T-Birds topple Winter Hawks 4-2 in Kent

The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Portland Winter Hawks 4-2 Saturday night at Kent Valley Ice Centre in their last exhibition game of the preseason.

The T-Birds open their season Sept. 19 on the road against the Prince George Cougars at 7 p.m.

The T-Birds also acquired center Jonathan Parker Saturday morning from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for a 10th round selection in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft.

Parker is a 17-year-old right-handed center from Solana Beach, California. Last season he played 62 games with the L.A. Kings Midget AA team and had 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points. Parker was born September 25, 1991, and is 5’10 and 180 pounds.

Seattle finishes the preseason with a record of 4-3.

Portland took a 1-0 lead at 13:54 of the first period no a power-play goal by Oliver Gabriel. Nick Dietrich centered the puck from the left corner to Gabriel in front of the goal Gabriel put the puck past Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard low for the goal. Chris Francis had the second assist on the goal.

The Winter Hawks took a 2-0 lead at 19:43 of the first on a power-play goal by Radim Valchar. Brett Ponich controlled the puck at the right point and then attempted to shoot the puck into the left corner. The puck ricocheted off Valchar in the left circle and past a surprised Pickard. Francis had the second assists on the goal.

The T-Birds outshot Portland 10-5 in the first period.

Seattle came out gunning in the second period and scored four goals in the first four minutes of the period.

Jeremy Boyer tipped a Brenden Dillon point shot past Portland goalie Keith Hamilton at 1:36 of the second. Spencer Edwards had the second assist when he got the puck from the left corner to Dillon at the left point.

Ashton Hewson scored a power-play goal at 2:42 of the second off a scramble in front of Hamilton. Steve Chaffin put a slap shot on goal from the left point that Hamilton stopped. Matt Hallick got a stick on the rebound and Hewson, crashing the net, muscled the puck past Hamilton.

Brenden Silvester scored at 2:57 of the second to put the T-Birds in front 3-2. David Richard had the puck in the left corner and fed the point to Chaffin. Chaffin sent the puck back down the left boards to Silvester. Silvester curled off the boards towards the high slot and beat Hamilton with a quick wrist shot over the glove.

Newly acquired Jonathon Parker put the Seattle up 4-2 when he converted a pass from Devon LeBlanc at 3:52 of the second. LeBlanc carried the puck up the left boards from the Seattle zone on a two-on-one break with Parker. LeBlanc centered the puck to Parker in the slot. Parker beat Hamilton with a quick snap shot high over the glove.

Seattle outshot Portland 22-4 in the second period and led 32-9 in total shots going into the second intermission.

Portland outshot Seattle 9-6 in a scoreless third period.

Pickard stopped 16 of 18 shots to get the win.

Hamilton made 34 saves on 38 shots and was credited with the loss.

The first regular season home game is October 4 at KeyArena against the Spokane Chiefs at 7:05 p.m.

T-Birds season tickets are also currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T- Birds office at 425-869-7825. Purchasing a season ticket will ensure fans can attend both the home opener at the KeyArena on October 4 and the T-Birds first game in their new home, the Kent Events Center.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Portland, Gabriel (Dietrich, Francis), 13:54 (pp). 2, Portland, Valchar (Ponich, Francis), 19:43 (pp). Penalties – Edwards, Sea (hooking), 12:38. Valchar, Por (hooking), 15:51. Hewson, Sea (slashing), 18:40.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Boyer (Dillon, Edwards), 1:36. 4, Seattle, Hewson (Hallick, Chaffin), 2:42 (pp). 5, Seattle, Silvester (Chaffin, Richard), 2:57. 6, Seattle, Parker (LeBlanc), 3:52. Penalties – Francis, Por (interference), 1:44. Peters, Por (elbowing), 10:56. Ross, Por (slashing), 14:15. Boychuk, Por (cross checking, roughing), 18:01. Hewson, Sea (roughing), 18:01.

Third period – No scoring. Penalties – Schmermund, Por (interference), 1:47. Hallick, Sea (hooking), 2:40. Wells, Sea (delay of game), 9:50. Ponich, Por (hooking), 18:43. Hutt, Por (holding), 19:30.

Shots on goal – Seattle 10-22-6 38. Portland 5-4-9 18. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 18 shots- 16 saves; Portland, White 38-34. Power plays – Seattle 1-7; Portland 2-5. Referee – Brett Iverson, Colby Smith. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Zach Brooks.