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Seattle Thunderbirds

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Seattle Thunderbirds
CityKent, Washington
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionU.S.
Founded1971
Home arenaaccesso ShoWare Center
ColorsNavy blue, green, white
     
General managerBil La Forge
Head coachMatt O'Dette
Websitechl.ca/whl-thunderbirds/
Franchise history
1971–1973Vancouver Nats
1973–1977Kamloops Chiefs
1977–1985Seattle Breakers
1985–presentSeattle Thunderbirds
Championships
Playoff championshipsEd Chynoweth Cup
2 (2017, 2023)
Conference Championships
4 (2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23)
Current uniform

The Seattle Thunderbirds are a major junior ice hockey team based in the city of Kent, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference in the Western Hockey League. Founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats, the team arrived in Seattle in 1977 and played as the Breakers until 1985, when they adopted the Thunderbirds name. The team played in Seattle for three decades before moving to the accesso ShoWare Center in nearby Kent in 2008. The Thunderbirds are two-time WHL champions, with their most recent title coming in 2023.

History

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Foundations

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The team was founded in 1971 as the Vancouver Nats of the Western Canada Hockey League, but moved to Kamloops, British Columbia, after just two seasons to become the Kamloops Chiefs in 1973.[1] In 1977, the team moved again, this time to Seattle, and was renamed the Seattle Breakers.[1] The move came just years after the city narrowly missed out on securing a National Hockey League franchise.[2] The Breakers began play in 1977–78, and played out of the Seattle Center Arena. Through eight seasons, the Breakers finished with a regular season record of 225 wins, 319 losses, and 32 ties; and playoff record of 11 wins and 21 losses, twice advancing as far as the West Division finals.[3] The team nearly folded in 1982 when, under owner John Hamilton, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This reality, combined with novel promotions like honoring unused Seattle Seahawks tickets at the gate, boosted attendance at Breakers games.[4] This was also helped by on-ice success. Despite the off-ice challenges, the team, under coach Jack Sangster, swept the Victoria Cougars in the playoffs to advance to the Division finals. There, they faced the rival Portland Winter Hawks, dropping the series to the eventual champions 4 games to 2.[4]

The Thunderbirds

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After the 1984–85 season, the Breakers were sold to new owners and renamed the Seattle Thunderbirds as part of an extensive re-branding.[5] Along with the new name, the team changed its color-scheme from orange, blue, and white, to green, blue, and white, announced a renovation plan for its home arena, and by 1990 began playing some of its games at the larger Seattle Center Coliseum.[5][6] New management promised to spare no expense and to turn the team into a contender. This included hiring Russ Farwell as manager and Barry Melrose as coach—the two had been instrumental in the Medicine Hat Tigers' 1988 Memorial Cup championship.[7] However, despite the scoring exploits of Glen Goodall—Goodall set new league records for goals (262) and points (573) and had his number 10 jersey retired when he turned professional in 1990[8]—it would be twelve years before the Thunderbirds broke through to their first league final. Led by star forward Patrick Marleau, the Thunderbirds faced the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 1997 championship series, which they lost in a sweep.[9] Although the Thunderbirds would win their first and second regular season Division titles in 2002–03 and 2004–05, the eighteen seasons after their first finals appearance would see the team advance past the second round of the playoffs just once.

The Thunderbirds hosting the Spokane Chiefs in a 2012 game.

In 2006, the Thunderbirds announced their intention to move to a brand new arena being constructed in Kent, south of Seattle.[10] The purpose-built arena was a major attraction for the team.[11]

2015 marked the beginning of the most successful period in team history, as the Thunderbirds advanced to the finals four times in eight seasons, twice capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup as league champions. Led by the likes of Matthew Barzal, Ethan Bear, and Keegan Kolesar, the 2015–16 season saw the Thunderbirds capture their first Division title since 2005 and make their deepest playoff run since 1997 when Matthew Wedman's game four overtime goal sent the Thunderbirds past the Kelowna Rockets and into the championship final.[12] They lost the final in five games to the Brandon Wheat Kings.[13] The following season, the Thunderbirds returned to the final, where they faced the Regina Pats. They defeated the Pats in six games, with Alexander True scoring the title-winning goal in overtime of game six to secure Seattle's first championship.[14] With the win, Seattle advanced to the 2017 Memorial Cup tournament, where they were eliminated after three straight losses in the preliminary round.[15]

After two straight first-round exits and two years without playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Thunderbirds again emerged as a contender in the 2021–22 season. That season, the team returned to the finals and faced the Edmonton Oil Kings to contest the first league playoff title since 2019. Seattle lost the final in six games.[16] The following season was the best in Thunderbirds' history with the team posting 54 wins and 111 points.[17] In the playoffs, the eliminated the Memorial Cup-host Kamloops Blazers in the Western Conference championship, moving on to face the Winnipeg Ice in the title series.[18] They defeated the Ice in five games to earn a berth in the 2023 Memorial Cup tournament.[19] There, led by Dylan Guenther and goaltender Thomas Milic, the Thunderbirds advanced to the tournament final, which they lost to the Quebec Remparts.[20]

Rivals

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The Thunderbirds are one of five teams based in Washington, along with the Tri-City Americans, Spokane Chiefs, Wenatchee Wild, and Everett Silvertips. The Thunderbirds have built an enduring rivalry with the Portland Winterhawks, dating back to the 1980s.[6][21] Everett is the closest team to Seattle and a natural rival; and the two teams have met regularly in the playoffs, including a three-year stretch between 2016 and 2018 where the winner of the series between the two made it all the way to the championship series.[22]

Season-by-season record

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Matthew Barzal played for the Thunderbirds between 2013 and 2017.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Calvin Pickard played for the Thunderbirds between 2008 and 2012.
Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
Seattle Breakers
1977–78 72 32 28 12 – 359 316 76 4th West Did not qualify
1978–79 72 21 40 11 – 299 334 53 4th West Did not qualify
1979–80 72 29 41 2 – 297 364 60 3rd West Lost West Division final
1980–81 72 26 46 0 – 318 393 52 3rd West Lost West Division semifinal
1981–82 72 36 34 2 – 339 310 74 3rd West Lost West Division final
1982–83 72 24 47 1 – 319 418 49 4th West Lost West Division semifinal
1983–84 72 32 39 1 – 350 379 65 4th West Lost West Division semifinal
1984–85 72 25 44 3 – 320 416 53 5th West Did not qualify
Seattle Thunderbirds
1985–86 72 27 43 2 – 373 413 56 4th West Lost West Division semifinal
1986–87 72 21 47 4 – 328 430 46 5th West Did not qualify
1987–88 72 25 46 2 – 313 436 52 5th West Did not qualify
1988–89 72 33 35 4 – 315 276 70 5th West Did not qualify
1989–90 72 52 17 3 – 444 295 107 2nd West Lost West Division final
1990–91 72 42 26 4 – 319 317 88 3rd West Lost West Division semifinal
1991–92 72 33 34 5 – 292 285 71 4th West Lost West Division final
1992–93 72 31 38 3 – 234 292 65 4th West Lost West Division quarterfinal
1993–94 72 32 37 3 – 283 312 67 4th West Lost West Division semifinal
1994–95 72 42 28 2 – 319 282 86 3rd West Eliminated in round-robin
1995–96 72 29 36 7 – 255 281 65 5th West Lost West Division quarterfinal
1996–97 72 41 27 4 – 311 249 86 2nd West Lost Final
1997–98 72 31 35 6 – 286 278 68 6th West Lost West Division quarterfinal
1998–99 72 37 24 11 – 279 236 85 3rd West Lost West Division semifinal
1999–00 72 34 27 8 3 250 221 79 3rd West Lost West Division semifinal
2000–01 72 30 33 8 1 262 299 69 6th West Lost West Division semifinal
2001–02 72 21 40 6 5 235 313 53 4th U.S. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2002–03 72 44 22 3 3 280 224 94 1st U.S. Lost Western Conference final
2003–04 72 24 31 8 9 192 198 65 5th U.S. Did not qualify
2004–05 72 43 24 2 3 204 144 91 1st U.S. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2005–06 72 35 31 1 5 186 211 76 2nd U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2006–07 72 37 21 3 11 209 186 88 3rd U.S. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2007–08 72 42 23 5 2 241 179 91 3rd U.S. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2008–09 72 35 32 1 4 222 234 75 3rd U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2009–10 72 19 41 7 5 172 255 50 5th U.S. Did not qualify
2010–11 72 29 37 3 3 219 285 64 5th U.S. Did not qualify
2011–12 72 25 45 1 1 173 292 52 5th U.S. Did not qualify
2012–13 72 24 38 7 3 210 286 58 4th U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2013–14 72 41 25 2 4 238 249 88 2nd U.S. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2014–15 72 38 25 4 5 218 201 85 3rd U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2015–16 72 45 23 4 0 228 186 94 1st U.S. Lost Final
2016–17 72 46 20 4 2 253 206 98 2nd U.S. Won Ed Chynoweth Cup
2017–18 72 34 28 8 2 250 258 78 5th U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2018–19 68 31 29 6 2 231 245 70 5th U.S. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2019–20 63 24 32 4 3 175 240 55 4th U.S. Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 23 10 12 0 1 67 82 21 3rd U.S. No playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 44 18 4 2 271 179 94 3rd U.S. Lost Final
2022–23 68 54 11 1 2 300 155 111 1st U.S. Won Ed Chynoweth Cup
Lost 2023 Memorial Cup Final
2023–24 68 27 38 2 1 191 260 57 5th U.S. Did not qualify

Championship history

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WHL Championship finals

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Memorial Cup results

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Players

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NHL alumni

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Several National Hockey League players started with the Thunderbirds:[citation needed]

Retired numbers

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# Player Year Ref
10 Glen Goodall 1990 [8]
12 Patrick Marleau 2023 [23]

Team records

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Individual player records for a single season[24]
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Glen Goodall 76 1989–90
Most assists Victor Gervais 96 1989–90
Most points Glen Goodall 163 1989–90
Most penalty minutes Mitch Wilson 436 1981–82
Most saves (goalie) Calvin Pickard 2,443 2010–11
Best GAA (goalie) Bryan Bridges 1.79 2004–05
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played
Career records[24]
Statistic Player Total Career
Most goals Glen Goodall 262 1984–1990
Most assists Glen Goodall 311 1984–1990
Most points Glen Goodall 573 1984–1990
Most penalty minutes Phil Stanger 929 1980–1983
Most games (goalie) Danny Lorenz 224 1986–1989
Most saves (goalie) Calvin Pickard 7,727 2008–2012
Most shutouts (goalie) Bryan Bridges 20 2003–2006

Awards

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Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL player of the year)

Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (WHL rookie of the year)

Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (WHL top defenceman)

Del Wilson Trophy (WHL top goaltender)

Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy (WHL coach of the year)

Doc Seaman Trophy (WHL scholastic player of the year)

Brad Hornung Trophy

WHL Playoff MVP

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Goldberg-Strassler, Jesse (December 20, 2018). "Seattle Hockey History: From Metropolitans to NHL Expansion". Arena Digest. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  3. ^ "Seattle Breakers". seattlehockey.net. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013.
  4. ^ a b Dougherty, Gary (April 13, 2007). "A look back at the Seattle Breakers". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Dreyfuss, Glenn (December 15, 2023). "THN Archive: 1985 "Rejuvenation" Of Seattle Thunderbirds Franchise". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Pepple, Randy J. (January 22, 1990). "Move To Coliseum Gives Thunderbirds Big, Happy Crowds". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Lapp, Richard M.; White, Silas (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. p. 177. ISBN 1-55017-080-5.
  8. ^ a b Pierce, Laura (September 23, 2010). "Thunderbirds legend Glen Goodall opens the T-Birds' first home game of the season Saturday". Kent Reporter. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  9. ^ "WHL Title Goes To Lethbridge". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 1, 1997. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Riley, Jim (December 1, 2006). "T-birds moving to Kent in 2008". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ Wixey, Bill (October 18, 2018). "10 years later, Thunderbirds' move to Kent has revitalized the franchise - and city". Fox 13 Seattle. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Riley, Jim (April 27, 2016). "Seattle Thunderbirds sweep Kelowna with double-overtime victory, advance to WHL finals". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Riley, Jim (May 13, 2016). "Brandon Wheat Kings down Seattle ThunderBirds, 8-4, to take WHL trophy". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  14. ^ "Seattle Thunderbirds beat Regina in OT to take WHL title". The Seattle Times. May 14, 2017. Archived from the original on May 15, 2017.
  15. ^ "WHL champion Thunderbirds eliminated from Memorial Cup". Kent Reporter. May 23, 2017. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  16. ^ "Oil Kings oust Thunderbirds in WHL final, earn berth in Memorial Cup". Sportsnet. Canadian Press. June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Carol, Schram (May 20, 2023). "Seattle Thunderbirds defeat Winnipeg Ice to win WHL Championship". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Seattle Thunderbirds advance to WHL championship". The Seattle Times. May 8, 2023. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  19. ^ Crabtree, Curtis (May 19, 2023). "Thunderbirds win second WHL title, beat Winnipeg 3-1 in Game 5 to win Ed Chynoweth Cup". Fox 13 Seattle. Fox Sports. Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Wheeler, Scott (June 4, 2023). "Quebec Remparts defeat Seattle Thunderbirds to claim 2023 Memorial Cup". The Athletic. The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Portland Winterhawks get rare playoff shot at rival Seattle Thunderbirds". The Oregonian. May 6, 2022.
  22. ^ Baker, Geoff (March 29, 2019). "With NHL's arrival looming, Seattle Thunderbirds, Everett Silvertips in local junior hockey golden era". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "Kent-based Thunderbirds to retire Marleau's number 12 in November". Kent Reporter. July 28, 2023. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Records". Seattle Thunderbirds. Archived from the original on May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
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