“You have to give them credit, they capitalized on their chances – they don’t miss very often.”
– HC/GM Dan Price
Gracyn Sawchyn scored twice and added an assist, while Thomas Milic made 26 saves for the clean sheet, as the visiting Seattle Thunderbirds blanked the Victoria Royals 7-0 Monday afternoon.
Milic made 26 saves for the shutout Credit: Gord Rufh
The T’birds held period leads of 4-0 and 6-0, before scoring the only goal of the third.
“I thought we limited their chances much more in the second and third, essentially dead even periods – but our chances didn’t go, and theirs did.
“The first was really us adjusting to the tactical changes.”
The T’birds have loaded up for the post season and now boast 10 NHL drafted skaters, 5 of which are 1st round picks, 6 players won Gold with Canada at the WJ, plus Lambert (FIN), plus 9 first round prospect selections and 5 rated for the upcoming draft.
Seattle out shot Victoria 41-26. Nicholas Cristiano took the loss with 34 stops.
It was a physical affair, with 78 minutes in penalties handed out, which included a pair of fights.
“We were going at them tooth and nail, toe to toe, clawing for every inch of ice…”
The T’birds went 1 for 6 on the power play, while the Royals were shut out on 6 chances.
Seattle sits 1st in the West, won their 7th in a row, and remain 3 back of Winnipeg for first overall.
Victoria slides to 7 back of Kelowna for the final playoff spot in the West, and have just 12 games remaining. The Rockets have 3 games in hand.
“We were 12 back at one point, and got it to even so we know we can do it…it’s got a chance to be one of the best stories ever, if we can pull this off.”
The Royals wrap up 3 in a row against the CHL Top 10 T’birds Tuesday night at 7pm in Victoria.
– Marlon Martens
Seattle Thunderbirds 7 at Victoria Royals 0 – Status: End of Game
Monday, February 20, 2023 – Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena – Victoria, BC
Seattle 4 2 1 – 7
Victoria 0 0 0 – 0
1st Period-
1, Seattle, Davidson 32 (Dach, Ciona), 0:54.
2, Seattle, Dach 10 (Sawchyn, Milic), 9:45.
3, Seattle, Sawchyn 16 (Lambert, Hanzel), 15:41.
4, Seattle, Popowich 8 (Sanders, Ciona), 16:58.
Penalties-Hodson Vic (tripping), 3:20; Misskey Vic (charging), 8:10; Schaefer Sea (tripping), 9:12; Kipkie Vic (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 9:45; Dylan Guenther Sea (roughing), 10:27; Hodson Vic (roughing), 10:27; Popowich Sea (roughing), 12:29; Prokop Sea (roughing), 12:29; Zemlak Vic (roughing), 12:29; Schaefer Sea (major-fighting), 14:37; Misskey Vic (major-fighting), 14:37; served by Iginla Sea (too many men), 17:31; Pickford Sea (major-fighting), 19:46; Trembecky Vic (major-fighting), 19:46.
2nd Period-
5, Seattle, Iginla 4 (Popowich, Sanders), 5:59.
6, Seattle, Dylan Guenther 4 (Korchinski, Lambert), 6:33 (PP).
Penalties-Sawchyn Sea (cross checking), 2:34; Misskey Vic (roughing), 6:28; Sawchyn Sea (roughing), 7:05; Scott Vic (tripping), 8:12; Korchinski Sea (cross checking), 13:02; Trembecky Vic (hooking), 15:58.
3rd Period-
7, Seattle, Sawchyn 17 (Korchinski), 16:23.
Penalties-Allan Sea (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 1:43; Zemlak Vic (cross checking, major-fighting), 1:43; Dach Sea (interference), 13:42.
Shots on Goal-
Seattle 19-13-9-41.
Victoria 9-10-7-26.
Power Play Opportunities-
Seattle 1 / 6;
Victoria 0 / 6.
Goalies-
Seattle, Milic 21-3-1-0 (26 shots-26 saves).
Victoria, Cristiano 4-12-0-0 (41 shots-34 saves).
A-4,313
Referees-Brady Casparie (63), Brett Iverson (24).
Linesmen-Cole Cooke (130), Jack McNabb (144).
