Thunderbirds vs. Hawks - Game 10 · Sunday October 21, 2007

The crowd was good (Mascot Nite), the Hawks were competitive, but again could not find a way to break into the home win category.

The opening 1:25 of the third period gave the Seattle Thunderbirds (5-1-2-1) a two goal lead and the Hawks (1-9-0-0) their 4th Home loss of the season.

Seattle’s goals came from Thomas Hickey (5) with assist from Eberle on the Power Play (PP) and 58 seconds later Jeremy Boyer filed home an unassisted shot from the slot.

Both goalies had stellar performances. Jacob Seserres was solid stopping all 26 shots he faced while Kurtis Mucha stopped 34 of 36 for Portland.

Portland’s power play continues to be non-existent going 0 for 5 and now with a WHL season low two power play goals in 61 opportunities

The game ended in true Portland-Seattle fashion with a mini line brawl that included both goaltenders going at it at center ice.

Attendance: 5268
MC

 SCORING  1  2  3  Total 
Tbirds  0  0  2  2
Hawks  0  0  0  0

SHOTS 1 2 3  Total 
Tbirds 12 16 8 36
Hawks 13 9 4 26

Game Summary

Game Notes:

Here are some of the highlights.

Period 1

Good energy start for the Hawks with 13 shots on goal and for the most part showing a dominant floor check. The period ended with both teams competing with the Tbirds owning one more PP from a questionable hooking call on Aaron Mcgill

Period 2

More of the same for period 2 with great goal keeping and a frenetic pace of up-and-down hockey. Both teams looking for the play to break the 0-0 tie.

Period 3

The Hawks start the period with an interference penalty on Betker and at:

00:27 – The winning goal was fired by Hickey (5) with assist from Eberle. A nice shot 20 feet out from the middle of the ice that Mucha seemed to stop dribbling off his right shoulder. Mucha was visibly upset that he let this one by.

01:25 – This was the killer unassisted goal by Boyer (6) with a nice hard shot in the left corner. I don’t think Mucha even seen it until it was bye.

19:56 – The Hawks/Tbirds end the game with one of their stress releasing brawls – starting with McLaren/Olsen who had been yacking at each other all night. Olsen was good at tying up McLaren jersey. Slight edge to Olsen.

At the end the game three other fights broke out with Montgomery/Chaffin, Walker/Nielsen and Mucha/DeSerres. I give the edge to Nielsen and DeSerres.. couldn’t see the Montgomery/Chaffin fight.

Andy’s Three Stars

DeSerres (SEA), Mucha (POR), Hickey (SEA)

Portland’s McGill… Shilo Inn’s most physical.

— S. Blanchard

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Frazer McLaren (Tough Guy) · Monday July 9, 2007

The NHL is looking for it and San Jose Sharks found it with the 203rd pickin the 2007 NHL Entry draft. Frazer McLaren is a true tough guy in the WHL and playing for the last placed team in the league can leave a tough guy not many nights off.

The Anaheim Ducks proved that tough guys are important part of a Stanley Cup run. The San Jose Sharks their cousin down the street may now be looking to upgrade in that department. Good for San Jose, bad for Portand. On a team badly in need of leadership and maturity, Frazer McLaren is the one Winter Hawk essential for the upcoming season.

I would be hard to watch another year of underagers get beat up by the WHL tough guys without McLaren there to balance the scales.

Here is a YouTube clip of one of my favorite fights as McLaren shows great form taking on much disliked Vancouver Giant J.D. Watt. For me this was a little pay back for running over Goalie Blake Grenier in the 2006 season before the playoffs.

McLaren vs Watt

McLaren may want to forget this fight against Boogard but this shows what tough guys are all about. Take a big shot and walk off the ice even though you may be more hurt than you show. Never show your hurt, even though he was sidelined for a few games after. Boogard also illustrated tough guy class by not tauting and quickly skating to the penalty box as an act of professionalism and respect.

McLaren vs Boogard

Note: The Boogards now teach these techniques in a safe environment.

School of Hard Knocks

Related
Hawks First Half Report
Hawks Greatest Come Back?
Letter to New GM/Coach Mike Johnston
Hope vs. Hopelessness Revisited
Hawks Need Scoring Acquire Cody Rainaldi and Joel Ridgeway

— S. Blanchard

US Divisional News · Friday January 18, 2008

— S. Blanchard

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