get back on the ice with the guys after just a few skates," he said. "Just grateful for Phil (Athletic Trainer Phil Varney) getting me back and healthy before the intended timeline. It was really nice to get back out there."

Head coach Matt O'Dette was glad to have his veteran defenseman back. "It's crazy that he was out for a month. It didn't look like he missed any time with the way he stepped in and played. Just a big, big calming presence for us."

Seattle opened up with a three-goal first period. Sam Popowich got it started with an unassisted goal just under two minutes into the contest. "The puck kind of just popped out to me there. I got my feet going down the wall. I looked up and had a little space. I tried to go low glove. I think it hit his glove and squeaked in there for me."

Popowich said he and his linemates, Mekai Sanders and Tij Iginla, are playing well together. "I think we've been getting a little bit of chemistry there with Iggy and Mekai. I think we can bring a lot of energy, whether that's in the O-zone, playing down low, I really think we're good at puck protection, things like that."

The Thunderbirds second goal came while the two teams skated four aside. It started with a hit along the boards in the Seattle zone by Bryce Pickford. That freed the puck and Gracyn Sawchyn and Kyle Crnkovic broke up ice on a 2-on-1 rush. Crnkovic scored what turned out to be the game winning goal at 4:44. "Sawchyn chipped it out. I saw a lane and he did a spin pass to me. Kind of a mini break and I thought I'd shoot it. Lucky it went in."

Seattle made it a three-goal lead when Sawchyn scored on a goal mouth scramble at 15:24 with Prokop and Sawyer Mynio assisting.

The teams traded goals in the second period. Caden Zaplitny got Everett's lone goal at 6:18 but Prokop answered just over a minute later with his second of the season, assisted by Jordan Gustafson. "I rolled up, saw Gussy coming off the bench, played a little give and go with him twice and he just had a good shot-pass right on my stick and I just tapped it home."

There was no scoring in the third period, although the Thunderbirds outshot Everett in the final twenty minutes, 19-8. Scott Ratzlaff made 23-saves to earn his tenth win in goal.

It was the second straight game in which Seattle had a multi-goal first period. Tuesday, they scored four first period goals against Prince George. "I sound like a broken record," commented O'Dette. "But we want to get on our path early and get off on the right foot. I thought we did that."

After Saturday's road game, The Thunderbirds will be off for ten days. Seattle returns from the holiday break on December 27th when they host the Spokane Chiefs in the Battle of the Sound at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

T-BIRDS EXTRAS

Crnkovic's first period goal stretched his point streak to a season best 12-games. He had an 11-game point streak at the start of the season.

Gracyn Sawchyn has eight points in his last five games (1g, 7a).

Seattle leads the season series versus Everett, 4-0.

The Thunderbirds have released Kai Knak. The defenseman from Switzerland appeared in nine games this season, earning one assist. Knak was selected by Seattle in the 2022 CHL Import Draft. The move leaves Seattle without an import player currently on their roster.

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2022


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