T-Birds Training Camp: Day 1 features local players and prospect games

KENT – The parking lot at the accesso ShoWare Center was littered with cars donning Canadian plates Wednesday. Its an annual ritual and signals the start of the Seattle Thunderbirds training camp.

Seattle invited 110 players to this year’s camps, almost all of them hailing from Western Canada. But, this year there are more Washington plates than ever before. The Thunderbirds have eight players in camp that are from Washington.

With the talk of the NHL headed to the Puget Sound a lot of attention has been placed on what the impact major league hockey will have on youth hockey here in Seattle and across the state. The eight local players in camp with the Thunderbirds this year is the most they’ve ever had, and the hope is that in the future this becomes more of the norm.

Of the eight local players, Mekai Sanders is the most known. The Gig Harbor resident was selected by the Thunderbirds in the Bantam Draft in May and he signed with Seattle earlier in the summer. Since then, he’s been working out at the Thunderbirds facilities, represented the team at community events, and helped coach the Thunderbirds youth hockey skills camp last week.

For him, its been exciting to be part of the organization he grew up rooting for.

“I always wanted to be like one of these guys when I was younger,” Sanders said. “Coming here and being able to be one of them now has been an amazing experience. It’s been great. Just meeting all the staff and some of the kids that came to camp. Just helping out around and meet some people.”

Sanders played for the Junior Thunderbirds coming up but last year played Bantam in Detroit, where he will return after training camp is over.

He got to see some familiar faces Wednesday however as five of the local players played for the Seattle Junior U14 A team last season.

“I used to play with a lot of them,” Sanders added. “It’s always fun to see them again and talk to them.”

Those players include winger Andrew Alonzo, Trever Loucks, Koen Mueller, and Tyson Shaw. If the last names ‘Mueller’ and ‘Shaw’ sound familiar its because both of their fathers played for the Thunderbirds. Regan Mueller played two seasons for Seattle from 1993 through 1995. Lloyd Shaw was a defenseman for the Thunderbirds from 1993-1996 and was a draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks.

Keiton Klein is the another of the Washington contingent in camp. The right winger is from Bellingham and played last year for the Everett Silvertips U16 team. Along with him is Adam Redding from Spokane who was with Coeur d’ Alene Hockey Academy last season.

Sanders, and the rest of the local group, will all be in action again Thursday as scrimmages continue with both morning sessions, starting at 9 am, and afternoon games that begin at 4:30.

Here’s the rest of day one’s training camp notes.

Tyson Terretta hangs up the skates

Defenseman Tyson Terretta was not in camp Wednesday and according to the Thunderbirds, he has retired from hockey. He played in 41 games last year with Seattle and recorded one assist. His departure clears up a little room in what will be a training camp battle for blue-line spots over the next couple of weeks.

2018 draft class shines

If one day is any indication, it looks like the Thunderbirds recent draft was a successful one. First-round pick Kai Uchacz was on the ice and showed off his smooth skating and end-to-end play. In the afternoon he centered a line with second-round pick Connor Roulette and the two showed a great deal of chemistry. If not for the stellar play by goalie Cody Creasy – who has a name made for a goaltender – the two would have combined for several goals.

Seattle’s other second round pick, Lucas Ciona, had a strong day all around. He scored a couple of nice goals in the morning and was a physical presence all around the ice. Ciona has yet to sign with Seattle.

Sanders was impressive Wednesday as well. He possesses top end speed and threw several big hits. His best scoring chance came in the morning, but he was stoned on a shot from the slot. He is an active player and has the potential to become a fan favorite.

Mount and Bauer look ready

The 2018 class is not eligible to play full time for Seattle this season, but last year’s class can and the first two picks from that group look ready to go. You didn’t need a program Wednesday to spot Payton Mount as the Victoria native looked smooth. He scored on a breakaway in the morning and then in the evening session scored two impressive goals. The first came when he wired a wrist shot from the high slot and then he followed that up by stepping into a big slap shot.

Tyrel Bauer, a defenseman, has the size to play in the WHL and was noticeable for the right reasons on Wednesday. He even flashed some skill on the offensive side of things with a couple of pinches that led to scoring opportunities.

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