With the WHL Bantam Draft going tomorrow, let’s take a look at who the Seattle Thundebrirds already have in their system and who is likely to return for the 2018-19 season.
They will lose Austin Strand and Turner Ottenbreit from the blue line and Donovan Neuls from the top-six forward group, but they will actually bring back four of their top six scorers from 2017-18 and if Carl Stankowski comes back to the Seattle crease, they should at the very least be able to match where they ended up in 2017-18.
Forwards:
Seattle has four overage forwards likely coming back for 2018-19. Volcan is a lock and could very well be the team’s captain. Andrusiak had an incredible breakout year and should be back playing on that top line with Volcan and Wedman.
The last spot then likely will be between Philp and Bargar. With Seattle being somewhat lean on experience up the middle, my money is on Philp being the one returning.
Seattle had some strong play at times from Hamaliuk, Huo and Malukhin and their success in 18-19 could depend on how well that trio develops.
Mount looked really impressive in his short stint with Seattle and will likely be given a chance to earn more ice time.
With the loss of Sam Moilanen, who chose to return to Finland to play professionally, the Thunderbirds will likely add another import to this forward group.
-Wyatt Bear and Ian Briscoe both played for the T-birds in 2017-18 but left the team at different points. Their future is unknown. Briscoe finished the season with the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL and Bear played 24 games with the Peguis Juniors of the KJHL.
| LW | Center | RW |
| Nolan Volcan (98)^ | Matthew Wedman (99) | Zack Andrusiak (98)^ |
| Dillon Hamaliuk (00) | Noah Philp (98)^ | Blake Bargar (98)^ |
| Nikita Malukhin (00)# | Holden Katzalay (01) | Samuel Huo (01) |
| Tyler Carpendale (00) | Graeme Bryks (01) | Payton Mount (02) |
| Jaxan Kaluski (99) | Cody Savey (01) | Mike MacLean (98)^ |
| Connor Pyne (00)* |
Defense:
Lee played a lot with Turner Ottenbreit this last year and despite his young age, seems ready for some big minutes playing in every role next year.
Harsch improved a lot in 17-18 and should take a spot in the top-four. The rest of the spots on the blue line will be hotly contested.
Tyszka had some big moments in 17-18, but turned the puck over a lot as well. He will need to be better in his own end in order to get a contract from the team that drafted him in 2017, the Montreal Canadiens.
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Jarret Tyszka (99) | Jake Lee (01) |
| Owen Williams (00) | Reece Harsch (99) |
| Cade McNelly (01) | Tyrel Bauer (02) |
| Luke Bateman (02)* | Tyson Terretta (00) |
Goalies:
If Stankowski is healthy and can regain the form of the 2017 playoffs, then he takes that top spot. If not, Seattle still has a proven WHL starter in Hughes. Of the U.S. Division teams, Seattle could have the best group of netminders.
| Goalie |
| Carl Stankowski (00) |
| Liam Hughes (99) |
| Cole Schwebius (01)* |
^=overage player
#=import player
*=has not played a regular season or playoff game in the WHL.
Unsigned players not committed to an NCAA school:
| Player | Birth year | Position | Acquired | 2017 Team |
| Chase Sakic | 2000 | Forward | 2015 Bantam Draft-8th round | POE 18U |
| Isaiah Cockerill | 2000 | Forward | 2015 Bantam Draft-10th round | Rink Hockey Academy |
| Eric Fawkes | 2001 | Forward | 2016 Bantam Draft-2nd round | Winnipeg Wild Midget AAA |
| Nakodan Greyeyes | 2001 | Forward | 2016 Bantam Draft-6th round | Rink Hockey Academy |
| Matthew Lehman | 2001 | Forward | 2016 Bantam Draft-9th round | Rink Hockey Academy |
| Greg Nelson | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Bantam Draft-7th round | N Alberta Elite 15s |
| Ty Marcinkowski | 2002 | Goalie | 2017 Bantam Draft-8th round | N Alberta Elite 15s |
| Josh Paulhus | 2002 | Forward | 2017 Bantam Draft-10th round | Saskatoon Contacts SMHL |
| Ian Kern | 2002 | Defense | 2017 Bantam Draft-10th round | Greater Vancouver Canadians BCMML |
-Sakic has committed to the Brookings Blizzard of the NAHL for the 2018-19 season. He is the son of former NHLer Joe Sakic.
-Fawkes was also drafted by the Fargo Force of the USHL.
-Greyeyes also played two games for the Dauphin Kings of the MJHL.
-Marcinkowski posted the best GAA in the CSSHL Elite 15 league. His and Nelson’s team won the CSSHL Elite 15s.
-Paulhus was taken 8th overall by the Humboldt Broncos in the SJHL Bantam Draft.
