Thunderbirds fall to Giants in preseason opener | WHL

The Vancouver Giants defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-1 Friday morning in the first game for both teams at the Delta Hotels Preseason Classic at Xfinity Arena in Everett.

Classic play continues with the T-Birds facing the Everett Silvertips at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Classic ends for the T-Birds on Sunday with a 3 p.m. game against the Spokane Chiefs.

Vancouver took a 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the game on a goal from Brendan Semchuk. Tyler Popowich and Owen Hardy had the assists. The Giants took a 2-0 lead on a four-on-four goal by Brad Morrison at 3:10 of the second period. Ty Ronning had the only assist on the goal.

Todd Scott started for in goal for Vancouver. Midway through the second period Scott was replaced by Trent Miner. Scott made 14 saves.

Vancouver made it a 3-0 lead on a power-play goal by Owen Hardy at 7:45 of the second. Kaleb Bulych and Semchuk had the assists.

Payton Mount got the T-Birds on the board at 18:32 of the third period on an end-to-end rush on the power play. Mount gathered the puck behind his net as he skated away from a defender. Mount went around a defenseman at the Giants blue line and came in alone on Miner. Mount waited out Miner, skated to his right and slid the puck under the goalie at the post.

Cole Schwebius played the whole game for the T-Birds in net. He made 30 saves on 33 shots.

Single-game tickets are on sale on the T-Birds website 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, Vancouver, Semchuk 1 (Popowich, Hardy), :53. Penalties –

Lee, Sea (tripping), 1:10. McNelly, Sea (roughing), 4:41. Scott, Van (illegally handling puck-served by Torzsok), 5:07. Bulych, Van (interference), 12:24. Ormsby, Sea (roughing), 14:53.

Second period – 2, Vancouver, Morrison 1 (Ronning), 3:10. 3, Vancouver, Hardy 1 (Bulych, Semchuk), 7:45 (pp). Penalties – McNelly, Sea (elbowing), 2:08. Semchuk, Van (slashing), 2:43. Bench, Sea (too many men-served by Pyne), 5:53. Plummer, Van (tripping), 8:04. McNelly, Sea (charging, roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 13:36. Popowich, Van (10-minute misconduct), 13:36. Kichton, Van (slashing), 17:05.

Third period – 4, Seattle, Mount 1, 18:32 (pp). Penalties – Hardy, Van (hooking), 3:42. Cox, Van (cross checking), 8:28. Torzsok, Van (cross checking), 11:27. Sourdif, Van (hooking), 17:18.

Shots on goal – Seattle 12-4-7 23, Vancouver 13-14-6 33. Goalies – Seattle, Schwebius 33 shots-30 saves (0-1-0-0); Vancouver, Scott 14-14 (1-0), Miner 9-8. Power plays – Seattle 1-9; Vancouver 1-6. Referees – Duncan Brow, Ryan O’Keefe. Linesmen – Cade Cooke, Michael McGowan.