WHL Seattle Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds update

Published on November 3, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release


Congratulations to Stacey Willburn of Lake Forest Park

Congratulations to Stacey Willburn of Lake Forest Park, our newest Chuck-A-Puck winners! Stacey has received a car key and will return for the last game of the season to try and win a new Subaru. The fan with the key that starts the car will drive home in a 2005 Subaru Impreza. There are more car keys to give away! Participate in Chuck-A-Puck at your next Thunderbirds game.

NEW! Pre-order your Chuck-A-Pucks when you purchase your single game tickets. Just call 206-448-PUCK.

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Banner Making Party

On Saturday, November 13th, the Seattle Thunderbirds invite all the fans out to the KeyArena for a Banner Making Party! Doors will open on the West Side of KeyArena at 3:00pm for all fans who want to join in. You MUST present your game ticket for entry. The T-Birds will supply you with paper and markers – you just bring your ideas and creativity. All participants must exit the Key at 5:00pm so the staff can make final game preparations. Doors will open again at 6:00pm.

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T-Birds Food Drive

Come to the game Saturday, November 13 and help those in need! The Thunderbirds are hosting a food drive to benefit Northwest Harvest. We encourage all fans to bring a non-perishable food item to the game and drop it in the collection bins as you enter the building. Thank you!

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In The Corners with Thom Beuning

Why do they call breakfast the most important meal of the day? Because we all need to get the day off to a good start. It's the same in hockey; to be successful you usually need to get off to a good start. At 10-4-0-0, the Thunderbirds are off to a good start this season. But even good teams learn an important lesson along the road of success. The T-Birds lost their first home game this past Saturday because they got off to a slow start and fell behind the Kamloops Blazers 2-0 in the first period. Even though they outscored Kamloops, 2-1, over the last forty minutes, the poor start cost the Thunderbirds the game as well as their unblemished home record.

Now, there is another philosophy that says, "It's not how you start, but how you finish." To their credit the T-Birds didn't give up and continued a season long trend of playing some of their best hockey in the third period. They scored once to get within a goal of the Blazers, giving the team the chance to tie. It didn't happen but they certainly had chances. The night before in Spokane the Thunderbirds erased a 2-1 deficit with a three-goal outburst, coming from behind for a 4-2 win over the Chiefs. Through 14 games Seattle has outscored their opponents, 14-7, in the final period. Already this year the T-Birds have blanked the opposition eight times in the third period.

We should find out just what mettle this version of the T-Birds is made of over the next two weeks. Between Wednesday and November 12th, Seattle plays four straight road games. The opposition? Four teams Seattle is a combined 7-0-0-0 against. You don't think those clubs are looking for a little revenge? The road journey begins tonight in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans. The T-birds edged the Ams, 2-1, at the Three Rivers Coliseum back on October 22nd. Two nights later they blanked Tri-City, 3-0, at KeyArena. Despite a slow start, many still consider the Americans the team to beat in the U.S. Division. A third T-Birds win over the Ams could change their minds.

This Saturday it's down to Portland to face the rival Winter Hawks. Like Tri-City, Seattle has beaten the ‘Hawks twice, including a 2-0 shutout in the Rose City back on October 2nd. A week from tonight it's up to the Pacific Coliseum to face the Vancouver Giants. Is there a trend here? Yep, because this too is a team the Thunderbirds have defeated twice with (you guessed it) a shutout included. Like Tri-City, Vancouver is a team with heavy expectations on their shoulders. Most preseason forecasts had them as the team to beat in, not only the B.C. Division, but the entire Western Conference. Finally it's a trip back to Spokane for a rematch with the Chiefs, Friday the 12th.

ISN'T THAT SPECIAL: Certainly we can lament the lack of early season success the T-Birds are having on the power play. But with the way they've killed off penalties through the first 14 games, special teams are essentially a wash. The good news is that the T-Birds have three power-play goals in their last two games. Remember though, Seattle had two power play goals in the loss to Kamloops. Only once this season have the Thunderbirds lost a game because of a power-play goal. That was a 2-1 setback October 5th against Kootenay. So, what it boils down to is outscoring or scoring the same as the opposition while skating at even strength, something the T-birds have done in all but three games. Those three games? All Seattle losses.

ISN'T THAT SPECIAL II: When Seattle returns home Saturday, November 13th, they'll play host to Vancouver. The Giants boast one of the top junior players in all of North America in Gilbert Brule. Most scouting services rank him as either the first or second overall pick for next June's NHL Entry Draft. Keep an eye on the battle within the battle between Brule and Seattle's own potential first round pick, Chris Durand. Last season these two put on a show in Vancouver when both scored goals and then later in the game dropped the gloves and squared off against each other.

This season Seattle Thunderbirds play-by-play voice Thom Beuning is writing a weekly column for Thunderbirds E-News. Each week Thom will take an in-depth look at the T-Birds. He will wrap up the previous week's games and preview upcoming T-Bird opponents. Thom will also spotlight T-Birds who are making contributions that you won't see on the score sheet. You can listen to the game on KKNW, 1150-AM or on the webcast at www.seattlethunderbirds.com. The broadcast begins with the T-birds pregame show, "Crash the Net" 25-minutes before the first period face-off.

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Mascot Night!

Mascot Night returns to KeyArena on Saturday, November 13 vs Vancouver. Introduce your friends to this fan favorite promotional night! Reserve group seats by calling (206) 448-PUCK.

Check out the Seattle Thunderbirds Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2004


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