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Erin Saunders — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:15:21 +0000

Thunderbirds Complete 2026 WHL Draft

Erin Saunders — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:38:20 +0000

KENT, Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds have added nine new players to their prospect pool after the conclusion of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft earlier this week. The group of new draftees includes four forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender. The draft began Wednesday night with first round selections. Seattle’s top pick was Wyatt Jolleys out of Calgary. The Thunderbirds took Jolleys with the seventh overall pick they acquired in a draft day trade with the Victoria Royals. T-Birds Assistant General Manager Craig Goebel described Jolleys as a solid two way center who competes hard at both ends of the ice. “The offensive skills Wyatt possesses, however, is what drew us to him,” explained Goebel of their top choice. “He has excellent vision and passing skills, sees the ice so well and makes all the other players out there with him better.” With their own first round pick at eleventh overall, the T-Birds selected Jax Bubnick, a left shot defenseman from Saskatoon. Goebel called Bubnick a big, solid defender who can play a shutdown role with his size, great stick and skating ability. “And then when needed he can rush or pass the puck with accuracy out of his own zone,” he added. "He just has a great presence out there.” Day Two began with the Thunderbirds taking Strathmore, Alberta native Jett Evans, a forward, in round two, 34th overall. In the third round the T-Birds reached into East Grand Forks, Minnesota to select forward Jace Magner and followed that by picking defenseman Braeden Gilbertson of Lorette, Manitoba in the fourth round. In the fifth round Seattle opted for goalie Easton LaBarbera. The netminder is the son of former WHL and NHL goalie Jason LaBarbera. Without a pick in round six, the T-Birds waited until the seventh round to grab Hardisty, Alberta forward Easton Holte. The Thunderbirds rounded out their draft by choosing a pair of defensemen. In round eight they went with Malone Mann out of Victoria. The T-Birds final selection of the draft came in round nine when they chose Calgarian Beckam Brodeur. Goebel said the organization is extremely pleased with their 2026 group. “We’ve added a lot of skill with Jolleys, Evans, Magner and Holte. We added some size and mobility on the back end with Bubnick, Gilbertson, Mann and Brodeur. Then, to top off the day we added a solid goaltender in LaBarbera who we think, in time has tremendous upside.”

Thunderbirds Add Gold Medal Winner

Erin Saunders — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:30:03 +0000

KENT, Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds have acquired the rights to forward Luke Puchner, along with two draft picks, from the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for winger Brayden Holberton and a 2026 fifth round draft pick. T-Birds will also receive a 2026 seventh round pick and a conditional 2027 third round pick from the Tigers. The 2008 born Puchner played this past season at Shattuck St Mary. In 54 games with their 18U team he accumulated 85 points (21g, 54a). The 5’10”, 183 lb. Puchner also won a gold medal with Team USA last August at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. In five games at the tournament he registered a goal and three assists. “We are very excited to add a player of Luke’s talent and ability,” said general manager Bil LaForge. “He has a championship pedigree and we hope to add him to our roster for next season.” The New Germany, Minnesota native is eligible for the NHL Entry Draft this summer. Holberton played three seasons with the T-Birds after being selected in the tenth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft. In 174 games with Seattle he earned 23 points (8g, 15a). “We would like to thank Brayden for his time with us,” said LaForge. “We wish him all the best in his time in Medicine Hat.”

Thunderbirds Acquire 7th Overall Pick in 2026 WHL Draft

Erin Saunders — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:45:33 +0000

KENT. Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds have acquired the seventh overall pick in tonight's WHL Prospects Draft from the Victoria Royals. The T-Birds now own two picks at the top of the draft, including their own selection at eleventh overall. To acquire the pick the Thunderbirds are sending winger Cameron Schmidt to Victoria. “We are very excited to add a top pick in this year’s draft,” said Thunderbirds general manager Bil LaForge. “We feel this pick will add an exciting prospect to our outstanding crop of talent.” Schmidt played 33 games for the Thunderbirds this past season, after being acquired from the Vancouver Giants at the trade deadline in January. He totaled 40 points on 24 goals and 16 assists. In addition to the top ten pick the T-Birds are also receiving a conditional 2028 fourth round selection, a pick that originated with the Wenatchee Wild.

T-Birds Acquire Rights to Defenseman

Erin Saunders — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:59:30 +0000

KENT, Wash. – The Seattle Thunderbirds have traded a pair of 2029 draft picks to the Tri-City Americans in exchange for the rights to Jonas Kemps. Kemps is a left shot defenseman who played this past season with the USHL’s Chicago Steel and had previously been with the U.S. National Development Team program. “We are excited to acquire Jonas’ rights,” stated T-Birds General Manager Bil LaForge. “We feel he has the ability to add to our strong group going into next season.” The 2008 born Kemps is listed at 6’6”, 196 lbs. and hails from Sebastopol, California. He was originally listed by Tri-City in May of 2023. NHL Central Scouting ranks him 67th among North American skaters for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The Thunderbirds are sending a 2029 seventh round pick and a conditional 2029 third round selection to Tri-City as part of the deal. The third round pick is conditional on Kemps, a Michigan State commit, signing with the T-Birds. “We will begin the recruitment process with Jonas and his family in the very near future,” said LaForge. Meanwhile, LaForge and his staff are busy preparing for the WHL Prospects Draft which takes place in early May. The T-Birds hold the eleventh pick in the first round.

Nine WHL players named to Canada’s pre-tournament camp roster for 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship

Erin Saunders — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:48:01 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – Nine Western Hockey League players have been named to the pre-tournament camp roster for Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team ahead of the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship, Hockey Canada announced Monday.

The WHL will be represented by two goaltenders, two defencemen, and five forwards on Canada’s pre-tournament roster. In total, Hockey Canada named three goaltenders, seven defencemen, and 13 forwards to the roster, which was selected by General Manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, Ont.) and Head Scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, Alta.), with support from Director of Hockey Operations Benoit Roy (Sudbury, Ont.), Senior Vice-President of High Performance and Hockey Operations Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.), and Coordinator of Hockey Operations Jared Power (Calgary, Alta.).

Seven WHL Clubs will be represented on Canada’s roster, with the Brandon Wheat Kings and Vancouver Giants both boasting two players. Also represented are the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Red Deer Rebels Regina Pats, Seattle Thunderbirds, and Spokane Chiefs.

Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team – Pre-Tournament Camp, WHL Players

Last Name	First Name	WHL Club	Hometown	Ht	Wt	Pos
Oaten	Leif	Lethbridge Hurricanes	Calgary, Alta.	6-3	194	G
Esler	Carter	Spokane Chiefs	Okotoks, Alta.	5-11	165	G
Lin	Ryan	Vancouver Giants	Richmond, B.C.	5-11	176	D
Pantelas	Giorgos	Brandon Wheat Kings	Victoria, B.C.	6-2	214	D
Preston	Mathis	Vancouver Giants	Penticton, B.C.	5-11	176	F
Lansard	Zach	Regina Pats	Ste. Anne, Man.	6-0	174	F
England	Brock	Seattle Thunderbirds	Red Deer, Alta.	5-11	174	F
Jacobson	Jaxon	Brandon Wheat Kings	Brandon, Man.	5-10	183	F
Hamilton	Beckett	Red Deer Rebels	Saskatoon, Sask.	5-11	172	F

Also named to the team is former Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff. Roster additions will be announced in the coming weeks following the conclusion of the second round of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) playoffs, while the final roster for the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship will be announced prior to the start of the tournament.

Oaten appeared in 31 games with the Hurricanes this season, going 6-19-2-0. He won gold with Canada Red at the 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Oaten was originally selected by Lethbridge in the third round (58th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft. He is eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft.

In his second season with the Chiefs, Esler went 24-18-1-0 with a 2.80 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and five shutouts in 44 appearances. Internationally, he most recently helped Canada to a bronze medal at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was named a finalist for the WHL’s Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy, which is presented annually to the WHL’s Humanitarian of the Year. Esler is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Lin enjoyed a second consecutive campaign with 50+ points on the Giants blueline, registering 57 points (14G-43A) in 53 games. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was also named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Internationally, Lin most recently helped Canada claim bronze at the 20225 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He was also a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championship. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Lin is listed 13th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

In his second season with the Wheat Kings, Pantelas posted career highs in goals (6), assists (31), and points (37), while taking to the ice for 68 regular season games. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and also competed for Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Internationally, Pantelas most recently represented Canada at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, helping his nation to a bronze medal. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Pantelas is listed 58th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Preston registered 44 points (18G-26A) in 46 games split between the Giants and Spokane Chiefs this past season. He represented Team CHL at the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge and was named to the roster for Team West at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass, but was unable to compete due to injury. Preston was a member of Canada’s bronze-medal squad at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, he is listed 24th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Lansard tallied 56 points (24G-32A) in 68 games in his second season with the Pats. He represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. He has yet to represent Canada on the international stage. Originally selected by the Pats in the fourth round (78th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Lansard is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft and is listed 72nd among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

England impressed in his WHL rookie campaign, posting 51 points (21G-30A) in 64 games with the Thunderbirds. Internationally, he helped Canada Red claim gold at the 2025 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (11th overall) of the 2024 WHL Prospects Draft, England is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

In his second WHL season, Jacobson excelled with the Wheat Kings, posting 85 points (25G-60A) in 63 games, earning a place on the WHL’s Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. Internationally, Jacobson earned a silver medal with Canada Red at the 2024 U17 World Hockey Challenge. Originally selected by the Wheat Kings in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Jacobson is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.

Recently named captain of the Rebels, Hamilton emerged with 62 points (24G-38A) in 67 games this past season. He represented Team East at the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Rebels in the first round (18th overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Hamilton is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed 75th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. He has yet to represent Canada on the international stage.

Verhoeff spent the 2025-26 campaign with the University of North Dakota following 75 games over two seasons with the Victoria Royals. From 2023-24 through 2024-25, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-shot defenceman tallied 47 points (21G-26A) as a member of the Royals. Most recently, he patrolled the blueline for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, bringing home a bronze medal. Verhoeff is eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, listed second among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings.

Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team will play two pre-tournament games, taking on Sweden at Ondrej Nepala Arena in Bratislava on April 17 and Czechia at the Pavol Demitra Ice Hockey Arena in Trencin on April 19. The 2026 IIHF U18 World Championship begins April 22, with Canada taking on Slovakia, Latvia, Norway, and Finland in the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with medal games May 2.

For more information on the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship, please visit IIHF.com.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s U-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

WHL announces finalists for Four Broncos Memorial Trophy

Erin Saunders — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 19:03:21 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the WHL’s Player of the Year.

The most prestigious individual award in the WHL, the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is named in memory of the four members of the Swift Current Broncos who died in a tragic bus crash December 30, 1986. Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff all died when the Broncos bus crashed while en route to a game in Regina.

Finalists for WHL Awards are voted upon by WHL General Managers.

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy – Eastern Conference Finalists

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers Markus Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers

Four Broncos Memorial Trophy – Western Conference Finalists

JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets Cameron Schmidt, Seattle Thunderbirds

Bryce Pickford, Medicine Hat Tigers

The 19-year-old product of Chauvin, Alta., had a breakout campaign, registering 45 goals, 83 points, and a plus-55 rating in 55 games as captain of the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 186-pound right-shot blueliner’s 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 83 points finished second among all WHL defencemen. With 11 game-winning goals, the smooth-skating defender finished tied for first in among all WHL skaters. Pickford’s 45 goals set a Medicine Hat Tigers franchise record for goals by a defenceman, surpassing the previous mark of 32 set by Kris Russell in 2006-07. A two-time WHL Champion (Seattle – 2023; Medicine Hat – 2025), Pickford was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round (81st overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. Originally selected by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round (38th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Pickford has played 224 career WHL regular season games, tallying 165 points (73G-92A).

Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers

The 18-year-old product of Osoyoos, B.C., finished second in WHL scoring with 104 points (45G-59A) in 68 games. The 6-foot, 175-pound right winger’s 45 goals were tied for second in the WHL, while his 59 assists ranked fifth across the League. Ruck’s 16 power-play goals were tied for third best in the WHL, and his 10 game-winning goals were also tied for third in the League. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Ruck is ranked 26th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. In November, he was selected to represent Team CHL at the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. He followed that in February by being named to Team East for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck has skated in 132 career WHL regular season games, recording 147 points (71G-76A). Ruck was a member of the Tigers 2025 WHL Championship.

Markus Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers

The 18-year-old product of Osoyoos, B.C., and twin brother of Liam, finished first in WHL scoring with 108 points (21G-87A) in 68 games. The 6-foot, 167-pound centre’s 87 assists were tops in the WHL this season, leading the next best skater by 21. Ruck’s 38 power-play assists were best in the WHL. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Ruck is ranked 31st among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. In February, he was selected to represent Team East for the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. Originally selected by the Tigers in the first round (21st overall) of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Ruck has played in 132 career WHL regular season games, tallying 137 points (29G-108A). Ruck was a member of the Tigers 2025 WHL Championship.

JP Hurlbert, Kamloops Blazers

The 17-year-old product of Allen, Texas, exploded onto the WHL as a rookie, posting 97 points (42G-55A) in 68 games with the Blazers. Hurlbert’s 97 points were fourth in the WHL, while his 42 goals were tied for fourth. He led all WHL rookies in scoring. The 6-foot, 182-pound right winger served as an alternate captain for the Blazers in his first WHL season. Eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft, Hurlbert is ranked 10th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings. The first-year WHL forward was named to Team CHL for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge in November, before representing Team West in the 2026 WHL Prospects Game presented by Showpass. He was originally selected by the Blazers in the first round (20th overall) of the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets

The 19-year-old product of Lake Country, B.C., returned following an injury-shortened 2024-25 season to lead the WHL in points per game (1.88), registering 90 points (41G-49A) in 48 games with the Rockets. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound centre established new career highs in both assists and points, best his previous marks from 2023-24 when he tallied 37 assists and 84 points in 64 games. Iginla finished sixth in both goals and points among all WHL skaters. Selected by the Utah Mammoth in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, Iginla has played 184 career WHL regular season games, posting 225 points (108G-117A). Prior to arriving in Kelowna, he was a member of Seattle’s 2023 WHL Championship squad. Iginla was originally selected by the Thunderbirds in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.

Cameron Schmidt, Seattle Thunderbirds

The 19-year-old product of Prince George, B.C., finished third in WHL scoring with 100 points. He was one of only three WHL players to reach the 100-point plateau and was the lone WHL player to register 50 goals in 2025-26. Having split the season between the Vancouver Giants and Thunderbirds, the 5-foot-8, 158-pound right winger finished tied for first in the WHL with 11 game-winning goals. Selected by the Dallas Stars in the third round (94th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft, Schmidt has collected 237 points (123G-114A) in 195 career WHL regular season games. Schmidt was originally selected by the Giants in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft.

About the Western Hockey League

T-Birds Season Ends in Penticton

Erin Saunders — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:14:10 +0000

PENTICTON, B.C. – The Seattle Thunderbirds season came to an end Friday night with a 6-3 loss to the Penticton Vees in Game Five of their first round, best-of-seven, playoff series at the South Okanagan Events Centre. Penticton wins the series four games to one. “Tonight we needed a really efficient, smart, road playoff game,” said head coach Matt O’Dette. “But we didn’t manage the puck well and got hemmed into our own end leading either to a goal against or a penalty. Just not quite enough execution and efficiency to keep us in the game tonight.” For the fourth time in the series, the Vees scored first, getting a goal at 3:42 of the opening period. The Thunderbirds responded with a Cameron Schmidt power play goal at 8:11, with Noah Kosick and Radim Mrtka assisting. Penticton went back on top at 17:31. Penticton stretched their lead to 4-1 with two goals in the second period, then made it 5-1 early in the third after converting a penalty shot at 4:06. The T-birds fought back. Tai Riley scored his first of the playoffs 37-seconds later to make it 5-2. Coster Dunn and Brock England picked up the assists. With six minutes left Seattle pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker. It paid off when Dunn scored at 14:39. The assists on the T-Birds third goal went to Matthew Gard and Sawyer Mayes. “Definitely no quit,” said O’Dette of his team’s late push. “We kept fighting. We kept fighting the whole series. Some teams would go away down 3-0. Really proud of the group for battling right ‘til the end.” Down two goals the T-Birds continued to push the final five minutes but eventually the Vees found the empty net and a 6-3 lead they would maintain to the final horn. While disappointed they couldn’t advance out of the first round O’Dette looked at the positives. “I think it was essential for our process, our development, to have the second half we did and earn ourselves a spot in the playoffs,” he explained. “We got our young guys more playoff experience. They got a taste of that and that’s valuable for our group going forward.” T-BIRD EXTRAS Coster Dunn finishes his four year Thunderbirds career having earned 144 points (65g, 79a) in 235 games. He added nine more points (3g, 6a) in 13 playoff games and won an Ed Chynoweth Cup with the team in 2023. Ashton Cumby’s WHL career comes to a close after 256 games between Winnipeg, Wenatchee and Seattle. He added 21 playoff games and was an Eastern Conference champion with Winnipeg in 2023. Next up for the T-Birds is the WHL Prospects Draft in early May. Seattle holds the 11^th pick in the first round. Boxscore: Seattle Thunderbirds at Penticton Vees - Friday, April 3, 2026

T-Birds, Sklenicka, Force Game Five

Erin Saunders — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:13:56 +0000

KENT, Wash. –Marek Sklenicka came up with 50 saves and the Seattle Thunderbirds staved off elimination with a 4-3 win over the Penticton Vees Wednesday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Game Four of their first round, best-of-seven, playoff series. Game Five is Friday at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton. If necessary, Game Six would be back in Kent Sunday at 5:05 p.m. For the first time in the series, Seattle scored first with a Joe Gramer goal at 13:59 of the opening period, assisted by Matej Pekar. “It was a pretty low event first. We were pretty efficient, managing it well,” said head coach Matt O’Dette of the start. “We managed to get the lead, which was nice.” O’Dette thought their second period wasn’t as clean as the first but they did manage to add on three goals. “We turned a few pucks over at their blue line but we managed to capitalize on some chances and stake ourselves to a bigger lead.” The T-Birds made it 2-0 at 4:07 of the second when Matthew Gard tipped in Tai Riley’s shot from the blue line. “I got a puck low to high. I was able to keep the puck in the zone,” explained Riley of his assist on the Gard goal. “I was able to put it to the net and Gardo had a good tip.” The Thunderbirds stretched the lead to 3-0 with Brock England’s goal at 7:53. Gramer and Antonio Martorana had the assists. Coster Dunn made it 4-0 with his second of the postseason at 12:31. Gramer earned another assist along with Noah Kosick. Penticton pushed back, starting with a power play goal with three minutes left in period two. They cut the T-Birds lead to 4-2 with a goal 24-seconds into the final period, then made it a one goal contest with four and a half minutes remaining. “They made a big push in the third,” commented O’Dette as the Vees put 22 shots on the Seattle net the final twenty minutes. “We bent but we didn’t break. Obviously Sklenny was good. He held the fort and we live to fight another day.” T-BIRD EXTRAS Coster Dunn now has seven points (2g, 5a) in 12 career playoff games with Seattle. The T-Birds only had one power play chance in the game and failed to convert. They are now 0-for-13 in the series with the man advantage. In three games, regular season and post season combined, Seattle has put up 13 goals against Penticton goalie Ethan McCallum. Boxscore: Penticton Vees at Seattle Thunderbirds - Wednesday, April 1, 2026

T-Birds Come up Short in Game Three

Erin Saunders — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:13:39 +0000

KENT, Wash. – Cameron Schmidt scored twice but the Seattle Thunderbirds were edged, 4-3, by the Penticton Vees Tuesday at the accesso ShoWare Center in Game Three of their first round, best-of-seven, playoff series. Seattle now trails the series three games to none. Game Four is Wednesday, a must win for the T-Birds, set for 7:05 p.m. also in Kent. Head coach Matt O’Dette said some of the small details are eluding the T-Birds thus far in the series. “The intangibles, every play matters,” he commented. “A lost battle at the front of the net, a missed shot block. It’s that time of year where they get magnified and can be the difference in the game.” For the third time in the series Penticton opened the scoring with the only goal of the first period. Seattle came back in period two to take the lead with the two Schmidt goals. The first at 1:07 was assisted by Noah Kosick. The second was an unassisted breakaway goal at 11:18. The T-Bird first lead of the series lasted just a little over three minutes. The Vees got it even at 2-2 at 14:36 and that was the score heading into the second intermission. “We had some scoring chances,” said O’Dette. “Their goalie made some saves. But when a goalie’s playing well you have to get more to the net, create traffic and get second and third opportunities.” Penticton broke the tie midway through the third then added another goal four minutes after that. In desperation mode, the Thunderbirds pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and did close to within one, but the Joe Gramer goal came with just 21-seconds left and the T-Birds couldn’t muster another scoring opportunity. Gramer’s goal was his first of the playoffs assisted by Brock England and Simon Lovsin. Once again, as was the case in each of the first two games, Seattle failed to convert on the power play. “Obviously it’s been a factor in the series,” remarked O’Dette as the T-Birds went 0-for-4 on the man advantage. “There were a couple looks that we had tonight, but you want to gain some momentum of the power play and carry that into the 5-on-5.” T-BIRD EXTRAS The Thunderbirds did kill off all four Penticton power plays in the game but by going 0-for-4 themselves, Seattle is now 0-for-12 with the power play through the first three games of the series. The Vees have hit the 40-shot plateau in all three games, outshooting the T-Birds in Game Three, 40-32, though Seattle did put 16 shots on net in the third. Early in the day the WHL named Schmidt a Western Conference first team all-star. Schmidt led the league in goal scoring during the regular season with 51 and was third in points with 100. Boxscore: Penticton Vees at Seattle Thunderbirds - Tuesday, March 31, 2026