The Seattle Thunderbirds successfully claimed the Ed Chynoweth Cup in the 2023 WHL Championship after a remarkable triumph over the Winnipeg ICE. Seattle had bitter-sweet memories from their previous appearance in the final, losing out to the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2022. However, the Thunderbirds came back stronger and determined to claim the WHL Championship for the second time in their history.
The Thunderbirds sealed their victory with a 3-1 win over the ICE at accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. Seattle dominated the championship, boasting the best regular season in Thunderbirds franchise history, where they finished the 2022-23 WHL regular season atop the Western Conference with a record of 54-11-1-2, amassing 111 points. This success was in large part due to the excellent performance of their Head Coach, Matt O’Dette, who had done a fantastic job preparing the team for this monumental task.
Throughout the season, the Thunderbirds showed remarkable resilience on their home turf, where they registered an impressive record of 29-3-1-1 at accesso ShoWare Center. With a record of 16-3 in the 2023 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, the Thunderbirds were once again dominant at home, going 9-1, including clinching the Ed Chynoweth Cup at accesso ShoWare Center.
The Thunderbirds were an offensive powerhouse during the playoffs, with no team scoring more than their 82 goals (4.32 goals per game). They also had an excellent defensive record, allowing only 38 goals against (2.00 goals against per game). The team’s success was a result of the combined efforts of their star players, including Dylan Guenther, Thomas Milic, Nolan Allan, Colton Dach, Brad Lambert, and Luke Prokop.
Arizona Coyotes prospect, Dylan Guenther, played a pivotal role and led the team’s offense during their campaign, recording 28 points (16G-12A) to lead the Thunderbirds in scoring. Guenther’s impressive run was on the back of 29 points (13G-16A) during 20 regular season contests after being returned to the Thunderbirds late in the season by the NHL’s Coyotes. Goalie Thomas Milic, a 2023 NHL Draft prospect from Coquitlam, B.C., contributed to the team’s success. Milic was named WHL Goaltender of the Year for his regular season performance and carried that form into the post-season, leading the WHL in all the major goaltending categories, including goals-against average (1.95), save percentage (.933), and wins (16).
The Thunderbirds’ roster was stacked with NHL prospects, which included Lucas Ciona, Jared Davidson, Jordan Gustafson, Reid Schaefer, Kevin Korchinski, and six players ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2023 NHL Draft. Davidson played an instrumental role in both the regular season and playoffs, leading the team in scoring with 82 points (38G-44A) in 60 contests. He also became the Thunderbirds’ all-time playoff goal-scoring leader, adding 11 playoff goals to his overall tally of 38 goals.
Lambert was an excellent addition to the team, having been acquired earlier in the season from the Saskatoon Blades. The NHL’s Jets assigned him to WHL Seattle late in the season, where he made an instant impact, scoring 38 points (17G-21A) in 26 regular-season outings and adding another 26 points (6G-20A) in 17 playoff games.
WHL Executive of the Year, Bil La Forge, served as the architect of a Thunderbirds’ roster that was unlike any other seen in recent WHL history. La Forge made a host of key additions to the 2022-23 edition of the Thunderbirds, including Guenther, Allan, Dach, Lambert, and Prokop.
By clinching the WHL Championship, the Thunderbirds qualified for the Memorial Cup presented by Kia, scheduled for Kamloops, B.C. from May 26 to June 4. Seattle’s first game is scheduled to be against the OHL Champion on Saturday, May 27.
In conclusion, the Seattle Thunderbirds have earned a well-deserved victory by claiming the Ed Chynoweth Cup in the 2023 WHL Championship. Through sheer grit and determination, Head Coach Matt O’Dette and his team have managed to create a Star-studded roster of NHL prospects that made the difference. With all the odds in their favor, Seattle has set their sights on the Memorial Cup, where they hope to showcase their talents and seal their status as one of the best teams in Canadian junior ice hockey.
