The Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds snatched the last playoff spot to the Western Hockey League Playoffs on March 18 after the Kamloops Blazers lost to the Victoria Royals, granting the Thunderbirds the eighth seed.
The Thunderbirds have a record of 27-33-4-1 and will take on the Everett Silvertips in round one. Game one of that series will start on March 28 in Everett at Angel of the Winds Arena.
Seattle resurrected its season with an exemplary February to March stretch where the T-Birds went 7-3-2.
This current roster is loaded with 2025 NHL Draft prospects and players who have already been drafted. Braeden Coots leads the way with 61 points this season (25 goals, 36 assists), followed by Nathan Pilling with his first 30-goal season in his WHL career.
Buffalo Sabres prospect goaltender Scott Ratzlaff is third in saves, sixth in save percentage, and for the third straight season, won 20-plus games.
Radim Mrtka and Matej Pekar, both Czech nationals, have played very well in the new year for Seattle. Mrtka is a projected first round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and has recorded 34 points this season (3 goals, 31 assists). Pekar was named WHL Rookie of the Week in January.
Hyde Davidson, Coster Dunn and Ratzlaff were all rostered on the 2023 title team that lost in the Memorial Cup finals to the Quebec Remparts.
The regular season comes to a close March 22 against the Portland Winterhawks with the puck drop at 6:05 p.m.
Editor’s note: This story was updated.
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