Seattle Thunderbirds - 2014 Fan Guide

A special supplement published by the Kent Reporter

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On James Street 2 blocks west of the new ShoWare Center – Home of the Seattle Thunderbirds

Welcome to Kent!

Family owned - Providing business solutions to the local community Headquartered in Kent, WA with 13 locations servicing the Pacific Northwest.

This is surely going to be another exciting season at ShoWare Center!

We’re fortunate to have several top NHL prospects playing for the T-Birds this season including Mathew Barzal, Ryan Gropp, Ethan Bear, Keegan Mayor Suzette Cooke Kolesar, Lane Pederson and two Import Draft picks! Alexander True joins the team from Denmark, as does Florian Baltram from Austria. All of these young men are going to be thrilling players to watch.

Returning this year is the T-Birds’ popular 2-for-Tuesday promotion, where fans can enjoy 2 for 1 tickets along with $2 concession specials!

I know I will!

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…and to Seattle Thunderbirds hockey and a winning 2014-2015 season as the T-Birds pursue the coveted “Memorial Cup”!

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T-BIRD BIOS #4 ADAM HENRY Position: Defense Shoots: Left Height: 6’0 Weight: 195 Birthday: November 24, 1994 Hometown: Winnipeg, MB NHL Draft: Free Agent How Acquired: Acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes for Griffin Foulk on October 9, 2013.

2013-2014: The T-Birds acquired Henry from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on October 9 in exchange for defenseman Griffin Foulk.

Henry played in 70 games with the T-Birds in the regular season. He had seven goals and 32 assists for 39 points with 42 penalty minutes.

He had three two-assist games, five games where he was the player with the most points out of all the T-Birds, and his longest assist streak lasted for five games. In the playoffs he played in all nine games and had one goal and one assist for two points.

2012-13: Henry played 32 games with the Hurricanes this season and had five goals and nine assists for 14 points #16 ALEXANDER TRUE Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 6’4 Weight: 177 Birthday: July 17, 1997 Hometown: Copenhagen, DEN NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Selected by T-Birds in 1st round, 48th overall, in 2014 Import Draft.

2013-2014: True played with three teams in three leagues in Denmark this season. He appeared in 16 games with the Rungsted U17 team and had 62 points on 38 goals and 24 assists. He was promoted to the Rungsted2 team in the Danish second division where he played in 25 games and had 22 points on 10 goals and 12 assists. True played 11 games with the Rungsted team in the top Danish men’s league but did not register a point. True also played for Team Denmark at the U18 World Championship in Finland in April. He appeared in six games and had one assist.

#6 CALVIN SPENCER Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6’1 Weight: 216 Birthday: February 29, 1996 Hometown: Brooklyn Park, MN NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Listed by T-Birds and then signed a Standard WHL Player Education Agreement on November 29, 2013.

2013-14: Spencer was playing with Minnesota NW in the Upper Midwest High School League prior to signing the T-Birds. He had 10 points on four goals and 6 assists in 21 games. With the T-Birds Spencer played in 32 games, registering three goals and three assists for six points with 17 penalty minutes. Spencer scored his first WHL goal at Calgary on January 5. He scored in the next game as well, at Prince George on January 7, to give him a two-game goal streak. He played one game in the playoffs and had 2 penalty minutes.

2012-13: Spencer played for Champlin Park High School in Minnesota last season, his junior year. In 25 games, he scored 20 points, with seven goals to his credit. Spencer also accumulated 54 penalty minutes. #1 DANNY MUMAUGH Position: Goalie Shoots: Left Height: 5’10 Weight: 181 Birthday: March 19, 1996 Hometown: Centennial, CO NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Listed by T-Birds in 2011. Signed a Standard WHL Player Education Agreement on April 19, 2012.

2013-14: Mumaugh played in 35 games for the T-Birds and had a record of 15-10-2-3. He had a goals against average of 3.53, and a save percentage of 0.899. He spent a total of 1905 minutes in net, making 993 saves, and only allowing 112 goals against. He had the most saves of the season with 49 against Regina on November 9.

In that same game he made the most saves in a period with 24 in the third period. His one shutout of the season came against the Vancouver Giants on September 25 when he stopped 31 shots in a game the team won 6-0. Mumaugh played the last 13 minutes of Game 4 against the Everett Silvertips in the first round of the playoffs.

He stopped all five shots he faced in a 6-1 loss.

2012-13: Mumaugh played in 18 games for the Thunderbirds with a

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goals against average of 4.11. Throughout the season he made 373 saves with 1 win. He registered his first WHL win on March 12 in a 8-3 win over the Tri-City Americans that clinched a playoff berth for the T-Birds. #19 DONOVAN NEULS Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 5’9 Weight: 170 Birthday: October 24, 1997 Hometown: Grenfell, SK NHL Draft: Eligible 2016 How Acquired: Drafted, 8th round, 157th overall in 2012.

2013-14: Neuls played 34 games for the Moose Jaw Generals of the SMHL this season. He had 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points with 38 penalty minutes. #25 ETHAN BEAR Position: Defense Shoots: Right Height: 5’11 Weight: 204 Birthday: June 26, 1997 Hometown: Ochapowace, SK NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 2nd round, 25th overall in 2012.

2013-14: Bear played 58 games in his rookie season with the T-Birds and had six goals and 13 assists for 19 points with 18 penalty minutes. He registered his first WHL point on October 16 at Kamloops with an assist in a 3-1 loss to the Blazers. The next game, October 18 vs. Prince George he had his first multi-point game with a goal and an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss. He had three assists on November 23 in a 5-4 overtime win against the Portland Winterhawks. Bear had a five-game point streak with a goal and four assists from January 18 to January 26. He had a three-game point streak with two goals and an assist from February 10 to February 15. In the playoffs he played in all nine games and had two goals and two assists for four points with six penalty minutes.

2012-13: Made his T-Bird debut at Portland on March 15 against the Winterhawks. He did not register a point in his first WHL appearance. He played this season with the Yorkton Harvest of the SMHL. He appeared in 38 games and had seven goals and 28 points for 35 points with 30 penalty minutes.

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T-BIRD BIOS #27 EVAN WARDLEY Position: Defense Shoots: Right Height: 6’3 Weight: 218 Birthday: April 26, 1994 Hometown: Vulcan, AB NHL Draft: Free Agent How Acquired: Drafted, 6th round, 122th overall in 2009.

2013-14: Wardley played in 61 games this season with the T-Birds and had one goal and had eight assists for nine points. He had 151 penalty minutes, putting him third on the team in that category. In the playoffs he played in all nine games and had 20 penalty minutes.

Wardley took part in the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp in July 2014.

2012-13: The defenseman played in 60 games for the T-Birds, scoring two goals and adding three assists for five points. His 129 penalty minutes were the second most on the team. He chipped in during the playoffs, registering four points on two goals and two assists, including the overtime game-winning goal in Game 3 against the Kelowna Rockets. #21 FLORIAN BALTRAM Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 5’11 Weight: 165 Birthday: March 25, 1997 Hometown: Vienna, AUS NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Selected by T-Birds in 2nd round, 108th overall in 2014 Import Draft.

2013-2014: Baltram played for the Lower Austria Stars in the Austrian U20 league. He appeared in 42 games and had 17 assists and 21 assists for 41 points with 24 penalty minutes. Baltram was a member of Team Austria at the U-18 Division 1 Group B World Championship in Hungary in April. He played in five games and had one goal and one assist.

2012-13: Jerret registered an assist in his first career game on September 21 at Portland. He would add two more assists over the next three games for a total of three points in his first four WHL games.

He had a four-game assist streak from December 7 to December 14.

He scored his first career goal on January 18 in a game at Everett.

He recorded another assist streak earlier in the season stretching three games from September 28 at Prince George to October 5 at Kamloops. He finished the season with one goal and 19 assists for 20 points, with 33 penalty minutes in 71 games. Smith played in all seven games in the first round playoff series against Kelowna but did not register a point. #9 JUSTIN HICKMAN Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6’2 Weight: 218 Birthday: March 18, 1994 Hometown: Kelowna, BC NHL Draft: Free Agent How Acquired: Drafted, 2nd round, 34th overall in 2009.

2013-14: Hickman had a career year in his fourth season with the T-Birds. He played in 67 games and had 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points. He broke his career high for penalty minutes with 154. He had five two-assist games, two three-point games, and eight two point games. Hickman had a five-game point streak with two goals and six assists from October 4 to October 12. He had five goals and an assist over two games in February. He had two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win over Everett on February 4 and a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Spokane on February 5. In nine playoff games he had two goals and one assist and 12 penalty minutes. Hickman signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL at the conclusion of the T-Birds season. He appeared in five games and had a goal. Hickman took part in the Winnipeg Jets Development Camp in July of 2014.

2012-13: In his third season with the T-Birds, he played 70 games, matched his career high with 12 goals and set new career highs in assists and points, with 22 and 34, respectively. His 115 penalty minutes, also a career high, were the third most on the team. Had a six-game point streak from November 21 to December 2, during which he recorded four goals and five assists, and this tied for the second longest point streak of the season for a T-Bird. He chipped in one assist and 11 penalty minutes in six playoff games.

sists for a total of 38 points. He then appeared in one regular season game for the T-Birds, as well as two playoff games in the first round series against Kelowna. Kolesar made his debut with the Thunderbirds on December 31, 2012, at the Portland Winterhawks. #3 KEVIN WOLF Position: Defense Shoots: Left Height: 6’6 Weight: 199 Birthday: April 7, 1996 Hometown: St. Paul, MN NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted 10th round, 203rd overall in 2011.

2013-14: In Wolf’s second season with the Thunderbirds he appeared in 27 games and scored the first goal of his WHL career on January 27 at Kamloops. He finished the season with a goal and two assists with 12 penalty minutes.

2012-13: The rookie made his WHL debut on October 5 at Kamloops. He ended up playing in 20 games for the T-Birds, registering 1 assist. He posted that assist, his first career point, at Saskatoon on November 10, in a 6-2 T-Birds win. #15 LANE PEDERSON Position: Center Shoots: Right Height: 6’0 Weight: 190 Birthday: August 4, 1997 Hometown: Saskatoon, SK NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 5th round, 91st overall in 2012.

2013-14: Pederson appeared in two games with the T-Birds in the regular season but did not register a point. He made his T-Bird debut on December 17 against the Tri-City Americans at ShoWare Center.

Pederson played with the Saskatoon Blazers of the SMHL this season. He appeared in 37 games and had 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points. Pederson joined the T-Birds for the playoffs after the Blazers season ended. He played in three playoff games but did not register a point.

2012-13: Played 38 games for the Saskatoon Blazers in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League. He had 35 points on 14 goals and 21 assists with 20 penalty minutes.

#33 JARED HAUF Position: Defense Shoots: Left Height: 6’5 Weight: 223 Birthday: March 6, 1995 Hometown: Calgary, AB NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 4th overall in 2010.

2013-14: Hauf played in 72 games this season registering 14 points on three goals and 11 assists. He had 128 penalty minutes. Hauf started the season with a three-game assist streak with a helper in the first three games. In the playoffs he played in all nine games and had a goal and six penalty minutes. Hauf took part in the Winnipeg Jets Development Camp in July of 2014.

2012-13: In his second full season with the T-Birds, the defenseman appeared in all 72 games, registering 11 assists with 80 penalty minutes. Hauf put together a three-game assist streak beginning on December 1 against Kelowna and lasting through December 6 at TriCity. He chipped in offensively during the playoffs, scoring two points off one goal and one assist.

#11 KADEN ELDER Position: Center Shoots: Right Height: 5’9 Weight: 164 Birthday: March 16, 1998 Hometown: Saskatoon, SK NHL Draft: Eligible 2016 How Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 22nd overall in 2013.

2013-14: Elder appeared in three games for the T-Birds but did not register a point. He made his debut on January 3 against the Red Deer Rebels. He played in the next two games, against Edmonton on January 4 and Calgary on January 5, before returning to his midget team. Elder played the majority of the season with the Notre Dame Argos of the Saskatchewan Midget League. He played in 38 games and had 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points.

2012-13: Elder played for the Notre Dame Hounds Bantam AAA Team in the South Saskatchewan Midget AA League. He was also selected to be a part of Team Saskatchewan U16.

#30 LOGAN FLODELL Position: Goalie Shoots: Right Height: 5’10 Weight: 167 Birthday: February 10, 1997 Hometown: Regina, SK NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted 3rd round, 47th overall, in 2012.

2013-14: Flodell appeared in one game with the T-Birds this season.

He stopped 21 of 28 shots at Prince George on January 7 in a 9-7 win.

After his one game he returned to the Regina Pat Canadians of the SMHL. He played 1,407 minutes in 24 games with the Canadians and had a 2.35 goals against average with one shutout.

2012-13: Flodell played in 15 games for the Regina Pat Canadians in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League. He played a total of 898 minutes and had a goals against average of 1.60 with four shutouts.

#2 JERRET SMITH Position: Defense Shoots: Right Height: 6’2 Weight: 212 Birthday: April 21, 1995 Hometown: Surrey, BC NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Listed by T-Birds in 2011.

2013-14: In Smith’s second season with the Thunderbirds he played in all 72 regular season games and had 19 points on three goals and 16 assists. He had 40 penalty minutes. Smith had a season high three points, on a goal and two assists, in a 7-3 win at the Spokane Chiefs on December 6. In the playoffs Smith played in all nine games and registered an assist.

#28 KEEGAN KOLESAR Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6’1 Weight: 220 Birthday: April 8, 1997 Hometown: Winnipeg, MB NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 20th overall in 2012.

2013-14: Kolesar played 60 games and registered two goals and six assists for eight points with 45 penalty minutes. He scored his first WHL goal against Vancouver on October 26 in a 5-3 win. He also had an assist in this game. Kolesar played in all nine playoff games and had two assists.

2012-13: Played for the Winnipeg Thrashers Midget AAA team of the MMHL. He appeared in 41 games, scoring 21 goals and 17 as-

#26 NOLAN VOLCAN Position: Left Wing Shoots: Left Height: 5’8 Weight: 183 Birthday: July 4, 1998 Hometown: Edmonton, AB NHL Draft: Eligible 2016 How Acquired: Drafted, 2nd round, 27th overall in 2013.

2013-14: Volcan played in three games for the T-Birds this season but did not register a point. He made his T-Bird debut on January 3 against the Red Deer Rebels. He played in the next two games, January 4 at Edmonton and January 5 at Calgary. Volcan played this season with the MLAC Maple Leafs of the AMHL. He appeared in 32 games and had 15 goals and 13 assists for 28 points.

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T-BIRD BIOS #34 LUKE OSTERMAN Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6’0 Weight: 192 Birthday: June 20, 1997 Hometown: Stillwater, MN NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 8th round, 161st overall in 2012” instead of what is there now.

2013-14 Osterman played in 20 games for Omaha in the NAPH16.

He scored 6 goals and had 7 assists for a total of 13 points. He had 24 penalty minutes. #13 MATHEW BARZAL Position: Center Shoots: Right Height: 5’11 Weight: 171 Birthday: May 26, 1997 Hometown: Coquitlam, BC NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 1st overall in 2012.

2013-14: Barzal made his T-Bird debut on September 21 against the Portland Winterhawks. He had an assist, his first WHL point, in the T-Birds 4-3 overtime win over Portland. In his rookie season he played in 59 games registering 14 goals and 40 assists for 54 points with 20 penalty minutes. He had the third most points for a 16-yearold in T-Birds team history this season. First in team history is Lindsay Vallis who had 31 goals and 45 assists for 76 point in 68 games in 1987-88. Second is Patrick Marleau who had 32 goals and 42 assists for 74 points in 72 games in 1995-96. His highest point game was at Lethbridge on October 5 when he had four assists. He registered seven two-assist games, one three-point game, and 13 two-point games. He had two goals and 13 assists over an eight-game stretch in October for the longest assist streak and longest point streak this season. Barzal was also one of two players on the T-Birds to score on a penalty shot during regulation this season. He tied the game against Medicine Hat on October 4 with a penalty shot with 29 seconds left in the game. The T-Birds won this game in overtime, 5-4, when Mitch Elliot scored. Barzal played in all nine games in the playoffs and had one goal and five assists for six points. After the T-Birds season Barzal was selected, along with Ryan Gropp, to play for Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in Finland from April 17 to April 27. Barzal played in seven games for Team Canada and had three goals and an assist to help Canada to a bronze medal at the tournament.

2012-13: This season Barzal played for the Vancouver NE Chiefs in the British Columbia Minor Midget Hockey League (BCMMHL). In 34 games he had 103 points on 29 goals and 74 assists with 34 penalty minutes. He set the BCMMHL record for most assists in a season.

Barzal is also first in Chiefs history in overall points scored in a season. He represented British Columbia at the Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup in November. He had two goals and two assists in four games at the tournament and was selected as an All-Star. #8 SCOTT EANSOR Position: Center Shoots: Left Height: 5’8 Weight: 170 Birthday: January 3, 1996 Hometown: Englewood, CO NHL Draft: Eligible 2015.

How Acquired: Signed by T-Birds to WHL Standard Player Agreement May 13, 2013.

2013-14: Eansor made his debut with the T-Birds at the home opener against Portland on September 21. He played in 52 games this season and had three goals and nine assists for 12 points with 49 penalty minutes. Eansor had a three-game assist streak from December 6-10. He played in all nine playoff games and was tied for the team lead in goals with four. He was tied with Branden Troock and Alexander Delnov. He also had an assist for five points in the playoffs.

2012-13: He played for the Colorado Thunderbirds Tier 1 Minor Midget team this season. Due to injury Eansor only appeared in six games this season registering three assists.

#12 RYAN GROPP Position: Left Wing Shoots: Left Height: 6’2 Weight: 183 Birthday: September 16, 1996 Hometown: Kamloops, BC NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 6th overall in 2011.

2013-14: Gropp joined the T-Birds on October 15 from the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. Gropp played 59 games with the T-Birds in his rookie season and had 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points with 22 penalty minutes. Gropp made his T-Bird debut on October 25 at Tri-City and scored a goal on his first shot and shift as a T-Bird. He scored a hat trick, the first of his career, on January 7 at Prince George in a 9-7 victory. He had four games where he registered two assists and six two-point games. He played all nine playoff games and registered one goal and three assists for four points. After the T-Birds season Gropp was selected to play for Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in Finland from April 17-27. Gropp played in seven games for Team Canada and had one goal and one assist to help Canada to a bronze medal at the tournament.

2012-13: Gropp was with the Penticton Vees of the BCHL, where he scored 31 points on 12 goals and 19 assists in 50 games. Gropp also added nine points in 15 playoff games. This performance was enough to garner him the award for the BCHL (Interior) Rookie of the Year. #7 SAHVAN KHAIRA Position: Defense Shoots: Right Height: 6’3 Weight: 213 Birthday: January 2, 1998 Hometown: Surrey, BC NHL Draft: Eligible 2016 How Acquired: Drafted, 9th round, 181st overall in 2013.

2013-14: Khaira played in 28 games for the Okanagan Hockey Academy this season. He had two goals and 20 assists for 22 points with 44 penalty minutes. #17 SHEA THEODORE Position: Defense Shoots: Left Height: 6’1 Weight: 186 Birthday: August 3, 1995 Hometown: Aldergrove, BC NHL Draft: Anaheim Ducks, 1st round, 26th overall in 2013.

How Acquired: Drafted, 3rd round, 64th overall in 2010.

2013-2014: Theodore led the T-Birds in points with 79 on 22 goals and 57 assists. He led all WHL defenseman in scored and was named a WHL Western Conference First Team All-Star. He missed the first two games of the season attending the Anaheim Ducks Training Camp. He registered a hat trick in a 5-3 loss to Victoria on November 8. He had a season high four assists in a game against Spokane on December 6. To add to that he recorded eight games with three assists and five games with two assists. He had two four-point games, eight three-point games, and eight two-point games. Theodore had a four game point streak three times this season and two of those wee four -game assist streaks. Theodore set the team record for most goals by a defenseman in the team’s last game of the season. He had two goals against the Tri-City Americans on March 16 to give him 45 career goals. He passed Deron Quint, who had 44 goals with the T-Birds over the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. He ended the season in third place in team history in points and assists behind Craig Channel (166a-187p) and Thomas Hickey (138a-177p). He played in all nine playoff games and had five assists. After the T-Birds season ended he joined the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, the top minor league affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. He played in four regular season games and did not register a point. He played in four playoff games with the Admirals and had a goal and two assists with two penalty minutes.

Theodore was invited to Team Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Summer Development Camp that took place August 3 to August 8 in Brossard, Montreal, and Sherbrooke, Quebec. A roster of 41 players attended this camp with Theodore being one of the 12 defenseman invited to the camp.

2012-13: He played in 71 games for the T-Birds, posting career highs in goals with 19 and points with 50. He matched his previous best of 2011-12 with 31 assists. His 50 points were good for eighth

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most in the WHL for a defenseman. His 9 power play goals were tied for first on the team. He had a six game point streak from February 15 to February 26, tied for the second longest point streak of the season for a T-Bird, in which he scored three goals and three assists.

He registered two assists in seven playoff games. Going into the offseason, Theodore was selected to represent Team Canada at the U-18 World Championships in Russia. Theodore was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, 26th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft on June 30 in New Jersey. He became the 14th T-Bird to be selected in the first round of the draft joining Walter (78), Daneyko (82), Joseph (87), Vallis (89), Nedved (90), Stevenson (90), Bilodeau (91), Witt (93), Wells (94), Marleau (97), Saprykin (99), Kelman (99) and Hickey (07). #35 TARAN KOZUN Position: Goalie Catches: Left Height: 6’0 Weight: 165 Birthday: August 29, 1994 Hometown: Nipawin, SK NHL Draft: Free Agent How Acquired: From the Kamloops Blazers for Austin Douglas, Justin Myles, and a fourth round pick on January 10, 2014.

2013-14: Kozun made his first start for the Thunderbirds on January 14 against Portland and he got his first win as a T-Bird. He went on to play in 24 games, and nine playoff games. In the regular season he was 14-9-1-0, with a save percentage of .928 and a goals against average of 2.40. Kozun recorded four shutouts, three of them were against Spokane, and one was against Tri-City. The most saves he made in a game was 40 saves against Prince Albert on February 25.

The most saves in a period was 22 saves in the third period against Portland on March 14. Kozun played all nine playoff games, with a record of 4-5, save percentage of .895 and goals against average of 3.55. He added a playoff shutout against Everett on March 29 helping the T-Birds win 5-0. Kozun attended the Development Camp of the Washington Capitals in July.

2012-13: Kozun spent the 2012-13 season as the second goalie on a Kamloops team that went 47-20-2-3. The 18-year-old appeared in 20 games, stopping 456 shots en route to a 2.36 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Kozun’s record was 11-4-1-2 and he had two shutouts.

2011-12: After spending some time on the Kamloops roster in 201011 but not appearing a game, Kozun made his WHL debut for the Blazers in 2011-12. Kozun started two games, stopping 42 of 49 shots faced for a 3.52 GAA. Kozun went 1-1-0-0 in those two games. #39 NICK HOLOWKO Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 6’1 Weight: 180 Birthday: June 26, 1997 Hometown: Burnaby, BC NHL Draft: Eligible 2015 How Acquired: Listed, September 2012.

2013-14 Holowko played for North Delta in the PaJHL last season.

He appeared in 33 games, scoring 2 goals and 9 assists for a total of 11 points. He had 54 penalty minutes. #5 SAM MCKECHNIE Position: Right Wing Shoots: Right Height: 5’10 Weight: 180 Birthday: July 8, 1994 Hometown: Airdrie, AB NHL Draft: Free Agent How Acquired: Acquired from Lethbridge Hurricanes with Jaimen Yakubowski for Riley Sheen, Carter Folk, and a third round selection in the 2015 Bantam Draft on October 24, 2013.

2013-14: McKechnie joined the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 24 after a trade from the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He played 57 games for the T-Birds and had six goals and nine assists for 15 points with 39 penalty minutes. He had two games where he registered two points in each. McKechnie had a three-game point streak with a goal and two assists from March 8 to March 11. He made his first appearance in the WHL playoffs with the Thunderbirds this season. He had one goal, one assist, and seven penalty minutes in nine games.

2012-13: As an 18-year-old, Mckechnie set a career high with 43 points in 72 games, including 26 goals, with 44 penalty minutes.

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T-Birds figure to be well represented in 2015 NHL Draft

BY TIM PIGULSKI, 710 ESPN SEATTLE http://mynorthwest.com/category/thunderbirds/ The 2015 NHL Entry Draft will represent the culmination of 17 years of hard work for athletes from all over the world who were born in 1997 or late-1996. The 2014-15 season will serve as the final audition for those players who, as juniors in high school, will be critiqued on a nightly basis to determine how they’ll fit with an NHL club.

In Seattle, a number of young men will be facing the pressure of having the watchful eye of professional scouts on them each time they lace up their skates. Since 2010, the Thunderbirds have had five NHL draftees, most recently defenseman Shea Theodore, who was a first-round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2013. That number, accumulated over five separate drafts, could be equaled this season alone, as Seattle’s group of 1997born players figures to be one of the strongest in the entire WHL. The class will be led by Mathew Barzal, a 5 foot 11 center from Coquitlam, British Columbia. Since his thirteenth birthday, Barzal has been widely considered one of the top players in North America for his age group. It would be difficult to blame a teenager for not living up to those lofty expectations, but Barzal has taken the hype in stride.

“Once I get on the ice, most of that stuff just goes away,” says Barzal. “I just look at the short-term goals, playing well night in and night out. Of course I want to play in the NHL, but I need to be consistent and try to avoid looking at the big picture. It starts with training camp, where I’ll have to play well to earn a top spot.”

Even with his focus remaining on the short term, Barzal does have high expectations for himself, which he thinks he’s done a good job of meeting so far.

“I think I have a good chance of being a high pick,” he says.

“You have to be confident and I think I had a good showing playing against other 1997-born players at the Under-18 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. I became more of a complete player last year, which I think the scouts will notice. I plan to be a leader on the ice and contribute in a big way to another winning season.”

Joining Barzal with first-round aspirations is left wing Ryan Gropp from Kamloops, British Columbia. The 6 foot 3 Gropp was actually born in 1996, but his September birth month made him ineligible for the 2014 NHL Draft, when most other 1996born players were selected. As two of the top players from western Canada, Gropp and Barzal have been good friends for a number of years. “[Our chemistry] starts off the ice, where we’re pretty good friends,” says Gropp. “We lived together last year so we talked a lot about different situations on the ice. Barzal’s a great playmaker with really good vision and I think I can find myself open and he’ll get me the puck where I’m most comfortable.”

Gropp opted to spend the first year of his WHL eligibility with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League before joining the Thunderbirds a few weeks into the 2013-14 regular season. After a brief adjustment period, Gropp evolved into one of the Thunderbirds’ most potent offensive threats, growth he expects to build on in his first full season in Seattle.

“I think I had a really good summer,” says Gropp, who had 42 points in 59 regular season games. “I’ve been in the gym putting in a lot of hard work and have been able to put on some weight and get stronger while improving my speed.”

When the T-Birds selected Barzal with the first pick in the WHL Bantam Draft in 2012, much of the media and local attention was rightfully focused on the projected star. Nineteen picks after Barzal, Seattle was happy to grab Keegan Kolesar with the draft’s 20th overall selection. If Kolesar, a hulking forward from Winnipeg, Manitoba can improve his foot speed, a common theme among bigger players, he can work his way into consideration for a pick by an NHL team.

“I’ve worked on my skating and agility a lot this summer. Everyone is big and fast in this league so I have to be bigger and faster than them to be effective, and I need to be quicker than

them to beat them one-on-one in the corners where I work best,” says Kolesar. “I’ve talked with my agent about this whole process and they’ve given me good feedback. I think if I have a good season and play the way I know I’m capable, with passion and effort, I should have a good chance of being picked this year.”

TIM PIGULSKI Seattle also has a bright future on the blue line, where Ethan Bear developed into one of the team’s better defensemen when he was just 16 years old. Bear, a second-round WHL Draft choice in 2012, was allowed to grow at his own pace behind an experienced T-Birds defensive group. As the season progressed, he accepted a larger responsibility and now finds himself projected as an early-round NHL draft pick. Considering he wasn’t even a lock to make the team at this point last year, Bear may have seen the largest maturation of any of the players on this list.

“I think I progressed well last season,” says Bear. “(T-Birds defensive coach) O’Dette and Coach Steve have really helped me a lot in so many different areas. The draft is really important for me and my family, so I’m going to be working as hard as I can.

At the same time, you have to stay focused on the task at hand.

A big part of that is staying away from the rankings and social media. My agent talked to me a lot about that stuff – staying away from it and just controlling what you can on the ice.”

In addition to the players that the Thunderbirds selected when they were just 15 years old in the annual WHL Bantam Draft, they’ll also be receiving an infusion of young international talent this season in the forms of Danish center Alexander True and Austrian forward Florian Baltram. The two players were selected in the Canadian Hockey League’s annual Import Draft, where young men from all over the world make themselves eligible to be drafted by a club in North America, hopefully providing them more exposure to NHL teams and therefore a better shot at being drafted.

“If you want to pursue a professional hockey career, major junior hockey is probably the best route to take in regards to your development, and an opportunity to measure yourself against some of the best junior players in the world,” says True.

“If I can perform well in this league, I’m sure it can potentially boost my draft stock.”

Baltram, Seattle’s second-round pick in the Import Draft, agrees with True’s sentiments.

“Of course [playing in the WHL] can help my draft stock,” he says. “The Thunderbirds are a prominent organization that does a great job getting young players ready for the draft. I haven’t spoken to any NHL teams or scouts yet, but it’s my dream to play in the NHL, so I will try my best to draw some attention to me.”

Aside from the aforementioned players, it’s very possible that another player could have a breakout season and play himself into draft consideration. Seventeen-year-old forward Lane Pederson, who only played in a total of five games between the regular season and playoffs in 2013-14, nearly cracked the team full-time as a 16-year-old but was ultimately sent home to Saskatchewan to maximize his playing time and development.

With an impressive offensive arsenal, he’s a prime candidate to have an exceptional rookie season in the WHL. After a dismal few years, the Thunderbirds turned things around in a big way last season, securing their first winning season since 2008-09 and their first playoff series victory since 2007-08. With the continued development of the young players complementing the established veterans on the team, Seattle is slated for ongoing improvement this year.

For T-Birds updates all season long, follow Tim on Twitter @ tpigulski.

2014-2015 FAN GUIDE

Find New Places to Dine in Old Kent Airways Beer & Bistro 320 W. Harrison St. Burritos El Incapaz 326 W. Meeker St. Kona Kai Coffee Co. & Café 124 4th Ave. S. Ste 180 Maggie’s on Meeker 307 W. Meeker St. Mexico Lindo 203 4th Ave. S. Nashville’s Sports Bar, LGBT 114 Railroad Ave. N. The Amicus Curiae 209 E. Meeker St. The Quarters 226 First Ave. S. Pho Thinh 320 E. Meeker St. Pied Piper Pub 311 W. Meeker St. Shindig Restaurant & Martini Bar 222 First Ave. S. Spiro’s Greek Island 215 First Ave. S Starbucks Coffee 425 W. Meeker St. Sushi Kuine 202 W. Gowe St. Ste E Sweet Themes Bakery 317 W. Meeker St. ‘Sweet’ A Wild Wheat Bakery, Café & Restaurant 201 First Ave. S. Download our free dining app and more at downtownkentwa.com.

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Scott Eansor becoming a center of attention

BY ANDREW EIDE, 710 ESPN SEATTLE http://mynorthwest.com/category/thunderbirds/

Thunderbirds’ center Scott Eansor is entering his second season in the Western Hockey League and he’s ready for bigger and better things.

Eansor arrived on the scene last year facing a lot of unknowns. The Colorado native had missed most of the previous year with an injury and was joining a new team and new league. That’s a big adjustment for any player.

It took him 15 games before he found the back of the net but as the season wore on, his game developed -so did his role.

By season’s end Eansor centered Seattle’s shut-down line, tasked night in and night out with matching up against the opponents best players. Flanked by Jaimen Yakubowski and Sam McKechnie, the trio gelled and were instrumental in the T-Birds success in their first round playoff win over the Everett Silvertips.

Now 18, Eansor is back for his second year and looking to improve on last year.

“I came back really strong this year,” he says. “I feel a lot stronger, in good shape...I just feel more comfortable and ready to be back, ready to be here. I’m really excited for this year.”

Eansor only scored three regular season goals but he notched four tallies in the nine playoff games the T-Birds played last year -- showing that he can score as well as defend.

“I think I have the ability to score and make plays,” the gritty center says. “At the same time, it’s a defensive game and a good defense is a good offense.

I think if I can play in both the offensive end and defensive end, it would be ideal and I think I can do that.”

Seattle will most likely ask Eansor to face off with the league’s top players again this year and it’s a task that he won’t shy away from. A good defensive player relishes the challenge and Eansor is no different.

“It is fun,” he says of matching up with top players.

“It’s fun playing the best the hockey you can play...We need defensive players to win games and I think last year I had a lot of fun doing that.”

Part of being a good shut down forward is being hard to play against and Eansor is certainly that.

He forechecks aggressively and relentlessly dogs his opponent up and down the ice. For lack of a better term, he’s a pest -- an effective one to say the least.

“I love to get under the skin,” Eansor says. “I think there’s balance obviously, there’s maturity being my second year, I’ll be better at that. I don’t think I was immature but I think you have to get under their skin and it’s a game, they’re the other team.”

While continuing to be a pest, its different part of his game that Eansor is looking to improve this coming season.

“Just making more of a difference in the offensive zone,” he says about what he wants to improve. “I really

14

want to go far this year, I think we have another good shot, we have a really good team. The rookies look great and I’m really excited for this year.”

With Eansor’s tenacity and skill, don’t be surprised if he lights the lamp more than the three times he did last year. Being able to chip in offensively will make him that much more effective as a shut-down guy ANDREW EIDE as it will make the other team’s top line have to expend energy playing defense as well.

Seattle’s training camp t-shirts have a motto on the back that read ‘We become what we believe’ and Eansor says that believing is key for the T-Birds to have another successful season.

“We have to focus on believing,” he says. “It’s the motto on the back of our shirts. If we believe, we can go far. We have a great coaching staff and great group of guys and if we can put it all together we’ll go far.”

The Thunderbirds believe they are in line for another good season and for that to be true they’ll need Scott Eansor to be right in the middle of things.

For T-Birds updates all season long, follow Andy on Twitter @andyeide.

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