The Seattle Thunderbirds have advanced to the final of the 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia after a 4-1 victory over the Peterborough Petes. Colton Dach scored the game-winning goal, with Thomas Milic making 27 saves to secure the team’s spot in the final. The Thunderbirds withstood an impressive performance from Petes netminder Michael Simpson who made 46 saves. Kyle Crnkovic and Nico Myatovic each contributed to the Thunderbirds’ victory with a goal and an assist, whilst Winnipeg Jets prospect Brad Lambert scored his first goal of the tournament.
It was a scoreless first period, with Seattle outshooting Peterborough 14-5. The Thunderbirds broke through in the second period, with Lambert scoring his first goal of the tournament after pouncing on a loose puck in the left-wing circle. Dach added to the lead early in the third period before Petes forward Brennan Othmann brought Peterborough back to within a goal. However, Crnkovic scored his team-leading fifth goal of the tournament to increase the lead to 3-1. Myatovic closed out the scoring with an empty-net goal with 2:09 to play.
Seattle outshot their opponents, Peterborough, 47-28, with Montreal Canadiens prospect Jared Davidson finishing the game with two assists, whilst Jeremy Hanzel, Dylan Guenther, and Reid Schaefer each added helpers. The Thunderbirds become the first Western Hockey League (WHL) to reach the final since the host Regina Pats achieved the feat in 2018.
The WHL side’s ultimate goal from day one was to win the ultimate prize, as commented by Thunderbirds head coach Matt O’Dette. The last WHL team to win the Memorial Cup was the Edmonton Oil Kings back in 2014. In Sunday’s final (4:00 p.m. PT, Sandman Centre, TSN), Seattle will face the Quebec Remparts, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) team, in a bid for their first Memorial Cup championship.
Seattle Thunderbirds’ victory over the Peterborough Petes is a significant step towards achieving their ultimate goal. As they enter the final, all eyes will be on the Thunderbirds as they look to make history by becoming the first WHL side to win the Memorial Cup in nine years. While Seattle’s road to the final has been hard-fought, their victory has earned them deserved recognition and appraisal.
