T-Birds Raise Banners, Fall to Portland
KENT, Wash. – Sam Popowich scored the lone goal as the Seattle Thunderbirds dropped a 6-1 decision to the Portland Winterhawks Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center in the T-birds home opener. The loss evened up the T-Birds record at 1-1. Seattle next sees action on Friday, October 6th, when they travel to Spokane to face the Chiefs.
Head coach Matt O’Dette was disappointed with his team’s effort in front of a sold-out crowd. “Disappointing game, obviously,” he remarked of his young team. “But you don’t get to your destination early. It’s going to take some time to build our identity and play the way that we’re supposed to play. There were not many aspects of our identity there tonight.”
It was scoreless until Portland scored a four-on-four goal at 12:54 of the first period. “I thought the first eight minutes or so were pretty good for us,” said O’Dette. “Maybe our best stretch of the game. They scored on the 4-on-4, and it shifted the momentum.”
The Winterhawks added another goal just over two minutes later to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission, then added a power play goal early in period two. Seattle got one back thanks to a shorthanded breakaway goal from Popowich, with Hyde Davidson assisting.
“That’s the one guy you can definitely pinpoint and say hey, he played the way we need to play,” commented O’Dette on Popowich. “He exemplifies the T-Bird identity, plays hard and does all the little things.”
Any momentum off the goal was short lived as Portland would answer less than two minutes later. “That’s part of the learning process,” O’Dette explained. “Learning how to win, learning how to manage momentum in games, knowing how to build it (momentum) when you have it and knowing how to change it when you don’t have it.”
Portland would strike for two more second period goals to pull away. The third period was scoreless as the T-Birds failed to capitalize on a five-minute power play.
“When things aren’t working for you, you have to bring the intangibles,” said O’Dette of his team’s effort. “That’s what we’ve brought to the table year after year. That’s what separates us. It’s the work ethic, the willingness to compete extra hard, do the little things, the shot blocks, the back checks and taking hits to make plays.” He said it’s something they are reteaching to the young squad as they go forward.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Kevin Korchinski is the lone remaining T-Bird at NHL training camp. He is still with the Chicago Blackhawks and has played in their first two preseason games.
Before the game Seattle unveiled three new banners in the accesso ShoWare Center rafters, including their second WHL Championship banner earned last spring.
Owen Boucher, obtained in a trade from Prince Albert two days ago, suited up and played his first game as a Thunderbird against Portland.
The T-Birds next home game is Friday, October 13th when they host the Wenatchee Wild.
Boxscore: Portland Winterhawks at Seattle Thunderbirds – Saturday, September 30, 2023 (chl.ca)
