Newcomer Alex Morozoff looks to pass the puck up the ice for the Thunderbirds during their preseason victory over the Silvertips. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

Newcomer Alex Morozoff looks to pass the puck up the ice for the Thunderbirds during their preseason victory over the Silvertips. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

Morozoff delivers two goals in debut as Thunderbirds top Blazers | WHL preseason

  • Wednesday, September 11, 2019 12:02pm
  • Sports

Alex Morozoff scored two goals in his debut to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-4 Western Hockey League victory over the Everett Silvertips at the accesso ShoWare Center on Tuesday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

The T-Birds, who finished the preseason 5-0-1-0, open the regular season against the Kamloops Blazers at 6:05 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at ShoWare.

Morozoff was acquired from the Red Deer Rebels on Monday for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 Bantam Draft.

Defenseman Hunter Donohoe also made his T-Birds debut in the game. Donohoe was acquired from the Rebels on Aug. 26.

Everett took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Jalen Price with six seconds left in the first period.

T-Birds struck four times in the second period to take a 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Morozoff scored at 10:40 the second to tie the game 1-1. Zach Ashton hit Lucas Ciona with an up-ice pass on the left wing. Ciona feathered the puck to Morozoff as he crossed the blue line for a partial breakaway. Morozoff beat Everett goalie Braden Holt over the glove.

Seattle took a 2-1 lead on a delayed penalty power play at 16:35 of the second. Andrej Kukuca had the puck at the right point. Kukuca crossed the puck to Keltie Jeri-Leon at center ice. Jeri-Leon moved the puck to Owen Williams who skated into the left circle. Williams beat Holt with a wrist shot over the blocker with traffic in front of the goalie.

Morozoff struck for a second time in the game at 19:24 of the second. Cade McNelly won the puck off the left boards in the neutral zone. Kukuca swept the puck to Morozoff who gained the offensive zone. Morozoff skated into the left circle and beat Holt over the glove.

Kukuca put the T-Birds in front 4-1 with 18 seconds left in the second period. Conner Bruggen-Cate took a shot that Kukuca tipped past Holt. Tyrel Bauer had the second assist.

Everett cut the T-Birds lead to two goals at 1:30 of the third period on a power-play goal by Gage Goncalves.

Seattle went back in front by three goals at 5:09 of the third. Jeri-Leon passed the puck to Brendan Williamson on the right wing. Williamson entered the offensive zone and beat Holt with a wrist shot over the blocker from the right circle.

Dawson Butt scored an unassisted goal at 15:16 and Goncalves scored a six-on-four power-play goal at 18:10 to cut the T-Birds lead to one goal.

Everett pulled their goalie for a second time and Seattle goalie Blake Lyda made several good saves to secure the win. Lyda finished with 25 saves on 29 shots.

Single-game tickets for the regular season are on sale online and at the ShoWare Center box office. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Everett, Price 1 (Goncalves), 19:54. Penalties – Butt, Evt (slashing), 14:28.

Second period – 2, Seattle, Morozoff 1 (Ciona, Ashton), 10:40. 3, Seattle, Williams 1 (Jeri-Leon, Kukuca), 14:04 (pp). 4, Seattle, Morozoff 2 (Kukuca, McNelly), 19:24. 5, Seattle, Kukuca 2 (Bruggen-Cate, Bauer), 19:42. Penalties – Ashton, Sea (cross checking), 16:35.

Third period – 6, Everett, Goncalves 2 (Seeley, Patterson), 1:30 (pp). 7, Seattle, Williamson 3 (Jeri-Leon), 5:09. 8, Everett, Butt 1, 15:16. 9, Everett, Goncalves 2 (Butt, Wright), 18:10. Penalties – Bruggen-Cate, Sea (hooking), :38. Roulette, Sea (hooking), 1:30. Butt, Evt (roughing), 5:59. McNelly, Sea (roughing), 5:59. Williamson, Sea (high-sticking), 16:42.

Shots on goal – Seattle 7-14-5 26, Everett 6-12-11 29. Goalies – Seattle, Lyda 29 shots-25 saves (3-0-0-0); Everett, Karki 13-13, Holt 13-8 (1-1-1-0). Power plays – Seattle 0-1; Everett 2-4. Referees – Troy Paterson, Trevor Nolan. Linesmen – Mark Heier, Cameron Wetmore.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentwood

Dayna Vi (Jr.) wrestling and Brandon Tagle (Jr.) basketball take home this weeks awards.

Kentwood’s Jessica Ajayi dribbles the ball up the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood girls basketball drops fourth straight

Team falls to Riverside for first time since 2017. Head Coach Jordan Nero: ‘We’ll find a way, we always do.’

t
Hundreds participate in Kent Christmas Rush run/walk

Seattle’s Nathan Morrisson wins 10K; Kent’s Travis Houser captures 5K

Graphic provided by KSD.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentridge

Genesis Miller (Flag Football) and Gio Moimoi (Basketball) take home this weeks award.

Veronica Garcia gives an interview after winning the 2A girls 400-meter final at the 2024 Washington State Championships at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma. (Screenshot from Runnerspace.com video)
Proposals seek new rules for transgender athletes in WA schools

Other proposals target student-athlete transfer rules and girls flag football.

Tyanna Sims drives to the basket against Auburn in the loss. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Trojans sweep aside Kentwood in doubleheader

Both boys and girls basketball teams lose to Auburn in NPSL opening play.

Kentridge girls soccer surprised the three signees at Kentridge. Photo provided by @ETDPI on Instagram.
National Signing Day for Kentridge | Photos

Four Chargers offically signed to play college sports.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Athlete of the Week for Nov. 22: Kentwood

Nick Greutman (tennis) and Rowan Parsons (swim and dive) take home this weeks honors.

Kentridge senior Sierra Wallace dribbles the ball against Woodinville. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer falls 4-0 in state

Chargers make round of eight for second time ever and run into Woodinville buzzsaw.

Senior running back Antoine Lee avoids a Trojan defender early in the game against Auburn. Ben Ray / The Reporter
4A NPSL all-league football teams announced

Kentwood’s Antoine Lee named Offensive Player of the Year.

Photo provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Addison Stendera and Riley Tricas take home this weeks awards.

Makenna Bennett in action against Tahoma back on Oct. 22 at Kentridge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer advances to state

Chargers make state for second consecutive year, take on Wenatchee.