March 18, 2022
Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA – Seattle secured road victory in a highly competitive and physical game that saw some of the biggest NHL prospects initiating the contact. Below is a list of Thunderbird players who are eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft and how we feel they impacted the win.
| Jeremy Hanzel | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | D | 6’1″ | 192 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2020 | Coquitlam, BC | 2003 | 2021-2022: B- |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Hanzel earned 20:45 in total ice time, including 2:17 while on the power play and 3:01 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 1 assist, a plus / minus rating of 0, 1 shot1 on goal (0PP), 1 grade “A” scoring opportunity, had 0 penalty minutes, 1 shot blocked and had 5 giveaways versus 11 takeaways. Hanzel played a very steady heads up game that will translate to higher levels. We loved his patience while defending the cycle as he waited to see a bobbled puck or a poor indirect pass and then he attacked with stick on puck style that led to transition and zone exists. Hanzel had the primary assist on a power play goal after he snuck down below the goal line to win a loose puck. He then walked the goal line with his head up before making a perfect one-timer pass to Conner Roulette in the short side slot. While gapping in the neutral zone he showed the footwork to slide laterally without crossing over and we liked his awareness to scan the ice for the second wave of the attack.
| Kevin Korchinski | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | D | 6’2″ | 185 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2019 | Saskatoon, SK | 2004 | 2021-2022: B+ |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Korchinski earned 21:31 in total ice time, including 5:50 while on the power play and 0:18 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 0 points, a plus / minus rating of 0, 4 shots on goal (4PP), 1 grade “A” scoring opportunity, had 2 penalty minutes, 1 hit, 3 shots blocked and had 5 giveaways versus 9 takeaways. Korchinski is bigger body who gets to top speed in one quick powerful stride. He looks to be the quarterback at the top of the power play and does a nice job of disguising his passes. He did have a few point shots blocked, but in general he moved well laterally across the blueline and his shots were hard. We liked that he received a matching 2 minutes for a minor tussle. Korchinski is a high end prospect who we will be watching closely.
| Leon Okonkwo Prada | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | R | D | 6’1″ | 203 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2021 | Colchester, GBR | 2003 | Not yet rated |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Prads earned 12:36 in total ice time, including 2:07 while shorthanded. He did not contribute to the power play. Statistically he finished with 0 points, a plus / minus rating of 0, 1 shot on goal (0PP), 0 grade “A” scoring opportunities, had 0 penalty minutes, 0 hits, 2 shots blocked and had 2 giveaways versus 2 takeaways.
| Jordan Gustafson | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | C | 5’11” | 179 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2019 | Ardrossan, AB | 2004 | 2021-2022: C+ |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Gustafson earned 23:10 in total ice time, including 4:37 while on the power play and 3:08 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 1 assist, a plus / minus rating of +1, 5 shots on goal (1PP), 4 grade “A” scoring opportunity, won 8 of 20 face-offs, had 0 penalty minutes, 3 shots blocked and had 6 giveaways versus 4 takeaways. As a puck carrier Gustafson played with pace and showed the ability to the gap into his favor by changing speeds and then cutting laterally or driving hard once the defender slowed up. He showed strength while cycling and on more than one occasion sacrificed his body by taking a hit to make a play. His primary assist on Seattle’s first goal came on just such a play where he took a hit along the mid-wall then beat his defender to a loose puck below the goal line before looking Tri-City’s net front defender off to find a wide open Sawyer Mynio in the slot. He looked to play either the flank on the power play, but the Thunderbirds looked to be shooters so there was a fair amount of freelancing and charging the net from rebounds. Gustafson was a key member of Seattle’s penalty killing unit as he took defensive zone face-offs and was the lone forward on the ice while killing a 5v3. He played in straight lines, showed a willingness to block pucks and used his quickness as a real asset to disrupt the Americans. A high effort, high energy player who we feel will has the mentality to be a professional.
| Gabriel Ludwig | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | F | 5’9″ | 170 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2019 | Eagle River, AK | 2004 | 2021-2022: C |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Ludwig earned 3:32 in total ice time. He did not contribute to the special team’s game. Statistically he finished with 0 points, a plus / minus rating of 0, 1 shots on goal (1PP), 1 grade “A” scoring opportunity, had 0 penalty minutes, went 2 for 2 on face-offs, had 1 hit, 0 shots blocked and had 1giveaway versus 0 takeaways.
| Reid Schaefer | Seattle Thunderbirds | WHL | L | LW | 6’3″ | 214 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 2018 | Spruce Grove, AB | 2003 | 2021-2022: B+ |
In the 3-1 win over Tri-City Schaefer earned 18:47 in total ice time, including 3:37 while on the power play and 2:35 while shorthanded. Statistically he finished with 0 points, a plus / minus rating of 0, 3 shots on goal (2PP), 4 grade “A” scoring opportunity, had 7 penalty minutes, went 1 for 2 on face-offs, 1 hit, 3 shots blocked and had 10 giveaways versus 2 takeaways. It was difficult to not like what Schaefer brought to the game tonight. He was a physical presence who used his speed to be a disruptive force on the forecheck and in front of Tri-City’s net. We loved his puck pursuit while backchecking and the mindset he showed to skate hard all the way to the crease when needed to break up a play in front of his net. In the offensive zone he used his frame and puck protection skills to attack the net from below the goal line and when he drove wide on a line rush Schaefer left no doubt that he was going to carry the puck to the far post. He a a fight and genuinely looked like he had fun playing the game.