T-Birds Fall Short in Brandon
Brandon, MB. – The Seattle Thunderbirds put 37 shots on goal but were edged, 2-1, by the Brandon Wheat Kings Friday at Assiniboine Credit Union Place. The T-Birds road trip through the Eastern Division continues Saturday in Moose Jaw against the Warriors.
“Night and day as far as effort,” said head coach Matt O’Dette of his team bouncing back from Wednesday’s 6-0 loss in Regina. “We did a lot of good things but obviously we’re disappointed with the result. There are no moral victories but if we can duplicate that effort going forward we’re going to come out with some wins.”
Seattle (3-6-0-1) got their only goal of the night on a power play at 10:51 of the opening period. Matthew Gard sent the puck from behind the Brandon net to Antonio Martorana at the top of the crease and Martorana popped home his fourth of the season. The Wheat Kings tied it late in the period, scoring at 17:32.
It was a scoreless second stanza as The T-Birds failed to capitalize on five power plays while outshooting Brandon in the period, 13-5. “We have to find a way to get some more shots behind these goalies,” explained O’Dette. “Every one of these goalies we’ve faced so far has been good but there are ways we can create second and third opportunities. We can get in front of the net to take the goalies eyes off the puck. We can tip shots and manifest good bounces. We haven’t done enough of that yet.”
The game remained deadlocked at 1-1until just past the midpoint of period three when the Wheat Kings scored off an offensive zone faceoff. The Thunderbirds continued to pepper the Brandon goal with shots, adding 15 more to their game total in the final twenty minutes, but could not find the tying goal.
T-Birds goalie Grayson Malinoski did his part, keeping the game close with 26 saves. “It was a tight game,” he said. “I think we played really well. Unlucky that one got through there at the end but, coming off the last game (6-0 loss in Regina), a good step forward for our team.”
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Seattle’s road losing streak against the Wheat Kings is extended with this loss. Their last win in Brandon was in 2014.
Seattle’s offensive struggles continues with just three goals in their last three games, all losses (0-2-0-1), this despite outshooting their opponent in two of the three games.
Boxscore: Seattle Thunderbirds at Brandon Wheat Kings – Friday, October 23, 2026
