The Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Kelowna Rockets 3-1 Jan. 7 at the ShoWare Center behind goals by Travis Toomey, Burke Gallimore, and Marcel Noebels, as well as a stellar performance from goalie Calvin Pickard.
Adding to the excitement was a large number of Kent-Meridian High School students and staff, cheering the T-Birds on as part of Kent-Meridian Night at the T-Birds game.
Special tickets from the game generated proceeds for K-M student programs.
The T-Birds opened the scoring 6:31 into the first period on a power-play goal by Toomey. After Kelowna’s Colton Heffley was called for roughing, Seattle defenseman Dave Sutter gained control of the puck at the right point. Sutter fired a strong wrist shot that managed to find its way to the front of the Rocket net, where Toomey was positioned on the left side to jam the loose puck past Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke. Brendan Rouse had the second assist on Toomey’s ninth goal of the season.
Seattle (17-15-3-4) extended their lead to two goals at 12:42 of the first period on Gallimore’s 20th goal of the season. Left wing Chance Lund deflected a clearing attempt by a Kelowna defenseman along the left boards to Brenden Dillon, who quickly fired a blind shot at the net while being pressured by a Rockets’ forward. The shot was deflected by Gallimore, who was standing at the right hashmarks. The redirection banked off of the crossbar and past Cooke into the back of the net.
Through one period of play, the T-Birds outshot the Rockets 16-7.
During a scoreless second period, the Seattle outshot Kelowna 12-8, giving them a 28-15 advantage through 40 minutes.
Kelowna (21-19-0-0) cut the Seattle’s lead to 2-1 at 1:57 of the third period on a power-play goal by Geordie Wudrick. Zach Franko and Kevin Smith assisted on Wudrick’s 21st goal of the season.
Shortly after the Kelowna’s power-play goal, they had a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity for 44 seconds but couldn’t convert behind strong defensive efforts from Seattle’s Luke Lockhart and Gallimore.
The T-Birds retook a two-goal lead at 10:05 of the third period on Noebels’ 11th goal of the season. During a Rockets’ breakout, Charles Wells forced a turnover in the neutral zone, leading to a 2-on-1. Wells carried the puck up the right side of the slot and made a pass around a Kelowna defenseman to Noebels who tapped the puck under Cooke to give the T-Birds the 3-1 lead.
Noebels’ tally would prove to be the final score of the game, as the T-Birds held on to defeat the Rockets 3-1. Kelowna outshot Seattle 14-8 during the third period, but Seattle still held the overall shot advantage at the end of the game, 36-29.
Seattle goalie Calvin Pickard (17-13-2-4) stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced to earn his 17th victory of the season.
Kelowna goalie Jordon Cooke (4-3-0-0) stopped 36 of the 39 shots he faced.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Toomey 9 (Sutter, Rouse), 6:31 (pp). 2, Seattle, Gallimore 20 (Dillon, Lund), 12:42. Penalties – Heffley, Kel (roughing), 4:56. Astles, Kel (major-fighting), 9:35. Doty, Sea (major-fighting), 9:35.
Second period – No scoring. Penalties – Jobke, Kel (major-fighting), 6:26. Hickman, Sea (major-fighthing), 6:26. Lund, Sea (delay of game), 9:37. Chapman, Kel (tripping), 17:24.
Third period – 3, Kelowna, Wudrick 21 (Franko, Smith), 1:57 (pp). Penalties – Toomey, Sea (tripping), 0:10. Gallimore, Sea (tripping), 4:33. Dillon, Sea (delay of game), 5:50. Wudrick, Kel (high-sticking), 12:59. Sutter, Sea (holding), 16:46.
Shots on goal – Seattle 16-12-8 36. Kelowna 7-8-14 29. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 29 shots-28 saves (17-13-2-4); Kelowna, Brown 36-33 (4-3-0-0). Power plays – Seattle 1-3; Kelowna 1-5. A – 3,189. Referee – Trent Knorr, Shane Warschaw. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Kiel Murchison.
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