Game Recap: Home Opener, September 26, 2026 v. PG

[u/monday_49]

Oh man, if you thought the *season opener* was good, wait'll you see this! We've got a first WHL goal and a **second** WHL shutout. Not to mention 8 goals by 6 different Birds! (I was so hoping Sawyer would get a goal after handing out 🍎🍎🍎🍎 https://x.com/SeattleTbirds/status/2104071644264464859 )

**Scoring Summary**
First period: Hocher (Mayes) @ 18:06
Post-game interview: https://x.com/SeattleTbirds/status/2104066352571195753
Celly: https://x.com/SeattleTbirds/status/2104030874069250441
Second period: Tash (Mayes) @ 7:08
Lovsin (England, Tash) @ 8:48
Laraque (Kemps, Ripa) @ 14:24
Kosick (Laraque, Mayes) @ 15:56
Martorana (Bibeau, Hayden) @ 16:06
Third period: Martorana (Kemps) [SH] @ 4:19
Kosick (Martorana, Mayes) @ 11:01

**PIM totals**
Chmiel: 2 min
Gard: 4 min
Alanko: 5 min major
Lovsin: 2 min. 10 min misconduct
Laraque: 2 min, 5 min major, 10 min misconduct
Polak: 5 min major

**Goaltending**
Malinoski with 32 saves out of 32 shots

**Three Stars**
1st: Grayson Malinoski
2nd: Sawyer Mayes
3rd: Antonio Martorana

Game recap article from Birds' website: https://chl.ca/whl-thunderbirds/article/eight-is-enough-in-t-birds-win/
Game photos by Liz Woller: https://chl.ca/whl-thunderbirds/gallery/photo-gallery-seattle-8-prince-george-0/
Game highlights from WHL's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBTVmU6kH3Y
Full game from same: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXS4zAaqFp0

I think the amount of new kids we have has really revitalized the lines, as we've obviously needed to change them up to slot in and take advantage of the new talent we have in.

[u/aztecas1o1]

Laraque with the Gordie Howe hat trick

[u/monday_49]

Forgot the 3 stars originally, so here's the pic posted by the TBHC on Facebook.

[u/TVDinner360]

So Lovsin got the 10 minute misconduct at the same time a player for Prince George got the same, and it looked like they were at the dot when it happened…? It didn’t look like a fight, so I’m guessing they mouthed off to the ref or something. Does anyone know more about it?

Also, four points for Mayes in one game. Wow!

[u/NopeNotJayILeft → u/TVDinner360]

Those two were jostling before basically every faceoff up to that point, and I had seen a ref talk to them a couple of times. I would assume it's just from them not being able to stay still long enough to let them get the faceoff off.

[u/TVDinner360 → u/NopeNotJayILeft]

Ah, thank you very much! We were speculating that they said something about the ref’s mom. Yours is a much more believable, if less colorful, theory. 🤣

[u/kdubz206]

The "Dilly Dilly's" were getting out of hand lol.

[u/monday_49 → u/kdubz206]

I know! I usually sit on the opposite side, but still participate. It was funny seeing the Dilly Dilly folks eventually indicate they were *just* doing two 😆