June on Ice in Kent

The Western Hockey League Seattle Thunderbirds are playing meaningful hockey in June and local hockey fans can add substantial definition to the squad’s next two game nights. Tickets are still available for home games Tuesday (already near capacity but you can still attend) and Wednesday at accesso Showare Center in Kent.

The back-to-back home contests are Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven Western Hockey League Championship Series, which is currently knotted at one game apiece after Western Conference champ Seattle and the Eastern Conference winner Edmonton Oil Kings split two games in Alberta. You can buy tickets here.

Thunderbirds home crowds have brought the noise all season and raised the decibels to a playoff pitch during the first three rounds of the WHL playoffs. Join the fun and potentially watch Seattle move closer to qualifying for the elite junior Memorial Cup tournament that decides a champion among the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, all members of the Canadian Hockey League.

The Thunderbirds continue to get outstanding goaltending from Thomas Milic, who was named WHL Goaltender of the Month in May (league-high 14 games with a .926 save percentage and 2.26 goals-against average). Milic, who went undrafted last July but remains eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft (July 7 and 8), made 43 saves in a Game 1 win.

Milic stopped 21 shots in the first period to keep matters scoreless and kickstart a 2-1 Seattle victory. His opponent in the other net is Sebastian Cossa, who was a first-round draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings at last July’s 2021 NHL Draft.

Teammate and Dallas Stars prospect Conner Roulette assisted on the first goal and scored the game-winner Friday. He was a point-per-game player during the regular season and has logged four goals and 13 assists in 21 playoff games.  

Edmonton outlasted the Thunderbirds, 5-4, in Sunday’s Game 2. The Friday game was Oil Kings’ only loss against eight home wins…