Dylan Guenther celebrates one of his two goals for the Seattle Thunderbirds in a 6-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday, March 21 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Dylan Guenther celebrates one of his two goals for the Seattle Thunderbirds in a 6-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday, March 21 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kent-based T-Birds set win record; clinch top playoff seed

Seattle defeats Kamloops 6-3 for 53rd victory

The Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds knocked off the Kamloops Blazers 6-3 to clinch the top seed in the Western Conference heading into the Western Hockey League playoffs next week.

Seattle also set a franchise record for most wins in a single season as it improved to 53-9-1-2 with three regular season games left. That broke the mark of 52 wins set in 1989-90.

Dylan Guenther scored twice to lead the T-Birds to the victory Tuesday night, March 21 in front of a crowd of 4,335 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent.

Guenther’s first goal, at 15:31 of the second period, finished off a six-minute stretch in which Seattle scored three times, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. He would add a second goal midway through the third period to put the T-Birds up, 5-2.

“Not our best start,” said Guenther, the prospect of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. “But I thought we continued to get better as the game went on. As we continued to get scoring, we continued to play better. It’s a good game for us and we just need to take that momentum into the rematch tomorrow.”

Seattle coach Matt O’Dette agreed with Guenther.

“I thought we got stronger as the game went on,” he said. “Which is kind of a trend for us. We’d like to be better earlier in the game, but a good hockey game. Two good teams going at it.”

Seattle actually grabbed an early lead, scoring on its first shot of the game, 34-seconds in. Nolan Allan potted his 10th of the season on assists from Nico Myatovic and Jared Davidson. Kamloops tied it four minutes later with an Ashton Ferster goal and took their only lead when Olen Zellweger scored on the power play at 12:15.

Seattle used a power play goal of its own from Brad Lambert at 9:27 of the second period to tie it at 2-2. Kyle Crnkovic and Jeremy Hanzel earned the assists. Davidson was credited with the T-Birds third goal. Guenther followed with his two goals, giving the T-Birds the lead for good.

The lead held up thanks to the play in goal of T-Birds netminder Thomas Milic, who turned aside 34 shots, including a pair of breakaways.

“These are the games I love to play in,” said the Seattle goalie. “Especially against Kamloops, since there’s a chance we could see them later in the playoffs.”

O’Dette remarked Milic was a difference maker in the game.

“He was lights out,” O’Dette said. “Obviously, we’d like to prevent those big, high-quality chances. We can’t be giving those up.”

In the game’s final two minutes, while on the power play, the Blazers pulled their goalie and scored a 6-on-4 goal to pull within 5-3 but shortly after Reid Schaefer scored into the empty net to put the game away.

The T-Birds plan at Kamloops Wednesday in a rematch. They play Friday at Portland and return home Saturday against Portland to finish the regular season.

T-Birds extras

• The T-birds pulled withing two points of idle Winnipeg for the WHL’s best record. Both teams have three games remaining.

• After a six-game absence, Colton Dach returned to the T-Birds lineup. Seattle is still without Tij Iginla, Jordan Gustafson and Gracyn Sawchyn. All are still sidelined with injuries.

• Playoffs: With the other results in the WHL Tuesday night, Seattle now knows its first-round playoff opponent, For the second straight season the T-Birds will play the Kelowna Rockets in the opening round. The best-of-seven series will start at home. Seattle will host Game 1 on Friday, March 31. Game 2 is Saturday, April 1.

Thom Beuning, of the Seattle Thunderbirds, contributed to this article.


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

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentlake

Raiden Renggli (Sr.) soccer and Taylor Le (Fr.) track and field take home this weeks awards.

Jack Coleman delivers a pitch for Kentwood against Auburn Riverside. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood baseball just misses the postseason cut

Kentwood drops series to Auburn Riverside and misses playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Photo provided by Kidder Matthews.
New pickleball facility set to open in Auburn this summer

A 43,959-square-foot building is set to become Rally Pickleball Club.

A crowd of 400 gather to give thoughts and prayers to Joe Townsend. Ben Ray / The Mirror
Federal Way remembers Joe Townsend

Townsend was more than a baseball and bowling coach at Thomas Jefferson High School

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Honey Sychtysz

Sychtysz is a true champion of inclusion as she coaches unified basketball and track and field.

t
Thomas Jefferson HS bowling and baseball coach Joe Townsend dies

Townsend will be remembered as a remarkable coach and person who put his teams first.

A company plans to turn the former LA Fitness, 27417 Pacific Highway S., into a pickleball facility. BEN RAY, Sound Publishing
New pickleball facility coming to Federal Way

A facelift is in order for former LA Fitness building as new pickleball courts set to take over.

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

Zach Hernandez (Sr. baseball) and Maddie Hughes (So. Track and Field) take home this weeks awards.

Naomi Benavides hits a double against Interlake. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge’s Naomi Benavides hits three doubles in win over Interlake

Benavides recorded four hits in four at-bats as Chargers drub Saints.

t
Everett eliminates Kent-based T-Birds from WHL playoffs

Silvertips grab 1-0 win in double overtime in game six

Genesis Miller pitches the ball for the Chargers. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge softball off to best start since 2014 after shutout vs. Auburn

It’s been more than 20 years since the Chargers have made it to state.

Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone announced Renton will host a national soccer team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Renton
Renton to host national soccer team for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Mayor: ‘This is an opportunity for Renton to showcase ourselves on the world stage next year.’