Thunderbirds drop preseason opener to Spokane

The Thunderbirds dropped their exhibition opener on Friday, losing 5-3 to the Spokane Chiefs.

Here is the team’s release:

Kent, September 2, 2011 – The Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-3 in the first preseason game for both teams at the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament at Comcast Arena in Everett.

The T-Birds take on the Silvertips Sunday night at 5pm at Comcast Arena in their second game at the Everett Silvertips Preseason Tournament.
Spokane took a 2-0 lead after one period on goals by Mike Avian at 6:04 and Anthony Bardaro at 11:34.

The Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 9-4 in the first period.
Luke Lockhart got the T-Birds on the board at 1:34 of the second period when he scored a power-play goal. Shea Theodore had the only assist on the goal.

Calvin Pickard stopped 15 of 17 shots in net for the Thunderbirds in 30 minutes of action. Justin Myles replaced Pickard in net midway through the second period.

Spokane goalie Zach Rakochy made 12 saves on 13 shots in his half of the game. He was replaced by Mac Engel.

Marcel Noebels snuck one through Engel 39 seconds into the third period to cut the Chiefs lead to one goal. Lockhart had the only assist on the goal.

Seattle tied the game 3-3 at 7:34 of the third on a power-play goal by Tyler Alos.

Mitch Holmberg scored a power-play goal at 17:26 of the third to put the Chiefs in front 4-3. Cole Hamblin and Marek Kalus had the assists.
Bardaro added an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left in the game to seal the win for Spokane.

The Chiefs outshot the T-Birds 43-30 in the game.
Myles made 23 saves on 25 shots in his 30 minutes of ice time. Engel stopped 15 of 17 shots in his time on the ice.

After the game on Sunday against the Silvertips the T-Birds will travel to Kennewick for two games at the Red Lion Hotels’ Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center. On Friday, September 9, the T-Birds will face the Chiefs at 3 p.m. On Saturday, September 10, the T-Birds will play the Silvertips at 11a.m.

The T-Birds travel to Portland to take on the Winterhawks on Friday, September 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Winterhawks Skating Center.
The preseason schedule ends on Saturday, September 17, when the T-Birds host the Silvertips at 7:05 p.m. at ShoWare Center. Single game tickets for the home preseason game will go on sale August 25.
The T-Birds will open the 2011-12 regular season against the Portland Winterhawks at ShoWare Center on Saturday, September 24 at 7:05 p.m.
T-Birds single game tickets for the 2011-12 season are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.

T-Birds season tickets are currently on sale. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.

SCORING SUMMARY

First period – 1, Spokane, Aviani 1 (Uher), 6:04. 2, Spokane, Bardaro 1 (Gow, Kalus), 11:34. Penalties – Lund, Sea (interference), :36. Elliot, Sea (interference), 6:16. Bardaro, Spo (checking from behind), 9:32. Wardley, Sea (interference), 11:49. Hauf, Sea (charging), 16:24. Kramer, Spo (roughing), 19:29. Elliot, Sea (double-minor roughing), 19:29.

Second period – 3, Seattle, Lockhart 1 (Theodore), 1:34 (pp). 4, Spokane, Markson (Gow, Nelson), 17:23 (pp). Penalties – Rakochy, Spo (delay of game-served by King), :33. Frank, Sea (interference), 1:56. Doty, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:09. Kramer, Spo (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:09. Doty, Sea (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:43.

Third period – 5, Seattle, Noebels 1 (Lockhart), :39. 6, Seattle, Alos 1 (Elliot, Noebels), 7:24 (pp). 7, Spokane, Holmberg 1 (Hamblin, Kalus), 16:26 (pp). 8, Spokane, Bardaro 2, 19:17 (en). Penalties – Sutter, Sea (major-fighting), 3:37. Kramer, Por (major-fighting), 3:37. Aviani, Spo (major-checking to the head, major-fighting, game misconduct), 3:45. Wardley, Sea (instigator, major-fighting, game misconduct), 3:45. Frank, Sea (kneeing), 9:47. Frank, Sea (interference), 16:00. Lamothe, Spo (hooking), 17:13.

Shots on goal – Seattle 4-14-12 30. Spokane 9-22-12 43. Goalies – Seattle, Pickard 17 shots-15 saves, Myles 25-23; Spokane, Rakochy 13-12, Engel 17-15. Power plays – Seattle 2-4; Spokane 2-10. Referee – Andy Griffiths, Trevor Hanson. Linesmen – Kevin Boris, Jeremi Del Campo.