Around the CHL
By Aaron Bell
The Seattle Thunderbirds may have flown under the radar to start the season but after winning nine of their past 10 games, including a commanding 4-1 win over the first place Kelowna Rockets on Sunday, they are suddenly finding themselves making headlines around the CHL.
Kelowna opened the scoring in Sunday’s game but the Thunderbirds responded with a pair of goals in the first period and a pair in the third – including an empty-netter – to hand the Rockets just their seventh regulation time loss this season.
It was Seattle’s ninth win in 10 games after shaking off a five-game losing streak that including a 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Calgary Hitmen on January 5. Their recent hot streak has moved them into fourth place in the Western Conference. They still trail the Rockets by 15 points but have moved within four points of the Portland Winterhawks for first place in the U.S. Division.
“(Kelowna) is the team to beat in the league,” coach Steve Konowalchuk told The Kent Reporter after Sunday’s win. “When we’re on all cylinders and we have everything clicking we can beat anybody.”
It’s no coincidence that the Thunderbirds’ fortunes have improved dramatically since the acquisition of veteran netminder Taran Kozun from the Kamloops Blazers at the WHL trade deadline.
Kozun stopped all 28 shots he faced in his debut to back Seattle to a 1-0 win over the Spokane Chiefs on Jan. 14. He followed up with a 26-save performance in a 4-0 win three days later to post his second straight shutout win. The 19-year-old from Nipawin, SK has won all six of his starts since arriving in Seattle and was named the CHL’s goalie of the week on Jan. 21.
Kozun said that playing behind the Thunderbird’s defence – which includes Anaheim Ducks’ first rounder Shea Theodore – has made life in his crease an easy ride.
“They (have) made my life easier,” Kozun said. “They’re blocking tons of shots in front of me – and (they) clear (the puck) down the ice.”
The Seattle Thunderbirds aren’t the only hot team in the Western Hockey League this month. The Edmonton Oil Kings have also won nine of their past 10 games and have wrestled first place in the Eastern Conference away from the Calgary Hitmen. In the Western Conference, the Winterhawks have one shootout loss to go along with eight wins in their past nine games and are doing their best to fend off the hard charging Thunderbirds.
In the Ontario Hockey League, the Guelph Storm have won eight straight and have jumped past the Erie Otters for first place overall. They are the first team in the OHL to clinch a playoff spot. The North Bay Battalion are also surging lately, winning five of their past six and seven of their past 10 to pull ahead of the Barrie Colts for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and Halifax Mooseheads are both riding impressive winning streaks at the top of the league standings. Baie-Comeau has won eight straight and hold a slim three point lead over the Mooseheads – who have won seven in a row – and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, who are holding on to a tie for second place despite winning just four of their past 10.