T-Birds Sign Sami Moilanen
Right wing was T-Birds first round pick in 2016 CHL Import Draft
KENT, July 18, 2016 — Seattle Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell today announced the team has signed right wing Sami Moilanen.
Moilanen, from Sipoo, Finland, was the T-Birds first round selection, 49th overall, in the 2016 CHL Import Draft.
“We are pleased to add Moilanen to our team,” said Farwell. “He is a prolific goal scorer and will be an exciting addition.”
Moilanen played 38 games last season with the Jokerit U-20 team in Finland. He had 21 goals and 14 assists for 35 points with 20 penalty minutes.
Moilanen was a member of the gold medal winning Finnish team at the U-18 World Championship in April. He played in seven games at the tournament in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and had an assist. Finland beat Sweden 6-1 in the gold medal game.
Moilanen, a 1999-born forward, played for Finland at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge in November. He appeared in three games and did not register a point.
During the 2014-15 hockey season Moilanen played for the Jokerit U-16, U-18 and U-20 teams. In 37 combined games between the three teams he had 27 goals and 25 assists for 52 points.
Every CHL team is allowed a maximum of two non-North American players on their roster each season. These players must be drafted in the CHL Import Draft held each summer to be eligible to play. Center Alexander True from Denmark is the T-Birds other non-North American player on the roster.
The T-Birds open the 2016-17 season in Portland against the Winterhawks on Saturday, September 24, at 7pm at the Moda Center.
The T-Birds home opener for the 2016-17 season is Saturday, October 1, against the Portland Winterhawks at 7:05pm at ShoWare Center.
The T-Birds single game tickets for the 2016-17 regular season will go on sale Wednesday, August 31, at 10am online on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.
The T-Birds 2016-17 season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
