T-Birds Earn Opening Night Point
Langley, B.C. – The Seattle Thunderbirds forced a tie late in regulation, but the Vancouver Giants scored early in overtime to prevail, earning a 4-3 decision in the season opening game for both teams Friday at the Langley Events Centre. The Thunderbirds were led in defeat by a pair of goals by rookie Colton Gerrior. Seattle returns to action Saturday when they travel to Wenatchee to face the Wild.
“First game of the season, there were some positive takeaways,” said Thunderbirds head coach Matt O’Dette. “Obviously we were disappointed we didn’t get the full two points. This time of the year we’re trying to learn how to win, how to close out games with a lead in the third period, how to play overtime. All these things are new at this point, especially with our young roster.”
After a scoreless first period, the T-Birds scored twice in the first four minutes of the second period, with Gerrior potting them both. The first came on the power play after the Giants goaltender and his teammate got tangled up behind the Vancouver net. The puck squirted out front and Gerrior slid it home.
Just under a minute later Gerrior won a puck battle to the left of the Giants goal. He slid a backhander toward the net. The puck would deflect off two Vancouver players and carom between the pads of the goalie, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead.
Gerrior, who played in three games for Seattle last season and scored once, said a two-goal game can be a confidence booster. “It’s good to get off to the right start in the league. I just have to build off it with every game.”
The Giants fought back in the third period, grabbing the lead with three goals in the front half of the period. The T-Birds battle back by pulling their goalie for the extra skater in the final minute of play. They won an offensive zone face off, getting the puck back to Hyde Davidson at the left point. His shot was deflected by Brayden Holberton. Kazden Mathies jumped on the loose puck and snapped it home with five seconds left to tie the game.
The goal came after Seattle used their only timeout with 12-seconds on the clock, following a Vancouver icing. “The coaches made a plan,” explained Mathies on his tying goal. “And we went out there and didn’t execute it, but it (the puck) ended up low to one of my teammates who ended up passing it into the slot to me and I whacked it and ended up scoring.”
Seattle never had possession of the puck in the extra period and 65-seconds in, scored on the only shot of overtime.
The Thunderbirds home opener is September 28th at 6:05 p.m. They host the Wenatchee Wild at the accesso ShoWare Center. Tickets are available at seattlethunderbirds.com
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Thunderbirds Scott Ratzlaff, Sawyer Mynio, Nathan Pilling and Simon Lovsin are still away at NHL training camps and will miss both games on the weekend.
With veteran players away, Seattle’s roster featured eight rookies and six second year players.
Two rookie T-Birds defensemen, Tai Riley and Jaxson Pawlenchuk, made their regular season WHL debuts.
Boxscore: Seattle Thunderbirds at Vancouver Giants – Friday, September 20, 2024 (chl.ca)
