Thunderbirds win second WHL title, beat Winnipeg 3-1 in Game 5 to win Ed Chynoweth Cup
The Seattle Thunderbirds celebrate around the Ed Chynoweth trophy after winning the WHL Championship with a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Ice in Game 5 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. on May 19, 2023 (photo by Brian Liesse / Seattle Thunderbirds)
KENT, Wash. - A 30-save effort from WHL goaltender of the year Thomas Milic and a penalty shot goal from Nico Mytavoic in the third period carried the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 victory over the Winnipeg Ice to win the WHL Championship in five games on Friday night.
Milic made two big saves in the final period on last year's No. 9 overall NHL Draft pick Matthew Savoie to help preserve the lead in the closing minutes. Seattle had to survive a late power play chance due to a penalty against Lucas Ciona before Kyle Crnkovic added an empty net goal with 1:06 left to play to seal the title for the Thunderbirds.
"Best feeling I've ever had in my entire life," Ciona said. "I mean to win it with these guys, these coaches, these fans in the building. Can't describe it. It's the best feeling in the world."
After losing Game 1 of the series 3-2 in Winnipeg, the Thunderbirds won four straight games to win the series and take home the Ed Chynoweth Cup for the second time in franchise history. The Thunderbirds also won the 2017 championship while led by current New York Islanders standout Mat Barzal. But that victory came in Regina, Saskatchewan. This was the first chance for the Thunderbirds to celebrate a championship on home ice.
"I think there was a little bit of unfinished business from last year. So we're super happy to do it at home and definitely shout out to our fans. They’re the best in the league," Milic said.
Seattle made it to the WHL Championship last year only to fall in six games to the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Thunderbirds doubled down on their title chase this year by bringing in Crnkovic and NHL draftees Dylan Guenther, Brad Lambert, Luke Prokop and Nolan Allan via trades. The additions proved to be the needed boost to carry the Thunderbirds to a championship.
"It makes it 100 times better," said Jared Davidson, who finishes his junior career as the franchise's all-time leading playoff goalscorer. "Just getting that far and coming so close last year. Finally being able to do it this year, being able to come back and do it with basically the same group of guys is the best feeling ever. I can't be more happy."
Milic delivered another standout effort at the end of an outstanding season for the Thunderbirds to lead the victory effort in Game 5. Milic was named MVP of the WHL playoffs for his efforts in net for Seattle. In 19 playoff games for the Thunderbirds, Milic posted a save percentage of .933 and a goals against average of 1.95.
"He's an unreal player," defenseman Luke Prokop said of Milic, who has gone undrafted by the NHL so far. "It's a note to all the NHL scouts and GMs out there. I don't give a crap about his size. If he can stop the puck, he can stop the puck and he deservingly should get an NHL contract and he’ll be playing there in a few years.
"I've never played with a goalie like him where I know if I screw up or we screw up as a team, he has our back. I mean, I can go on and on about Thomas. So many good things to say about him."
Milic was the star of the team's run to the WHL Championship series last year. He was stellar for Team Canada in their run to a gold medal at the World Junior Championships in January, and he delivered again in leading Seattle to a WHL title.
"An absolute rock in the World Juniors. Absolute rock last year in the playoffs. And even this year, just outstanding," forward Reid Schaefer said. "I don't know how those 32 NHL teams passed on him last year and I'm hoping that changes this draft. Hell of a player and an even better human being. I'm so proud of him."
The game was incredibly tight over the first 30-plus minutes of action. Milic and Winnipeg goaltender Daniel Hauser were each making the big saves they needed and shot attempts remained fairly equal throughout.
Milic came up with a few big saves in the opening period for Seattle. Winnipeg created a dangerous short-handed chance with Savoie redirecting a pass from Zach Benson on net only for Milic to erase the chance. Savoie created another chance inside the final 30 seconds of the period with a strong drive on net that ended with Benson getting a tip chance that couldn’t sneak by the Seattle goaltender.
The Thunderbirds were the team that ultimately came closest to getting on the scoreboard in the period. Jordan Gustafson - back in the lineup for Seattle for the first time since Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals due to injury - sliced through the Ice defense. His shot beat Hauser only for the shot to hit crossbar and slam down on the goal line and die there as it stayed out of the net.
Savoie and Benson created more scoring chances for the Ice in the second period without being able to crack Milic.
Crnkovic had a prime chance from between the circles for Seattle and Ciona had a tip chance right in front of the goal crease that were turned aside by Hauser. Immediately afterward, Savoie had another chance driving in on Seattle's net only for Milic to come up with another stop against Savoie.
"Those guys are elite hockey players," forward Dylan Guenther said of Savoie and Benson. "Those guys know how to score goals and make plays. (Milic)'s reading the play, he's making his acrobatic saves. He's so athletic and moves so well. Yeah, he's just the best."
Guenther, who played 33 games in the NHL for the Arizona Coyotes earlier this year, finished the playoffs as the team's leading scorer with 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists.
The Thunderbirds finally broke through in the latter stages of the second period. Sam Popowich deflected a slap shot from Jeremy Hanzel through traffic and over the right shoulder of Hauser to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.
"Hanzel's been getting those shots through all playoffs and all year so I knew just go to the net and try to get in his eyes and got it off my stick and it went in the net. It was good," Popowich said.
Hauser made a big save late in the period to keep it a one-goal game. Colton Dach had a strong drive in on net, but Hauser was able to thwart the chance and keep a rebound away from Gracyn Sawchyn.
Myatovic sprung free on a breakaway chance early in the final period only to be wiped out from behind by a diving Graham Sward. Sward slammed into the end wall with Myatovic wiping out the net and Hauser in the process as he drew a penalty shot for Seattle.
Myatovic skated in on Hauser and managed to tuck the puck around Hauser's outstretched right pad to push the Thunderbirds lead to 2-0 with 17:33 left to play.
"I was trying to get him to bite, I guess. Just took a few deep breaths before I went in there and I was lucky enough it went in." Myatovic said.
Winnipeg managed to deliver a response to make it a one-goal game yet again. Evan Friesen ended up with an uncontested chance from between the circles that managed to slip through Milic to cut Seattle's lead to 2-1 with 14:58 left to play.
Milic then had to come up with another gem of a save to keep Seattle ahead. Connor McClennon managed to get around the side of the net for a chance only to have Milic contort himself to kick the puck away with his back leg.
Ciona was sent off with 4:20 remaining due to a boarding penalty against Benson that gave Winnipeg a late power play chance to even the game. However, the T-Birds penalty kill calmly erased the penalty with some help from Milic.
"So slow!" Ciona said of the closing minutes. "I get that penalty and I’m kind of s---ing bricks… F---, it was so slow. But it finally happened and you celebrate after."
Crnkovic's empty net tally finished the deal for Seattle to clinch the championship.
"Pure joy on the bench. Everybody was so happy," Popowich said. "There was still time left but at that point, I think everybody kind of started to get that feeling and it was good."
The victory gives the Thunderbirds a spot in the Memorial Cup, which begins next Friday in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Memorial Cup is a four-team round-robin tournament that pits the winners of each of the three Canadian Hockey Leagues - the WHL, Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The host site (Kamloops Blazers) serves as the fourth team in the event.
Seattle beat the Blazers in the Western Conference Finals to earn a spot in the WHL Championship. The Peterborough Petes lead the London Knights 3-2 in the OHL final while the Quebec Remparts lead the Halifax Mooseheads 3-2 in the QMJHL final.
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Seattle Thunderbirds forward Dylan Guenther skates with the Ed Chynoweth Cup raised above his head in celebration after the Thunderbirds won the WHL Championship with a 3-1 win over the Winnipeg Ice in Game 5 on May 19, 2023. (photo by Curtis Crabtree / FOX 13 Seattle)