T-Birds look to rebound on Sunday
With each team having played a game entering Sunday’s action at the 2017 Mastercard Memorial Cup, things begin to get a little bit more interesting as the host Windsor Spitfires and WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds return to action.
The affair features a pair of up-and-coming young netminders as draft eligible Spits puckstopper Michael DiPietro goes head-to-head with Seattle Thunderbirds 17-year-old standout Carl Stankowski.
The Spits come off a thrilling 3-2 opening night victory over the QMJHL champion Saint John Sea Dogs, one that saw Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Jeremy Bracco lead the offensive charge with a goal and an assist.
An engaged WFCU Centre crowd cheered the Spitfires to victory on Friday, a win that’s given them some perspective as they head into battle against Seattle tonight.
“I think we have the team to maybe win this thing,” said veteran blueliner Sean Day after Game 1. “We saw we can compete with the best of the best and if we keep playing, who knows what can happen?”
Head coach Rocky Thompson commended his team on the effort Friday, but says a short memory is a good thing to have in a national championship such as this.
“All I can say is we try to get better every day. We got a win, we’re going to have to be better moving forward and that’s what our goal is when we play the Seattle Thunderbirds.”
A win today would but the Spitfires in the driver’s seat and allow them to skip any potential tie-breaking game on Thursday.
Seattle on the other hand looks to avoid the dreaded 0-2 start at the Mastercard Memorial Cup after falling 4-2 to the OHL champion Erie Otters on Saturday afternoon while being outshot 35-20.
T-Birds head coach Steve Konowalchuk said his players will be happy to put the loss behind them and get back to work in short order.
“I think we need to have a little quicker of a north-south game, as well as getting on the forecheck and being more physical,” he said. “We lacked some of the desperation that got us to this point.
“I’m glad we have a chance to play again tomorrow and I know our guys are.”
By virtue of playing back-to-back, Seattle will have last change as the home team once again, but the T-Birds will have to contend with a big Windsor crowd out to support the hometown Spitfires.
Tonight’s game is set for 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT and can be seen across the country on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, Pacific, TVA Sports, NHL Network U.S and streaming online at CHLLive.com.
