T-Birds trade Stankowski to Calgary

Club acquires rights to defenseman, two bantam draft picks from Hitmen

  • Tuesday, August 7, 2018 1:40pm
  • Sports
Carl Stankowski backstopped the T-Birds to the 2017 WHL championship, finishing the playoffs with a 16-4 record with a 2.50 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

Carl Stankowski backstopped the T-Birds to the 2017 WHL championship, finishing the playoffs with a 16-4 record with a 2.50 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Thunderbirds

The Seattle Thunderbirds have acquired the rights to defenseman Mike Koster, an eighth-round pick in the 2019 Bantam Draft, and a conditional future bantam pick from the Calgary Hitmen for goalie Carl Stankowski and a conditional future bantam pick.

“Carl’s medical needs have become very significant and we felt that being close to his home in Calgary would allow his family to more closely monitor his needs,” said general manager Bil La Forge. “Carl was a very important part of the team winning the 2017 Western Hockey League championship and we thank him for all his contributions to the Thunderbirds.”

Koster, from Chaska, Minn., is a 2001 born, left-handed defenseman who played for the Tri-City Storm in the USHL last season. He appeared in 21 games with the Storm and had two goals and eight assists for 10 points.

“Koster is an elite defenseman that is NCAA committed,” La Forge said. “We feel that we will provide him with a very viable option going forward. We look forward to opening the lines of communication with him.”

Stankowski’s rookie season with the T-Birds was in 2016-17. He appeared in seven games and was 3-0-0-1 with a 2.18 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.

An injury to goalie Rylan Toth just before the start of the 2017 WHL playoffs put Stankowski in the top goalie spot. He backstopped the T-Birds to the 2017 WHL championship, playing every minute of all 20 playoff games. He finished the 2017 playoffs with a 16-4 record with a 2.50 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

Stankowski did not play in the 2017-18 season due to injury.

The Thunderbirds start the 2018-19 WHL regular season against the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday, Sept. 22, at 6:05 p.m. at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Season tickets for 2018-19 season are on sale and may be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

Single-game tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 22, at 10 a.m. online on the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office.


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 https://www.kentreporter.com/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

Kentwood pitcher Sarah Wright pitches to Lake Stevens at Auburn Riverside High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Launch party: Kentwood hits three HR in win over Lake Stevens

Thomasson, Wright, Ursino go large. Wright punches out 17 in win.

Tacos from the Mariners Food Preview Event. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Mariners unveil new ballpark eats for 2024 season

A couple of our reporters headed to T-Mobile Park to see if the Mariners’ food budget was as tight as their player free agency budget.

t
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Caiden Dodd

Dodd filled in as goal when the team needed someone to step up.

t
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Anna Shved

Shved is undefeated this year on the court for the Conk tennis team.

Keilor Cacho-Garcia possesses the ball in the first half against the Eagles. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Soccer: Kent-Meridian and Federal Way draw

Johnny Chino-Lopez scores the single goal for the Royals in the game.

Hazen celebrates their walk-off win as Christopher Moore leaves the field. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake baseball falls in heartbreaker to Hazen

After overcoming a 4-1 deficit, Kentlake loses on a walk-off.

t
Kent-based T-Birds fail to make WHL playoffs for first time since 2012

Seattle drops Portland on St. Patrick’s Day but playoff streak ends at 11 years

Sarah Wright eyes down the target as she pitches at Liberty High School. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Softball: Kentwood wins thriller in extra innings at Liberty

Sarah Wright dominated in the season opener with 20 strikeouts, no earned runs.

First panel of players sit in front of media members and fans inside the Ron Sandwith Teen Center. Photo Provided by Rodney McCurry.
Kent-based Seattle Majestics have a new leader and new energy

Women’s football team to play home games at French Field, next to Kent-Meridian High School

t
Kent-Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Andres Zuluaga

Zuluaga works hard and is a great player.

t
Kent-Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Angie Depano

Depano has a firey spirit and demonstrates tenacity at meets.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Male Athlete of the Week: Brandon Tagle

Tagle help lead the Conk basketball team to its first district championship since 2017.