Raiders land biggest fish in Cootes before trade deadline

Curtis Hunt went deep like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. when it came to this year’s WHL trade deadline.

The WHL trade deadline is passed on Thursday at 7 p.m. Saskatchewan time. A total of nine deals were made on the deadline day itself, and pretty much all those transactions equate to a team sending a player to another team in hopes of getting more ice time and a restart.

On Tuesday, the Raiders executed their final deal before the deadline and it was a blockbuster. They landed Seattle Thunderbirds captain in 18-year-old centre Braeden Cootes. Cootes just finished helping Canada win bronze at the world juniors that wrapped up on Monday in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cootes started the campaign playing three regular season games with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks selected the Sherwood Park, Alta., product in the first round and 15^th overall in the NHL Entry Draft held last June. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canucks on July 9, 2025.

After being returned to the Thunderbirds, Cootes appeared in 17 regular season games posting 10 goals, 13 assists and a plus-three rating in the plus-minus department before departing to join Canada’s squad for world juniors. He had a pair of goals in seven games for Canada at world juniors.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click right here.

Blades vault to top of WHL’s East Division with win over Pats

Rowan Calvert scored his 23rd goal of the season on Tuesday.

For one night at least, the Saskatoon Blades are back on top of the WHL’s East Division.

On Tuesday night, the Blades downed the Pats in Regina 6-3 in a WHL regular season contest before a crowd of 2,380 spectators at the Brandt Centre. That win to start a three-game road trip allowed the Blades to improve to 34-21-3-4 and jump back into first place in the East Division.

The Blades, who has won their last three straight, sit one standings point ahead of the Prince Albert Raiders (34-22-5-1) and two standings points in front of the Brandon Wheat Kings (33-22-4-3). Both the Raiders and Wheat Kings were idle on Tuesday night. All three of those squads have six games remaining on their respective regular season schedules, so it is a sprint to capture the East Division banner.

Last season, the Blades finished with a 50-13-2-3 mark to top the WHL’s overall standings. In the post-season, the Blades advanced to the WHL’s Eastern Conference Championship Series and fell in an epic seven-game set that saw six contests go to overtime to the eventual WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors.

Going into the current campaign, the Blades weren’t expected to challenge for first in the division. They occupied first place for most of the first half of the regular season.

Leading up the WHL’s trade deadline on January 9, the Blades unloaded stars Brandon Lisowsky, Tanner Molendyk and Ben Riche to stock up on draft capital and add solid younger players. The Blades dealt a lot of high draft selections during a load up last season.

After the trades leading up to this season’s trade deadline, the Blades held first in the East Division for a large part of January before falling out of top spot before the end of the month. They were not expected to crawl back into first in the division, but they did just that on Tuesday.

Before departing on their current road trip, Blades head coach Dan DaSilva said his squad had been hearing the doubters.

“That has been motivation for us all year long,” said DaSilva. “With the guys we had before and the guys we have now, it has still been the same.

Evan Gardner picked up his 20th win of the season on Tuesday.

“We try and focus on getting better every single day and proving people wrong. We’re motivated by the naysayers, the haters and the non-believers, because we have a lot of belief in this group and that room, and they have it too. It would be special.”

Against the Pats on Tuesday, the Blades exploded out to a 3-0 inside the final 5:15 of the opening frame. The Blades got goal coming off the sticks of breakout rookie centre Cooper Williams, who turned 17-year-olds in February, 17-year-old rookie defenceman Brayden Klimpke and standout left-winger Rowan Calvert.

Calvert’s goal came with 45.4 seconds remaining in the first and it was his 23^rd tally of the season.

In the second, the Blades extended their lead to 4-0 when star right-winger Tyler Parr netted his 20^th goal of the campaign. He tipped home a point shot from 17-year-old rookie defenceman Isaac Poll.

Just 1:36 later, the Pats halted the flood as 17-year-old sophomore left-winger Julien Maze scored on the power play to trim the Blades lead to 4-1.

With 2:37 remaining in the second, Blades rookie import left-winger David Lewandowski, who turned 18-years-old in February, scored on a wraparound to push the Blades lead out to 5-1. Just one minute later, Pats 19-year-old right-winger Caden Brown answered back scoring for the host side to trim the Blades advantage to 5-2.

Saskatoon jumped up 6-2 at the 6:18 mark of the third as 20-year-old defenceman Grayden Siepmann scored on the power play with a midrange shot. That tally was Siepmann’s 10 goal of the campaign, which set a new career high for the veteran rearguard.

Pats 16-year-old rookie right-winger Zachary Lansard scored with 6:19 remaining in the third to round out the 6-3 final score in favour of the Blades.

Evan Gardner stopped 25 shots to pick up his 20^th win of the season in goal for the Blades. Ewan Huet turned away 25 shots to take the setback in net for the Pats, who fell to 15-40-5-3.

The Blades return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Brandon to take on the Wheat Kings (5 p.m. local time, Westoba Place).

Grayden Siepmann scored his 10th goal of the season on Tuesday.

Both those squads will be scoreboard watching too, because the Raiders travel to Lethbridge on Wednesday to take on the 40-19-2-2 Hurricanes (7 p.m. local time, VisitLethbridge.com Arena).

The Pats are off until Saturday when they host the Swift Current Broncos (6 p.m. local time, Brandt Centre).

When the final sprint to the end of the regular season ends, DaSilva would like to see his squad still holding on to top spot in the East Division.

“It is a goal of ours to clinch that division title,” said DaSilva. “At the end of the day, our main goal is to focus on getting better every single day.

“That is what we’ve done as the season goes on. You can see that with our group.”

Goldsmith injured in fight, game suspended

A scary scene involving Tri-City Americans defenceman Terrell Goldsmith saw a WHL regular season contest be suspended on Tuesday in Kennewick, Washington.

The host Americans were taking on the Seattle Thunderbirds at the Toyota Center. The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but the contest came to a halt a short time after the first intermission ended.

Just 65 seconds into the second period, Goldsmith, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 218 pounds, faced Thunderbirds 19-year-old defenceman Ashton Cumby, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 216 pounds, in a staged fight. During the fight, Cumby hit Goldsmith with a punch that knocked the Americans rearguard out.

Goldsmith fell face first to the ice, and he was quickly attended to by the trainers of both teams. The veteran blue-liner was taken to hospital by ambulance and the game was suspended and never resumed after the bout.

The WHL sent out a release late Tuesday night stating Goldsmith is alert, responsive and was receiving medical attention. The league said the contest between the Americans and Thunderbirds would be rescheduled at a later date.

Goldsmith, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Utah Hockey Club, has suited up in 56 games with the Americans this season recording four goals, 12 assists and a plus-eight rating in the plus-minus department. The Fort St. James, B.C., product spent his first four WHL campaigns with the Prince Albert Raiders appearing in 185 regular season games recording 10 goals and 20 assists. Goldsmith was traded to the Americans on July 24, 2024.

The WHL said further updates on the condition of Goldsmith will be provided as they are available.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Central Division takes charge of Eastern Conference

Gavin McKenna and his Tigers have been on a roll.

When it comes to the WHL’s Eastern Conference, the Central Division has the power.

Leading up to the WHL’s trade deadline on January 9, the Medicine Hat Tigers, Calgary Hitmen and Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Central Division basically got involved with an arms race. Now almost four weeks has passed since the trade deadline elapsed, and the Tigers, Hitmen and Hurricanes have asserted themselves as the class of the conference.

The Tigers lead the conference with a 33-15-2-1 mark sitting four points clear of the Hitmen (30-13-3-2) and seven points up on the Hurricanes (30-16-1-1). Medicine Hat had been riding a 12-game winning streak that came to an end on Saturday with a 4-3 loss after an 11-round tiebreaking shootout to the Thunderbirds in Seattle. That wrapped up a six game road trip through the U.S. Division for the Tigers.

During the road trip through the U.S. Division, the Tigers came away with some impressive victories. On January 24, they slipped past the Chiefs in Spokane 3-2. On January 29, they thumped the Silvertips in Everett 7-3, and last Friday, they hammered the Winterhawks in Portland 7-2.

On Tuesday, Tigers superstar left-winger Gavin McKenna was named the WHL’s player of the month for January recording 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists in 11 games since returning from world juniors. That marked the second time this season McKenna was named a player of the month.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click right here.

Raiders power play comes alive at timely time

Prince Albert surges to 5-2 win over Wild

A young player’s mistake was all that was needed to ignite the power play of the Prince Albert Raiders.

On Saturday night, the Raiders found themselves trailing the visiting Wenatchee Wild 2-1 in the third period of a tightly contested WHL regular season game to that point at the Art Hauser Centre. At the 5:36 mark of the third, Wild defenceman Boston Tait, who is a 15-year-old associate player call up, cleared the puck over the glass from his own zone to draw a delay of game penalty.

On the ensuing power play, the Raiders got buzzing hard in the Wenatchee zone. A short time after Raiders star offensive-defenceman Lukas Dragicevic hit the goalpost, the puck during a scramble got to the stick of Raiders 19-year-old right-winger Brayden Dube.

Dube potted a power-play goal for his 23^rd tally on the season to force a 2-2 tie. That goal started the Raiders on a four-goal surge to allow them to post a 5-2 victory to an appreciative crowd of 2,526 spectators.

The win was a third straight for the Raiders, and during their past nine outings, the Raiders have posted eight wins and one shootout loss. Thanks to this hot stretch, the Raiders sit first in the East Division with a 27-15-3-1 mark.

The Raiders sit four standings points ahead of both the Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades, who have identical 24-16-3-3 records. The Wheat Kings hold the standings tiebreaker against the Blades collecting two wins and an overtime setback in the four head-to-head meetings between those two sides. Brandon collected a 5-2 victory over the Pats in Regina on Saturday.

In Saturday’s clash between the Raiders and Wild in Prince Albert, the visitors got out to a good start taking a 2-0 lead in the first period. Wild 18-year-old right-winger Luka Shcherbyna scored at the 3:16 mark, and 19-year-old right-winger Shaun Rios tallied with 2:02 remaining in the frame.

Tait picked up his first career WHL point in his second career WHL regular season game with an assist on Rios’s goal. The young rearguard was selected in the first round and 12^th overall by the Wild in last year’s WHL Prospects Draft and has been playing solid minutes with the Regina Pat Canadians under-18 AAA squad. In 35 games with the Pats Canadians this season, Tait has two goals and 18 assists.

He actually had a really good outing on Saturday posting a plus-two rating in the plus-minus department to go with his helper outside of his third period gaff that resulted in a delay of game penalty that the Raiders scored on.

Just 16 seconds after Rios scored to put the Wild ahead 2-0, Raiders captain Justice Christensen one-timed home a shot from the point for his 16^th goal of the season that cut the visitor’s lead to 2-1. Raiders rising 16-year-old star defenceman Daxon Rudolph fed Christensen a nice pass that he could drive to the back of the goal.

The Wild proceeded to carry play in the second outshooting the Raiders 15-7 in the frame, but Raiders star 20-year-old netminder Max Hildebrand held the visitors at bay.

Just past the 10-minute mark of the second, a fight broke out between Wenatchee left-winger Deagan McMillan, who turned 20-years-old last month, and Raiders right-winger Oli Chenier, who recently turned 18-years-old. Chenier likely surprised a few people with how well he could throw punches and got the better of McMillan in the bout.

That set the stage for a strong Raiders finish in the third period that started with Tait taking a delay of game penalty that resulted in Dube’s power-play goal. With 7:53 remaining in the third, Raiders star 18-year-old left-winger Tomas Mrsic blew home his 29^th goal of the season from the front of the Wenatchee net to give the Raiders a 3-2 lead.

Shortly after Mrsic’s tally, the Raiders found themselves on the power play once again. With 5:56 remaining in the third, Raiders standout 20-year-old right-winger Niall Crocker scored with the man advantage with one his textbook goals banging home the rebound of one of his own shots from the front of the Wenatchee net. That tally pushed the Raiders advantage out to 4-2.

With 5:23 remaining in the third, the Wild pulled 19-year-old netminder Brendan Gee for an extra attacker. That opened the door for Raiders star 19-year-old centre Aiden Oiring to score into an empty net to give the Raiders a 5-2 lead.

After Gee returned to Wenatchee crease after Oiring scored, Wild 18-year-old left-winger Zane Saab thought he scored with 2:35 remaining in the third to trim the Raiders edge to 5-3. The officials went to a video review and disallowed Saab’s goal ruling it was knocked in with a high stick.

The 5-2 final outcome in the Raiders favour held up the rest of the way. Crocker and Oiring each finished the contest recording one goal and two helpers for the Raiders.

The Raiders went 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Wild failed to score on four opportunities with the man advantage.

Hildebrand stopped 31 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Raiders. Gee turned away 26-of-30 shots to take the setback in net for the Wild, who fell to 17-26-3-1.

The Wild sit one standings point back of the Kamloops Blazers (18-26-3) and the Seattle Thunderbirds (18-27-2-1) from forcing a three-way tie for eighth place and the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Wenatchee returns to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Moose Jaw to take on the 11-31-4-2 Warriors (7 p.m., Moose Jaw Events Centre).

The Raiders get back at it on Wednesday when they hit the road to face the Hitmen in Calgary (7 p.m. local time, Scotiabank Saddledome).

Thunderbirds end Tigers winning streak at 12, other notes

The Medicine Hat Tigers didn’t go down easy, when it came to protecting their winning streak.

The scrappy Seattle Thunderbirds went the distance to earn a much needed win as they continue to fight for a post-season berth.

On Saturday at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., the Tigers and Thunderbirds went through regulation and overtime locked in a 3-3 tie in a WHL regular season clash. They then ventured through a marathon tiebreaking shootout that lasted 11 rounds.

Ultimately, the Thunderbirds claimed the tiebreaking shootout 4-3 to also post a 4-3 victory in the overall contest.

The result brought an end to the Tigers 12 game winning streak. The extra time setback also closed the Tigers six-game road trip through the U.S. Division, where they won the first five games of that jaunt.

With the win, the Thunderbirds improved to 18-27-2-1 to equal the Kamloops Blazers (18-26-3) at 39 standings points for eighth place and the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. The Blazers have one game in hand on the Thunderbirds.

If there is a tie between two teams for the final conference playoff berth in the WHL, the two squads that are in the deadlock would play a tiebreaking game.

Saturday’s clash between the Tigers and Thunderbirds got off to a spirited start with Tigers 18-year-old defenceman Bryce Pickford and Thunderbirds 17-year-old defenceman Jaxson Pawlenchuk engaging in a fight at the 2:52 mark of the opening frame.

The two squads then played through a scoreless opening 20 minutes with the Tigers holding a 14-10 edge in shots on goal.

In the second, Coster Dunn and Matej Pekar netting singles to give the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead. With 2:54 remaining in the second, Tigers star 19-year-old left-winger Hunter St. Martin scored his 31^st goal of the season to cut the Thunderbirds lead to 2-1.

St. Martin proceeded to add his 32^nd goal of the campaign and second tally of the night at the 9:48 mark of the third to even the score at 2-2.

With 7:07 remaining in the third, Tigers superstar left-winger Gavin McKenna potted his 27^th goal of the season to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

That advantage didn’t hold. With 5:37 remaining in the third, Thunderbirds overage centre Hayden Pakkala netted the equalizer during a net scramble to force a 3-3 tie.

During the tiebreaking shootout, Oasiz Wiesblatt, Liam Ruck and Marcus Pacheco scored for the Tigers. Braeden Cootes, Nathan Pilling, Colton Gerrior and Radim Mrtka scored for the Thunderbirds, with Mrtka’s tally holding up as the shootout winner.

Jordan Switzer started in goal for the Tigers and played the first two periods turning away 22-of-24 shots he faced. He was pulled for a suspected leg injury.

Harrison Meneghin played the rest of the way for the Tigers taking the extra time setback. He turned away 14-of-15 shots in the third period and overtime and 7-of-11 shooters in the shootout.

Scott Ratzlaff stopped 31 shots over 65 minutes and turned away 8-of-11 shooters in the shootout.

Medicine Hat was without star defenceman Tanner Molendyk due to an undisclosed ailment.

The Tigers are off until Friday when they host the Swift Current Broncos (7 p.m., Co-op Place).

The Thunderbirds also get back at it on Friday when they host the Spokane Chiefs (7 p.m. local time, Accesso ShoWare Center).

• On Saturday, Andrew Cristall recorded one goal, five assists and a plus-five rating in the plus-minus department as his Spokane Chiefs hammered the WHL leading Silvertips in Everett 10-3. The Silvertips have gone 1-2 over their last three games being outscored 20-13 over that stretch. They dropped a 7-3 decision to the Tigers on Wednesday.
• On Saturday, Cameron Schmidt recorded one goal, three assists and a plus-two rating as his Vancouver Giants thumped the visiting Kamloops Blazers 9-2. The Giants went 3-for-4 on the power play in the contest.
• On Saturday, Marek Rocak record one goal, two assists and a plus-two rating as his Swift Current Broncos doubled up the Rockets in Kelowna 6-3. Jackson Gillespie recorded two goals, one assist and a plus-three rating for the Rockets in the loss.
• On Saturday, netminder Ethan Simcoe made 35 saves to pick up a shutout victory as his Edmonton Oil Kings blanked the Hurricanes in Lethbridge 2-0. Marshall Finnie had a goal and an assist for the Oil Kings.
• On Saturday, the Red Deer Rebels blanked the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-0; the Victoria Royals slipped past the Portland Winterhawks 2-1; the Prince George Cougars downed the Tri-City Americans 5-2; and the Brandon Wheat Kings dumped the Regina Pats 5-2.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Wild focus on reload as WHL trade deadline draws near

Conor Geekie in action for the Winnipeg Ice in 2023.

So who would have had Kenta Isogai being the face of the Wenatchee Wild a year ago on their bingo card as being a thing in the WHL?

The 19-year-old left-winger Nagano, Japan, is playing through his first year in the WHL leading the Wild in scoring with 56 points coming off 20 goals and 36 assists to go with a plus-23 rating in the plus-minus department. Entering play on Tuesday, he sat ninth in the overall scoring race for the circuit.

Isogai is not a rookie junior. He played the last nine seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League helping the Phantoms win the USHL title last season.

The Wild claimed Isogai’s CHL rights by selecting him in the first round and 60^th overall in the CHL Import Draft held on July 5, 2023. The Phantoms proceeded to allow Isogai to be released to the Wild.

Of course, the Wild franchise in the WHL was formerly the Winnipeg Ice, who fell in last year’s WHL Championship Series to the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Ice were sold to David and Lisa White of the Shoot the Puck Foundation, who owned the junior A Wenatchee Wild franchise that has played in the British Columbia Hockey League since 2015.

This column of mine appeared in the Prince Albert Daily Herald. To read the full article, feel free to click right here.

Memorial Cup drought for WHL hits new distinction

Remparts blank Thunderbirds 5-0 in CHL final

The WHL’s drought for winning the Memorial Cup hit an unwelcome milestone for the major junior circuit.

On Sunday, the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts blanked the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds 5-0 in the title game of the Memorial Cup tournament played at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, B.C. The Remparts skated away as CHL champions for the second time in team history with the first Memorial Cup championship win coming in 2006.

Since the WHL came into existence in the 1966-67 campaign, it is going through its longest drought of not winning the Memorial Cup and that includes times when the circuit was ineligible to compete for the storied championship trophy. In three of the first four seasons the WHL existed, the circuit wasn’t eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup as the circuit was originally viewed as an “outlaw league” by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association that governed the game in Canada at that time.

The WHL didn’t have any Memorial Cup victories in its first seven seasons of existence, and that winless run came to an end when the Regina Pats won storied trophy for the third time in team history to conclude the 1973-74 campaign. Clubs from the WHL became eligible to play for the Memorial Cup on a regular basis in the 1970-71 campaign.

The WHL’s current drought spans seven seasons including the tournaments played from 2015 to 2019, 2022 and 2023. The Memorial Cup tournament wasn’t contested in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The current drought matches the drought the WHL had at the beginning of its existence that included seasons the league wasn’t allowed to compete for the trophy that was first awarded in 1919. Including the two years the Memorial Cup tournaments that were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHL is in its longest drought for winning major junior hockey’s biggest prize when it comes to considering how much time has elapsed since the last win.

The Edmonton Oil Kings were the last team from the WHL to win the Memorial Cup, and that victory came back in 2014. Edmonton captured the WHL and CHL titles that year playing to honour the memory of former player Kristians Pelss, who was with the Oil Kings 2012 WHL championship team and passed away in June of 2013 due to a recreation diving accident.

In the championship game of the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament played in London, Ont., on May 25 of that year, the WHL champion Oil Kings downed the OHL champion Guelph Storm 6-3. It has been nine years since a WHL team last captured the Memorial Cup.

On the other end of the spectrum, teams from the QMJHL have won the Memorial Cup the last four times the CHL’s championship tournament was held. That included the Saint John Sea Dogs winning the event as the host squad last year after being eliminated in the first round of the QMJHL Playoffs.

This year’s WHL champion in the Thunderbirds was the deepest squad the circuit sent to the Memorial Cup since the Oil Kings championship win in 2014. The Thunderbirds and Remparts were two of the CHL’s top clubs throughout the 2022-23 campaign.

Kyle Crnkovic was a Memorial Cup tournament all-star.

The Thunderbirds topped the WHL’s Western Conference and finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 54-11-1-2 record. The U.S. Division champions were rated fourth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. Seattle’s 54 wins and standings points total of 111 points are new regular season club records.

In the WHL Playoffs, the Thunderbird proceeded to win the league title posting a 16-3 mark.

The Remparts finished first overall in the QMJHL regular season standings with a 53-12-1-2 record and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. In the QMJHL Playoffs, the Remparts proceeded to win the league crown posting a 16-2 mark.

Both clubs were 2-1 in the round robin portion of the tournament, and the Remparts took first place and earned a bye to the tournament final with a 3-1 victory in a head-to-head meeting with the Thunderbirds on May 29. The Thunderbirds downed the OHL champion Peterborough Petes 4-1 in a semifinal contest to advance to the final.

It was expected the Memorial Cup title game between the Thunderbirds and Remparts would be a heavyweight tilt. It was apparent in that contest Remparts head coach and general manager Patrick Roy and his staff used the four days off between their last round robin game and the title contest to ensure their team was ready for the final.

The Memorial Cup win just added to more to Roy’s hockey legend and his image as an all-time hero in the province of Quebec rightfully nicknamed “Saint Patrick.”

At the 6:31 mark of the first period, Remparts import defenceman Vsevolod Komarov fired a shot to the top right corner of the Seattle net converting a beauty pass on a two-on-one break from Remparts left-winger Kassim Gaudet to open the game’s scoring.

The Remparts pushed their advantage out to 2-0 at the 8:50 mark of the second as star right-winger James Malatesta fired home his fifth goal of the tournament converting a tick-tack-toe passing play involving star centre Theo Rochette and Komarov. Malatesta’s tally came during a stretch were the two sides were playing four skaters versus four skaters due to off-setting penalties.

Seattle appeared to have a big chance to mount a comeback after Remparts centre Mikael Huchette was given a minor penalty for cross-checking sending the Thunderbirds to the power play with 8:58 remaining in the third. On the Thunderbirds power play, the Remparts scored a short-handed goal to go up 3-0 that proved to be a backbreaking tally to the hopes of the WHL champs.

In the Remparts zone, Thunderbirds star centre Brad Lambert had a shot blocked by Remparts defenceman Nicolas Savoie. The puck deflected right to Remparts star centre Justin Robidas who quickly transitioned down the right-wing on a two-on-one break with Gaudet.

Robidas passed the puck across the front of the Seattle net to Gaudet, who buried the short-handed marker to give the Remparts their three-goal lead with 7:39 remaining in the third. Gaudet’s goal ultimate brought an end to the competitive part of the contest.

Zachary Bolduc tallied on the power play and Charles Savoie scored at even strength for the Remparts to round out the 5-0 final.

William Rousseau stopped all 32 shots he faced to pick up the shutout win in goal for the Remparts. Thomas Milic turned away 30 shots to take the setback in goal for the Thunderbirds.

Malatesta took the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the MVP of the Memorial Cup tournament. He was named to the tournament all-star team along with teammates Rochette and Rousseau. Rousseau claimed the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the event’s most outstanding goaltender.

Thunderbirds star left-winger Kyle Crnkovic and standout defensive-defenceman Nolan Allan were also named to the tournament’s all-star team.

While the Remparts on the scoreboard posted a convincing win, the Thunderbirds did have chances to change their fate. After the Remparts got ahead 1-0 and increased their edge to 2-0, the Thunderbirds were never able to find a traction moment to change the complexion of the contest.

Had the Thunderbirds scored in the game’s first 50 minutes, it could have changed how that whole contest played out. The Remparts did make a handful of mistakes that resulted in scoring chances for the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds weren’t able to score off those mistakes, and it ended up being a no harm and now foul situation for the Remparts.

Before the Remparts netted their first goal, Lambert had a chance in alone in the Quebec zone to score for the Thunderbirds, but he as stoned by Rousseau. Late in the first period with the Remparts holding a 1-0 lead, the Thunderbirds forced the Remparts to turn the puck over in their own zone resulting in a scoring chance for Crnkovic, whose backhand shot was swallowed up with some juggling by Rousseau.

Nolan Allan was a Memorial Cup tournament all-star.

A short time after that scoring chance, Crnkovic created another scoring opportunity. He intercepted a pass by a Remparts player behind the Quebec goal. After getting the puck, Crnkovic fed a pass to the front of the net to Thunderbirds captain Lucas Ciona. Ciona quick shot was swallowed up by an alert Rousseau.

About eight minutes into the second, Thunderbirds offensive-defenceman Jeremy Hanzel had a point blank chance to score, but Rousseau turned that shot away with a pad stop.

Had the Thunderbirds scored on any of those early chances, it might have created some doubts for the players on the Remparts.

The Remparts were able to make the Thunderbirds hesitate and second guess what they were able to do with the puck thanks to structured play. Quebec created a number of Seattle turnovers.

Lambert had his struggles turning the puck over at least on three occasions with backhanded passes that resulted in turnovers and offensive zone rushes for the Remparts. Thanks to Milic, the Remparts didn’t score on any of those turnovers.

Lambert, who is 19-years-old, was selected in the first round and 30^th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has a signed entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets assigned Lambert to the Thunderbirds in January from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, and Lambert looked like a future NHL star in his half season with the Thunderbirds.

If he makes turnovers like he did in the Memorial Cup title game at the NHL level, Lambert won’t be in the NHL for very long. He is already under the microscope by Jets followers, so you can be sure his turnovers in the Memorial Cup title game were noticed.

Had the Thunderbirds scored on the third period power play they received due to Huchette’s cross-checking minor, a goal at that point could have changed how the Memorial Cup title game played out.

Still, the Remparts were 27-3 overall in their last 30 contests, so they flat out deserved to win the Memorial Cup and soak in all the praise that comes their way.

For the WHL as a league, maybe the “Curse of the Drop” still lingers.

For the superstitious types, that event took place on May 25, 2008 after the WHL champion Spokane Chiefs downed the host Kitchener Rangers 4-1 in the Memorial Cup tournament’s championship game. After receiving the trophy, Chiefs captain Chris Bruton had the Memorial Cup fall apart in his hands as he attempted to give it to veteran defenceman Trevor Glass.

Since that drop, the WHL has only won the Memorial Cup once coming with the Oil Kings win in 2014.

Going forward, one has to wonder how long the WHL’s Memorial Cup drought will continue, and how much the hands of fate will play a part in extending that drought.

Bedard makes history at CHL Awards

Connor Bedard collect three honours at the CHL Awards.

Regina Pats 17-year-old phenom centre Connor Bedard continues to make history even when he isn’t skating in games on the ice.

On Saturday, Bedard cleaned up at the CHL Awards held in Kamloops, B.C., as part of the Memorial Cup tournament that is held to crown a CHL champion. Bedard claimed the David Branch Player of the Year Award, the CHL Top Draft Prospect Award and the CHL Top Scorer Award.

The North Vancouver, B.C., product became the first play to win all three awards since the CHL Top Scorer Award was first introduced in 1994.

In 57 regular season appearances for the Pats, Bedard, who is the Pats captain, piled up 71 goals and 72 assists for 143 points to go with a plus-39 rating in the plus-minus department. In the WHL Playoffs, Bedard had 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points to go with a plus-eight rating as Regina fell in a tough seven game first round series to the Saskatoon Blades.

Bedard is rated number one among North American skaters in the final ranking released by NHL Central Scouting. Barring something unforeseen, Bedard will be the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft set for June 28 to 29 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and he will be skating in the NHL next season as an 18-year-old with the Chicago Blackhawks, who hold the first overall selection.

At this past world juniors held in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B., Bedard set numerous Canadian team records helping Canada take the gold medal final 3-2 in overtime over Czechia this past January 5 in Halifax.

Bedard was named the most valuable player at world juniors along with picking up accolades being named the event’s best forward and a tournament all-star.

His tallies for assists (14) and points (23) were new Canadian records for a single world juniors along with setting a new record for points in a tournament by any player aged 18 or younger. In 16 career games played at world juniors, Bedard set new Canadian career records at the event for goals (16) and points (36).

Bedard’s own brand skyrocketed following world juniors. He sold out rinks or set attendance records at arena across the WHL in most games he played in following world juniors.

Connor Bedard had 143 points in 57 regular season games in 2022-23.

It likely won’t be long when Bedard is in his NHL career that a new appreciation hits fans and followers of the WHL circuit that he played his entire major junior career on that circuit. There are probably some fans out there who are kicking themselves they didn’t get out to see Bedard in his 16-year-old season in 2021-22.

In 2021-22 when the WHL clubs started playing in their home rinks in front of fans after big shutdowns due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, WHL teams drew an average of 3,205 spectators per game for 748 regular season dates. This past season, WHL squads drew an average of 3,895 spectators per game for 748 regular season date.

At some point in time, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bedard maybe one game become a sports cultural icon in Chicago like the late Walter Payton with the NFL’s Bears and Michael Jordan with the NBA’s Bulls.

In making the rounds on the interview trail around Game 2 of the NHL’s Stanley Cup final in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Monday, Bedard looked poised. He also displayed a cool and confident strut when he was on an NHL on TNT panel with Wayne Gretzky, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundquist and Paul Bissonnette.

You have to think it is going to be fun watching Bedard’s NHL journey play out.

Besides the continuing excitement with Bedard, Olen Zellweger was the other winner at the CHL Awards from the WHL. The Kamloops Blazers star defenceman claimed the CHL Defenceman of the Year Award.

Nathan Darveau of the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres claimed the CHL’s Goaltender of the Year Award, Maxim Masse of the QMJHL’s Chicoutimi Sagueneens took home the CHL Rookie of the Year Award, Dave Cameron of the OHL’s Ottawa 67s captured the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award, Evan Vierling of the OHL’s Barrie Colts won the CHL Sportsman Player of the Year Award, Colby Barlow of the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack claimed the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Award and Dalyn Wakely of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion took home the CHL Humanitarian of the Year Award.

On Sunday, Zellweger picked up another honour as he was named an all-star on defence for the Memorial Cup Tournament following the Quebec Remparts 5-0 championship game win over the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Connor Bedard will be selected first in the NHL Entry Draft.

Blazers star captain Logan Stankoven picked up a pair of Memorial Cup tournament awards. Stankoven captured the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as the event’s top scorer and George Parsons Trophy as most sportsmanlike player. The skilled centre topped the Memorial Cup tournament with nine points coming off two goals and seven assists in four games.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Thunderbirds on the clock to end WHL’s Memorial Cup woes

Colton Dach scored a key goal in the Memorial Cup semifinal.

Will the Seattle Thunderbirds end the WHL’s drought when it comes to winning the Memorial Cup?

That will be the burning question for WHL followers when the Thunderbirds take the ice in the title game of the CHL’s championship tournament. They will go up against the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts on Sunday at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, B.C., at 4 p.m. local time. The winner claims junior hockey’s most prestigious trophy in the Memorial Cup.

On paper, this has the makings to be a heavyweight tilt that produces a classic of a championship game. Both the Thunderbirds and Remparts have been two of the CHL’s top clubs throughout the 2022-23 campaign.

The Thunderbirds topped the WHL’s Western Conference and finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 54-11-1-2 record. The U.S. Division champions were rated fourth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. Seattle’s 54 wins and standings points total of 111 points are new regular season club records.

In the WHL Playoffs, the Thunderbird proceeded to win the league title posting a 16-3 mark.

The Remparts finished first overall in the QMJHL regular season standings with a 53-12-1-2 record and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. In the QMJHL Playoffs, the Remparts proceeded to win the league crown posting a 16-2 mark.

In the round robin game held this past Monday between the two sides at the Memorial Cup tournament, the Remparts slipped past the Thunderbirds 3-1, but Seattle held a 36-22 edge in shots on goal. Both teams posted identical 2-1 records in the round robin portion of the event, and the Remparts were given first place and a bye to the event’s championship game due to the head-to-head victory over the Thunderbirds.

Brad Lambert scored Seattle’s first goal in the Memorial Cup semifinal.

Seattle downed the OHL champion Peterborough Petes 4-1 in a semifinal contest on Friday to advance to the tournament’s championship game. With the win over the Petes, the Thunderbirds were officially put “on the clock” to try and end the WHL’s drought when it comes to winning the Memorial Cup.

The Edmonton Oil Kings were the last team from the WHL to win the Memorial Cup, and that victory came back in 2014. Edmonton captured the WHL and CHL titles that year playing to honour the memory of former player Kristians Pelss, who was with the Oil Kings 2012 WHL championship team and passed away in June of 2013 due to a recreation diving accident.

The WHL is currently in its longest drought as a league of not being able to win the Memorial Cup spanning six seasons from 2015 to 2019 and 2022. The Memorial Cup tournament wasn’t contested in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Clubs from the WHL became eligible to play for the Memorial Cup on a regular basis in the 1970-71 campaign. If the Thunderbirds lose in the CHL’s title game on Sunday, the WHL’s drought will grow to seven seasons creating a new distinction for the drought.

Since the WHL first hit the ice as a circuit for the 1966-67 campaign, the longest it has gone without a Memorial Cup win is seven seasons. That drought included years the WHL wasn’t eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup as the circuit was originally viewed as an “outlaw league” by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association that governed the game in Canada at that time.

The WHL didn’t have any Memorial Cup victories in its first seven seasons of existence, and that winless run came to an end when the Regina Pats won storied trophy for the third time in team history to conclude the 1973-74 campaign.

Kyle Crnkovic scored Seattle’s third goal on Friday.

For a moment, the possibility existed that there wouldn’t be a WHL team in this year’s championship game at the Memorial Cup tournament. On Thursday, the Petes met the host Blazers in a standings tiebreaking game as both teams were 1-2 in round robin play.

Despite not winning the WHL title, the Blazers had a fairly stellar campaign in 2022-23. They finished second overall in the Western Conference and third overall in the WHL regular season with a 48-13-4-3 mark. The B.C. Division champions were rated ninth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

The Blazers won their first eight straight games in the WHL Playoffs to advance to the Western Conference Championship Series. They fell in six games in that set to the Thunderbirds.

The Petes were the Cinderella team of CHL’s post-season. They finish 10^th in the overall OHL regular season standings with a 35-29-2-2 record. Despite being an afterthought when the post-season began, the Petes proceeded to win the OHL title posting a 16-7 record in the OHL Playoffs.

In the round robin portion of the Memorial Cup tournament, the Blazers pummeled the Petes 10-2 on May 28. The Blazers held a 4-1 lead early in the second period of Thursday’s tiebreaking game and appeared to be set to cruise to victory.

The Petes caught fired and evened the score 4-4 by the end of the second period. The contest ultimately went to overtime and Petes 19-year-old left-winger J.R. Avon scored the winner at the 10:54 mark of extra time to give the Petes a 5-4 victory.

Going into Friday’s semifinal between the Petes and Thunderbirds, one had to wonder if the Petes were going to see their Cinderella run through to getting their hands on the Memorial Cup. Unfortunately for the Petes, the fact that they were playing their fifth game in seven days caught up with them on the fatigue front.

Thomas Milic made 27 saves in Seattle’s Memorial Cup semifinal win.

The Petes looked fatigued in that clash, but they stayed in the game thanks to a spectacular effort by their star netminder in Michael Simpson. Simpson kept the Thunderbirds off the scoreboard until being beaten by star Seattle centre Brad Lambert with 4:28 remaining in the second period. Lambert’s tally gave the Thunderbirds a 1-0 edge.

Power forward Colton Dach scored 88 seconds into the third to push the Thunderbirds lead out to 2-0. The Petes responded 73 seconds later with a goal from left-winger Brennan Othmann to cut the Seattle lead to 2-1.

Seattle put the contest away with a goal by star left-winger Kyle Crnkovic just before the midway point of the frame and an empty-net tally from standout left-winger Nico Myatovic to round out the 4-1 win. 

Star netminder Thomas Milic made 27 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Thunderbirds, while Simpson turned away 43-of-46 shots in the campaign ending setback for the Petes.

Unfortunately for the loaded up Thunderbirds, they could be running into a buzzsaw with the Remparts, whose level of play might be raised by their own emotional motivation. The Memorial Cup title game could be the last ride with the Remparts for “Saint Patrick.”

Hockey legend Patrick Roy, who is the Remparts head coach and general manager, is involved in speculation with regards to NHL head coaching vacancies. The Remparts players could be motivated to see the 57-year-old Roy departs on an ultimate high note.

The Remparts starting star netminder William Rousseau has been solid during the tournament stopping 87-of-95 shots for a .916 save percentage and a 2.93 goals against average.

Nico Myatovic scored an empty-net goal on Friday night.

You can expect the Thunderbirds will give their best to try and win their first Memorial Cup title in team history. If they fall in the CHL’s title game on Sunday, one has to wonder how far the WHL’s Memorial Cup drought will go.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Memorial Cup heads into playoff round with field intact

Eliminations begin tonight with tiebreaking game

Thomas Milic leads the Memorial Cup with a .923 save percentage.

The Memorial Cup tournament’s four-team field has stayed alive going into the playoff round.

For event organizers, it is always optimal when the four clubs competing at the tournament that crowns a CHL champion are still playing going into the playoff round. In most years, at least two teams have traveled a great distance to get to the tournament’s host location.

At this year’s tourney in Kamloops, B.C., the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts and the OHL champion Peterborough Petes are the squads that have traveled the greatest distance to compete for major junior hockey’s biggest prize at the Sandman Centre. The results from the round robin portion of the tournament leave the door open for anything to happen. With that said, some trends have materialized in the games that have been played so far.

The playoff round starts tonight with a tiebreaking game between the Petes and the host Blazers from the WHL set for a 6 p.m. local time start. Both teams posted 1-2 records in round robin play with the Blazers bombing the Petes 10-2 this past Sunday.

The Petes rebounded from that drubbing with a 4-2 victory over the Remparts on Tuesday holding a 36-28 edge in shots on goal. Peterborough has been the Cinderella team in the CHL post-season having finished 10^th overall in the OHL with a 35-29-2-2 record.

Logan Stankoven

It should come as no surprise they got into the Memorial Cup’s playoff round by having to play a tiebreaker. Now, they will see if they can get to the CHL’s biggest ball in the Memorial Cup championship game on Sunday.

The Petes have scored the fewest goals in the tournament at nine. Petes 20-year-old right-winger Avery Hayes tops the club having scored three goals, while left-winger Brennan Othmann tops the Petes with three assists.

The Blazers have scored the most goals in the tournament with 14. Blazers star centre Logan Stankoven tops the Memorial Cup in scoring with eight points coming off one goal and seven assists.

The toughest obstacle the Blazers might be facing is the fact star netminder Dylan Ernst is the coldest of the four starting goalies at the event. Ernst has stopped 89-of-105 shots fired his way for a .848 save percentage, which is the worst among the starting netminders. His 5.39 goals against average is also the worst among the starting goaltenders.

The WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds finished second in the round robin standings with a 2-1 mark and will face the winner of the clash between the Petes and Blazers in a tournament semifinal contest set for Friday at 7 p.m. local time. The Thunderbirds loss came on Monday with a 3-1 setback to the Remparts in a contest that saw Seattle hold a 36-22 edge in shots on goal.

The Remparts scored 54 seconds into that contest to go up 1-0, but the Thunderbirds were really composed in playing the rest of that game. They just didn’t get rewarded with the goals for their work.

Had the Thunderbirds won that contest, they would have finished first and had a bye into Sunday’s championship game. The Remparts locked up first place and that path to the championship game with their Monday victory over Seattle.

The Thunderbirds are a deep team, but their biggest ace is star netminder Thomas Milic. Milic backstopped Canada to a gold medal win at world juniors that wrapped up this past January.

The Coquitlam, B.C., product has stopped 72-of-78 shots fired his way for a tournament leading .923 save percentage. Seattle has allowed the event’s fewest goals at seven, which means Milic has the lowest goals against average among starting netminders at 2.02.

A Seattle has a pair of star players who are playing out their final games of their major junior careers and are trying to go out in a blaze of glory. Left-winger Kyle Crnkovic, who is 21-years-old, sits second in tournament scoring with six points coming off four goals and two assists. Jared Davidson, who is a 20-year-old centre and a career member of the Thunderbirds, has four points coming off a goal and three assists.

The Remparts are sitting in the best spot having topped the round robin standings with a 2-1 record to earn a berth in Sunday’s championships game. They will face the winner of Friday’s semifinal match in the winner take all Memorial Cup title game set for 4 p.m. local time on Sunday.

Quebec started the tournament with a bang downing the host Blazers 8-3 in the event’s opening game. Had the Remparts gone undefeated in the round robin portion of the tourney, there could have been a worry about the Quebec side facing complacency when taking the ice for the Memorial Cup championship game.

After getting past the Thunderbirds, the Remparts closed their round robin schedule with their loss to the Petes. You can bet Remparts head coach and general manager Patrick Roy in reinforcing to his players how much better they need to be in the title contest during the club’s four days off leading up to the Memorial Cup final. It would be wise to expect the Remparts will be ready for the event’s championship game.

The Remparts starting star netminder William Rousseau has been solid during the tournament stopping 87-of-95 shots for a .916 save percentage and a 2.93 goals against average.

Quebec’s scoring has been more spread out through its roster with four players tied for the team lead with four points. Right-winger James Malatesta has four goals, centre Theo Rochette has three goals and one assist, left-winger Zachary Bolduc had one goal and three assists and centre Justin Robidas has four assists.

The Memorial Cup title game could be the last ride with the Remparts for “Saint Patrick.” The 57-year-old Roy is involved in speculation with regards to NHL head coaching vacancies.

Kyle Crnkovic has six points at the Memorial Cup tourney.

For any hockey fan, the playoff round of the Memorial Cup tournament should be fun to follow with all the potential storylines that could play out. It is time to sit back, watch the games play out and enjoy.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Thundersbirds are WHL’s best Memorial Cup hope since 2014

Kyle Crnkovic had a hat trick for the Thunderbirds on Saturday.

If the Seattle Thunderbirds aren’t able to win the Memorial Cup, the WHL as a league might have to look into what supernatural forces it has to appease to be able to capture major junior hockey’s biggest prize.

When it comes to winning the storied trophy that is given to the CHL champion, the WHL as a league still seems to be haunted by the “Curse of the Drop.”

For the superstitious types, that event took place on May 25, 2008 after the WHL champion Spokane Chiefs downed the host Kitchener Rangers 4-1 in the Memorial Cup tournament’s championship game. It marked the second time the Chiefs captured the Memorial Cup to become CHL champions.

After winning the title in 2008, Chiefs captain Chris Bruton accepted the Memorial Cup. Bruton turned and was going to give the Memorial Cup to defenceman Trevor Glass. Glass, who was in his 19-year-old season at the time, was with the Medicine Hat Tigers the previous campaign when they won the WHL title and fell 3-1 in the Memorial Cup championship game to the host Vancouver Giants.

As Bruton reached out to hand the Memorial Cup to Glass, the trophy separated at the neck and fell to the ice to the shock of spectators in Kitchener, Ont.

Since that Chiefs win, only one WHL club has won the Memorial Cup coming with an Edmonton Oil Kings victory in 2014. Edmonton was playing to honour the memory of former player Kristians Pelss, who was with the Oil Kings 2012 WHL championship team and passed away in June of 2013 due to a recreation diving accident.

The WHL is currently in its longest drought as a league of not being able to win the Memorial Cup spanning six seasons from 2015 to 2019 and 2022. The Memorial Cup tournament wasn’t contested in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Nolan Allan had a goal for Seattle on Saturday.

The current drought saw WHL championship winning teams go on a stretch of losing 14 straight contests at the Memorial Cup tournament. That streak came to an end on June 22, 2022, when the Oil Kings downed the host Saint John Sea Dogs 4-3 in overtime in Saint John, N.B., as part of round robin play.

This year’s Thunderbirds WHL title winning squad is the deepest team from the western major junior circuit that has appeared in the Memorial Cup since the Oil Kings winner in 2014.

On Saturday, the Thunderbirds hit the ice at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, B.C., for their first action at this year’s Memorial Cup in round robin play. During that contest, the Thunderbirds showed off a microcosm of their positive traits that should serve them well in pursuit of a first CHL title in franchise history.

The Thunderbirds downed the OHL champion Peterborough Petes 6-3 in a clash that was tighter than the final score would suggest.

Peterborough skated out of the first period with a 1-0 lead off a breakaway goal by left-winger J.R. Avon. The Thunderbirds showed poise and didn’t panic. Just 39 seconds into the second, Seattle captain Lucas Ciona potted home a loose puck in the crease of the Peterborough net to even the score at 1-1.

With 4:07 remaining in the second, Petes centre Owen Beck scored a beauty on an end-to-end rush to put the OHL champions up 2-1. The Thunderbirds answered back 52 seconds later when 21-year-old star left-winger Kyle Crnkovic blew home a shot to the top left corner of the Peterborough net to even the score at 2-2.

After a tighter checking opening 40 minutes, the Thunderbirds blew the game wide open in the third. Crnkovic netted his second of the contest and star defenceman Nolan Allan potted a marker 82 seconds after that tally to give the Thunderbirds a 4-2 edge.

Lucas Ciona had a goal for Seattle on Saturday.

Allan, who has a signed three-year NHL entry-level contract with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, is relied on for his sound work defensively. He has offensive skill and showed it off sniping home a bad angle shot low in the Peterborough zone between the legs of Petes netminder Michael Simpson.

Petes 20-year-old right-winger Avery Hayes scored on the power play with 6:04 remaining in the third to cut the Seattle lead to 4-3. The Thunderbirds sealed victory with centre Jordan Gustafson scoring with 3:15 remaining in the third and Crnkovic picking up an empty-net tally to complete his hat trick with 1:34 remaining in the third to round out the 6-3 Seattle win.

Thomas Milic stopped 23 shots to pick up the win in goal for the Thunderbirds. Simpson turned away 34-of-39 shots to take the setback in net for the Petes.

At the moment, the Thunderbirds are skating through their best campaign in team history. They topped the Western Conference and finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 54-11-1-2 record.

The U.S. Division champions were rated fourth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. Seattle’s 54 wins and standings points total of 111 points are new regular season club records. In the WHL Playoffs, the Thunderbird proceeded to win the league title posting a 16-3 mark.

After falling to the Oil Kings in six games in the best-of-seven WHL final in 2022, the Thunderbirds additions via the trade route included Crnkovic, Allan, Brad Lambert, Dylan Guenther, Luke Prokop and Colton Dach. Seattle general manager Bil La Forge pushed all the chips to the centre of the table to win right now.

Dylan Guenther was a big trade pick up for the Thunderbirds.

The trade additions bolstered a Seattle side that returned 15 players this season who were on the club’s playoff roster in 2022. Some of the key returnees included Milic, Ciona, Gustafson, Jared Davidson, Reid Schaefer, Nico Myatovic, Kevin Korchinski and Jeremy Hanzel. Seattle also benefitted from Gracyn Sawchyn putting up a pile of points as a rookie.

Thunderbirds head coach Matt O’Dette and the coaches on his staff were able to bring this group together creating a team in Seattle that can play any style of hockey you want to play. With all that noted, the Thunderbirds are still going to have to earn everything they get at the Memorial Cup.

The QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts opened the Memorial Cup in impressive fashion downing the host Kamloops Blazers 8-3 on Friday. The Remparts have put together their own impressive campaign finishing first overall in the QMJHL regular season standings with a 53-12-1-2 record and were rated fifth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings.

Hockey legend Patrick Roy is the Remparts head coach and general manager. He is an icon in the province of Quebec being tabbed with the nickname “Saint Patrick.”

Roy is as ultra-competitive a person you will find, and his teams are always well prepared for opposing clubs. It is speculated this will be the 57-year-old’s last ride with the Remparts before he departs for a potential head coaching position in the NHL. That might give the Remparts another emotional edge to win the Memorial Cup.

On top of that, the Petes and Blazers could bounce back and still be factors in how the Memorial Cup plays out. Those clubs will meet Sunday at 3 p.m. local time at the Sandman Centre. The Thunderbirds and Remparts will go at on Monday at 6 p.m. local time at the Sandman Centre.

The Blazers could be the WHL club that ends that circuit’s Memorial Cup drought.

Kevin Korchinski has been a mainstay on defence for Seattle.

Still with the way things look at the moment, the Thunderbirds are the WHL’s best bet for capturing the top prize in major junior hockey.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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Unexpected gift – Lambert living out special time in Seattle

Brad Lambert is enjoying his time with the Thunderbirds.

Brad Lambert initially took reassignment from the hockey’s professional level to the major junior ranks like most would – as a gut punch.

Lambert, who was born in Lahti, Finland, started the season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. He put up two goals and one assist in 14 games with the Moose and was held pointless in his final 10 outings with that squad.

The 19-year-old forward proceeded to join Finland’s squad for world juniors, which were jointly held in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B. Lambert, who stands 6-feet and weighs 183 pounds, had one goal in five games as Finland bowed out falling in a quarter-final 3-2 to Sweden.

Upon returning from world juniors, the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets, who are the parent club for the Moose, assigned Lambert to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. The Jets had selected Lambert in the first round and 30^th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Lambert’s WHL rights were originally held by the Saskatoon Blades, and the Blades dealt Lambert’s right to the Thunderbirds on June 20, 2022.

With the Thunderbirds, Lambert was playing on a team that topped the Western Conference and finished second overall in the WHL’s regular season standings with a 54-11-1-2 record. The U.S. Division champions were rated fourth in the final CHL Top 10 Rankings. Seattle’s 54 wins and standings points total of 111 points are new regular season club records.

Shifting from right wing back to his nature centre position, Lambert took off with the Thunderbirds putting up offensive numbers that showed why he was a first NHL Entry Draft selection. In 26 games with the Thunderbirds, Lambert piled up 17 goals and 21 assists to go with a plus-27 rating in the plus-minus department.

As the Thunderbirds marched through the WHL Playoffs posting a 16-3 record to capture the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions, Lambert posted six goals and 20 assists to go with a plus-13 rating in 17 post-season appearances. He missed the Thunderbirds last two games of their first round sweep of the Kelowna Rockets due to illness.

The Thunderbirds are set to open play at the Memorial Cup tournament that determines a CHL champion on Saturday against the OHL champion Peterborough Petes at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, B.C., at 3 p.m. local time. Kamloops is hosting this year’s Memorial Cup tournament and the host Blazers open game action tonight taking on the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts at 6 p.m. local time.

Brad Lambert has six goals and 20 assists in 17 post-season games.

Lambert said playing with the Thunderbirds has been a good thing.

“We haven’t lost a series yet, so it has been perfect,” said Lambert, with a chuckle. “We’re looking to win it here.

“Yeah, I was disappointed, but I’m just making the most out of the opportunity. It is a great team here we have and a great group of guys. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

Lambert found he had joined a Seattle side where the rest of the team accepted him right away. After making the WHL Championship Series in 2021-22 and falling to the Edmonton Oil Kings in six games, the Thunderbirds were aiming to go all the way this season. He originally played right wing on a line with two star players in Jared Davidson at centre and Kyle Crnkovic on left-wing.

The Thunderbirds made another addition helping increase Lambert’s comfort level with the team. Before the WHL’s trade deadline on January 10, the Thunderbirds acquired the WHL rights to forward Dylan Guenther, who helped the Oil Kings with the WHL title in 2022.

Guenther, who turned 20-years-old in April, started the 2022-23 campaign with the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. He appeared in 33 regular season contests with the Coyotes putting up six goals and nine assists and played games with the club to January 28.

The Coyotes allowed Guenther to play for Canada at this past world juniors, and he recorded seven goals and three assists in seven games. In Canada’s 3-2 overtime win in the gold medal game against Czechia played on January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Guenther had two goals including the winner in extra time.

On February 5, the Coyotes assigned Guenther to the Thunderbirds. Guenther made his debut with Seattle on February 10 in a 6-1 victory over the Red Deer Rebels at the Accesso ShoWare Centre in Kent, Wash.

Brad Lambert had 38 points in 26 regular season games with Seattle.

He started the contest on a newly created line where he was on right wing, with Lambert at centre and Reid Schaefer, who has a signed NHL entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, on left wing. The Thunderbirds have kept that unit together ever since.

“I’ve got two great shots on my wings,” said Lambert, who father, Ross, played with the Blades in 1982-83. “I just use my playmaking to get them the puck.

“They’re doing a good job of finishing.”

Lambert found he had good chemistry playing with Guenther and Schaefer and added both wingers bring different dynamics to the table.

“I know when I give him (Guenther) the puck I’m going to get it back, or he is going to create something,” said Lambert. “Just the give and goes and playing together it harder for the other team to stop.

“Reido (Reid Schaefer) is great in front of the net. He has a big body. He is great on the forecheck and a fast skater too.

“It has been a good line.”

Thunderbirds head coach Matt O’Dette has enjoyed having Lambert as part of the Thunderbirds. The bench boss said the young forward has surprised the Seattle coaching staff with how well rounded he has been in all parts of the game.

“He (Lambert) has been great for us,” said O’Dette. “Obviously, he is a highly skilled player.

Brad Lambert loves his teammates with the Thunderbirds.

“He really integrated himself well with our team right away. He was proud to be a T-bird. He is a great skater and dynamic player.

“He also competes and plays in the hard areas. That was a pleasant surprise for us. Obviously, we knew of him, but now that we’ve had him for a while here, he is a much more complete player than what we thought.”

O’Dette said Lambert rolled during the regular season with the Thunderbirds and has continued that roll in the post-season even with opposing clubs keying more on him and his line.

“He (Lambert) has picked up in the post-season right where he left off in the regular season,” said O’Dette. “He has been real good.

“Obviously, he is probably keyed on a little bit more in the playoffs. He has handled that real well. The height and physicality of the playoffs hasn’t bothered him at all.

“He has been really good for us.”

Lambert said the best about the Thunderbirds is he found he joined a group of good players, who are characters who have character. He enjoys coming to the rink, because he knows something fun will happen along with work getting done on the ice.

He has enjoyed playing with all his teammates on the Thunderbirds including the likes of Guenther, Schaefer, Davidson, Crnkovic, Thomas Milic, Luke Prokop, Nolan Allan, Colton Dach, Lucas Ciona, Jordan Gustafson, Kevin Korchinski, Jeremy Hanzel and Nico Myatovic.

Like himself, Guenther, Prokop, Allan, Crnkovic and Dach were all acquired via trades by the Thunderbirds since the club fell in the 2022 WHL final. Lambert said it has been cool to see the newcomers and the existing core of players come together.

“You wouldn’t know this team has been put together kind of throughout the season,” said Lambert. “You would think we have been together for many years.

Brad Lambert hopes to enjoy some good time at the Memorial Cup.

“Everyone is great and close with each other, so it is nice.”

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