T-Birds Capture WHL Western Conference Crown
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Thunderbirds punched their ticket to the 2016 WHL Championship on Wednesday after a dramatic double-overtime win in Kent.
Edmonton Oilers prospect Ethan Bear scored with 1:15 remaining in the game to make it 4-3 before assisting on the game-tying goal with just three seconds remaining to force overtime.
In a series laden with stars, it was unheralded rookie Matthew Wedman who drove down the left wing and potted his first playoff goal at the 7:52 mark of the second overtime to eliminate the reigning champions and send the T-Birds to the fourth round.
It is the first time since 1997 that the Seattle Thunderbirds have earned a berth to the League final. That season, a young Patrick Marleau led the T-Birds with 23 points (7g-16a) in 15 postseason games as Seattle fell to Lethbridge in the WHL Championship Series.
Seattle will face the winner of the WHL Eastern Conference Championship, either Brandon or Red Deer (Brandon leads series 3-1). Should Brandon win, the Wheat Kings will have home-ice advantage. If the Rebels mount a comeback, the WHL Championship will begin in Seattle.
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2016
MATTHEW WEDMAN, THE ROOKIE. OVERTIME WINNER. Thunderbirds are off the the WHL Championship. #KELvsSEA pic.twitter.com/3j7a6zaivB
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2016
TIE GAME. Kolesar scores with 2.7 seconds and we are off to overtime in Seattle. #KELvsSEA pic.twitter.com/MqiEQytOSB
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 28, 2016
12. WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!! WE ARE HEADED TO THE WHL FINALS!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5mwyiTpNA4
— Seattle Thunderbirds (@SeattleTbirds) April 28, 2016
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