Center Kaden Elder and left wing Nolan Volcan have signed Western Hockey League standard player agreements with the Seattle Thunderbirds, general manager Russ Farwell announced today.
“We are very happy to be adding these two players to the Thunderbirds,” Farwell said. “Both players bring high end skill, proven scoring and leadership. … This is a great day for our team. We are excited to have them on board.”
Elder and Volcan will play in the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament this coming weekend at Comcast Arena.
Elder, from Saskatoon, was the T-Birds’ second first-round pick, 22nd overall, in the 2013 Bantam Draft. He played for the Notre Dame Hounds last season and had 64 points on 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points.
“It is a huge honor to sign with the T-Birds,” Elder said. “Signing is just the beginning and this is a big first step in my hockey career. I feel I worked hard in rookie and main camp and this is something I know I will have to do to earn a spot on the team next season. I am looking forward to playing in the Everett tournament this weekend.”
Volcan, from Edmonton, was the T-Birds’ second-round pick, 27th overall, in the 2013 Bantam Draft. He played for Edmonton MLAC Bantam AAA team last year and had 40 goals and 36 assists for 76 points in 32 games. Volcan is the son of former Seattle Breaker Marty Volcan.
“Signing with the T-Birds a big step in my career,” Volcan said. “I thought rookie camp went well for me and I really like the facilities here. Playing at main camp against the size and speed of the returning veterans will really help me in my midget season this year. I am pretty happy to join an organization that my dad played for.”
Preseason slate on deck
The Thunderbirds have a seven-game preseason schedule, beginning with three games at the Everett Silvertips preseason tournament at Comcast Arena. The T-Birds play the Tri-City Americans at 11:30 a.m. Friday, followed by games against the Victoria Royals at 3 p.m. Saturday, and the Spokane Chiefs at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The T-Birds travel to Kennewick for two games at the Red Lion Hotels’ Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center. The T-Birds face the Tri-City Americans at 7:05 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6., and play the Portland Winterhawks at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.
The T-Birds close out the preseason schedule with a home-and-home series against Everett – on the road at 7:35 p.m. Sept. 13, and back at home at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 14. Tickets for the home preseason are on sale.
Regular season looms
The T-Birds drop the puck for the regular season against Portland at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 21 at the ShoWare Center.
T-Birds single game tickets for the season are on sale and can be purchased online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The box office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
T-Birds season tickets are on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
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