I bet you guys are super shocked at the amount of T-birds from the Championship team is on this list. Well, winning puts you in rarified company, where the legacy they left hangs from the rafters of the Access ShoWare Center. I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of regency bias from time to time, but for this next player, his place on this list is well earned. Coming in at #15, is Scott Eansor.
Eansor didn’t take the traditional route to the Western Hockey League. He wasn’t drafted, and was scouted minimally compared to his Canadian counterparts. But he managed to make it on the Thunderbirds’ protected list. Eansor, a native of Englewood, Colorado was signed on May 13th, 2013. Scott was a product of the Denver based Colorado Thunderbirds Tier 1 midget program. Two other former Thunderbirds were the product of that same program; former center Griffin Foulk and goaltender, Danny Mumaugh.
“Scotty”, as he was called by droves of Seattle fans, played his first season with the T-birds in 2013-2014. He played 52 games and had 12 points (3 goals, 9 assist). In 2014-2015 Eansor played all 72 games and improved his offensive output finishing the season with 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists). Beyond what he provided in the offensive zone, Eansor establish himself as a valuable two-way forward. One of the qualities that former Seattle GM, Russ Farwell praised Eansor about was his motor, and compete level. Eansor’s forecheck was relentless, and his puck pursuit was like that of a Pitbull.
In the 2015-2016 season, Eansor enjoyed career highs offensively. He only played in 55 games, but had 42 total points (12 goals, 30 assists). Scotty was also named an alternate captain. He was also named to team USA’s world junior roster, where he appeared in seven games and contributed one goal. Despite not much production, he shined as a defensive forward and penalty killing specialist.
Seattle started the playoffs of that season as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference and marched their way to the championship series for the first time since 1997. Eansor had a remarkable post season, chipping in 13 points in 18 games (7 goals, 6 assists). Unfortunately for him, Seattle fell to the Brandon Wheat Kings in five games.
Scott was named captain in his overage season. He also took on the role of Seattle’s number one center to start the year with the absence of Mathew Barzal, who received an extended look from his NHL club, the New York Islanders. Eansor did an admirable job filling in and accepted match ups against opponent’s top defensive pairings. Eansor was enjoying a point per-game pace before injury struck him shortly after the return of co-captain, Mat Barzal.
Scott returned just before the start of a magical post season for the Thunderbirds. Eansor played up and down the line-up, killing penalties, playing on the power play and providing tough match ups for opposing teams’ top scoring lines. He compiled 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists in the 2017 post season. Seattle captured their first title in Regina against the Pats in Game 6. During the trophy presentation both Barzal and Eansor accepted the Ed Chynoweth Cup, but Eansor was the first to raise the hardware over his head before being mobbed by his teammates. Eansor played in three games at the 2017 Memorial Cup, scoring a single goal.
That summer, his hard work paid off, as he was invited to the Islanders rookie camp and eventually signed a contract with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. Eansor was a break out star early in the season, scoring 16 goals and adding six assists in his first pro season. Again, his hard work paid off as he was given a two-year entry level contract by the New York Islanders following his first pro season.
What Eansor lacked in flash and pure offensive talent, he made up for in effort and tenacity. He never backed away from a hit, was quick to step up for his teammates and was willing to play tough minutes that aren’t glamorous, but are vitally important to any team’s success. His legacy is secure in the Pacific North West, and I for one feel honored to have had the privilege to watch him play his Major Junior career in Seattle.
