Brian Liesse

Seattle’s look toward the future

Major junior hockey, at best, is cyclical. In a league where there are age restrictions, you will see players gradate and younger player take their place.

This is important to remember, especially for Seattle fans, with the team in the second year of a rebuild. For Seattle’s fans, remembering that young talent is waiting in the wings to make an impact, should keep them excited.

In the case of the Seattle Thunderbirds, there is plenty to be excited about.

It is easy to forget, or even repress the memory of the years 2009-2012, what we can dub “the dark times” for this franchise. The team struggled to get wins on a regular basis and were basement dwellers in the Western Conference. But, from darkness comes the light and Seattle was able to draft the likes of future  stars Mathew Barzal, Ryan Gropp, Ethan Bear and Keegan Kolesar. The team, signed undrafted talent like co-captain, Scotty Eansor. These players comprised the core of a championship roster in 2017.

Mathew Barzal went from No. 1 overall draft pick to WHL champion in five years with the Seattle Thunderbirds. Keith Hershmiller Photo

New Seattle general manager, Bil La Forge has already begun to assemble what looks to be the next core group of players that could possibly lead the Thunderbirds to another league title. It is important to note that drafting players is one thing – getting them to commit to your team and the Western Hockey League development route is something different entirely. (Amirite, Everett?!)

La Forge did something over the past summer that had not been accomplished over the previous two bantam drafts.

At the 2016 draft, Seattle could only secure commitments from first round pick, Jake Lee, eighth round pick, Graeme Bryks and 10th round selection, Cole Schwebius. In fairness, all three are currently on the T-Birds roster, with Lee a “B” rated prospect by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting for the 2019 Draft. Lee could possibly become a future captain in Seattle.

Other promising young prospects from that class could not be convinced to join Seattle, with one now playing for a conference rival in Kelowna, forward Alex Swetlikoff.

Jake Lee (Brian Liesse)

The 2017 draft class was similar, in that only three of the players drafted signed a standard player agreement with Seattle. They are Payton Mount, Tyrel Bauer and Luke Bateman.

Mount and Bauer have been full-time players with Seattle during the current campaign. Batemen has been called up twice this season and was on the team’s final roster.

However, the lack of signed players from the 2016 and 2017 bantam drafts has left Seattle short on 2001 and 2002-born players. La Forge has done a masterful job of remedying this by bringing in the likes of Henrik Rybinski and Keltie Jerri-Leon.

On May 3, 2018, Seattle made nine selections in the WHL Bantam Draft.

Kai Uchacz was chosen 10th overall. The Alberta native is a natural center who has enjoyed a tremendous year with the Okotoks Oilers of the AMHL, where he has amassed 16 goals, 15 assists for 31 points, in just 28 games. He also had a great showing at the Canada Winter Games where he compiled two goals and six assists for team Alberta for eight points in six games, which helped the team win bronze at the tournament. Uchacz did not look out of place in his short stint with the T-Birds shortly after the trade deadline. With Seattle’s lack of organizational depth at the center position, he doesn’t just stand a chance to make the roster, but to make an impact in Seattle’s top six. Uchacz was recalled after his midget season concluded and has appeared in five game with Seattle and already recorded his first goal and added one assist.

Kai Uchacz (photo-Brian Liesse)

Seattle made two selections in the second round of the Bantam draft.

First, Lucas Ciona, from Edmonton Alberta. Ciona has spent much of the season with Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep and has contributed 12 goals, 15 assists for 27 points in just 29 games. He also played three games with Seattle showing value on the score sheet and also with a heavy, bruising style of play Seattle fans have come to know and expect from their power forwards.

Don’t be surprised to see Ciona in the lineup opening night next season.

Lucas Ciona (photo-Brian Liesse)

The second pick of the second round has been turning heads in his home province of Manitoba, Conner Roulette.

Conner set the record for points scored in his Bantam AAA league in his draft year by scoring a mind blowing 52 goals and 49 assists for a staggering 101 points in only 34 games play. He has followed up that production by continuing to be an offensive juggernaut. This season with the Winnipeg Thrashers of the MMHL he racked up 41 goals and 47 assists for 88 points in 43 games. Roulette was also at the Canada Winter Games representing his home province and chipped in with four goals and four assists in six games. He also has made his WHL debut by skating in one game for the T-Birds shortly after the trade deadline.  Roulette appears to be a lock for the opening night roster next season.

The third round saw the Thunderbirds move up to draft goaltender, Thomas Milic. His draft year was spent with the Burnaby Winter Club Bantam Prep. He played 22 games posting a 2.06 goals against average and a .925 save percentage. This season has seen his numbers dip slightly – a modest 2.41 GAA and a .908 SV%. He also represented team British Columbia at the CWG. He appeared in four games and had a 4.03 GAA and a .902 SV%. As a young goaltender, Milic has some maturing to do and with the acquisition of Roddy Ross on New Year’s Day and his emergence as the future starting goaltender and Cole Schwebius locked into the backup role, it may be difficult for Milic to be on the Seattle roster opening night.

Roddy Ross (photo-Allen Douglas)

The fourth round saw Seattle take their first defenseman, Aidan Brook. However, Brook went unsigned through training camp and was eventually traded to Medicine Hat at the trade deadline in January as part of the package to acquire Henrik Rybinski.

Sam Popowich was taken by Seattle in the fifth round. Popowich, a native of Camrose, Alberta is an undersized forward, but can change the game with his tremendous speed. His stat line saw him contribute 18 goals, 33 assists for 51 points this season with Northern Alberta elite 15’s, before being moved up to the Northern Alberta X-Treme Prep. He only saw three games but chipped in a goal and two assists. He is another player legitimately looking to push for a roster spot in 2019-2020.

Reid Schaefer and Washington State native, Mekai Sanders were taken in the eighth and ninth rounds respectively.

Schaefer, a rough and tumble power forward hailing from Edmonton, Alberta. His draft year was highlighted by accumulating 23 points in 27 games with the OHA Edmonton Bantam Prep. He has continued his play with 24 more points in 34 games with the OHA Edmonton Elite.

Sanders, a local product, played for the Compuware Bantam Midget AAA. In 20 games, he collected 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 total points during his draft year. This season he has moved up to the Compuware U16 where he tallied three goals and one assist in 19 games played.

The paths for Schaefer and Sanders are less clear. They will have an opportunity to show what they are capable of, but both would need to turn heads to make the roster.

Noah Barlage was the only other defenseman taken, and he remains unsigned to this point. Not all of Seattle’s top prospects have come through the draft, two in-particular came by way of trade at this year’s deadline.

Mekai Sanders (photo-Brian Liesse)

Brendan Williamson was acquired from Everett in the trade that saw Zach Andrusiak shipped to the northern rival.

Williamson is a natural center with very high offensive potential. In 29 games this season with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, he put up 46 points (12G, 28A) in 29 games. He also appeared in one game for the Coquitlam Express of the BCHL. Williamson could be in for a battle with Kai Uchacz for the second line center spot.

He wasn’t the only forward acquired by La Forge, however.

Michael Horon is last on our prospect list. Horon, a winger out of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada was acquired by Seattle in another New Year’s Day trade that saw goaltending Liam Hughes shipped to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Horon enjoyed point per game production with the Lethbridge Hurricanes Midget AAA with 61 points (30G, 31A) in 30 games. He will also be looking to prove that he belongs on the Seattle roster for the 2019-2020 season.

The term, playing with house money comes to mind for now.

However, the Thunderbirds truly start building for a future championship starting in 2019-2020.