Kyle Crnkovic celebrates one of his three goals on the night (Photos by Candice Ward/CHL)

By Michael Reeve

2023 Memorial Cup

Thunderbirds fend off pesky Petes team to win their opening Memorial Cup contest

May 27, 2023 | 5:47 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Seattle Thunderbirds returned to Sandman Centre ice on Saturday (May 27) for the first time in game action since they dispatched the Kamloops Blazers in game 6 of the WHL Western Conference Final and picked up right where they left off, beating the Peterborough Petes 6-3.

Despite a familiarity in the barn, and the early string of pressure, a turnover at the offensive blueline led to a 2-on-0 breakaway for the OHL Champions. J.R. Avon would take it himself and bury the forehand-backhand deke past Thomas Millic to open the scoring within the first two minutes of the game.

The remainder of the first frame was all Seattle, with the Thunderbirds dominating on the shot clock 15-7 through the opening 20-minutes. The Petes would however bend but not break and head to the room up 1-0 thanks to stellar defensive work and the some big stops from Michael Simpson in net.

The Thunderbirds would strike early in the middle stanza to level the score as Calgary Flames prospect Lucas Ciona would tap home the point shot that squeaked through below the blocker of Simpson.

The T-Birds would fail convert on two powerplays and after killing off an Owen Beck kneeing minor, Beck would stay in the play before flying down the right-wing and beating Millic to the blocker side to regain the Petes lead 2-1.

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On their third powerplay of the contest Seattle would finally strike courtesy of Kyle Crnkovic firing one past Simpson to level the score. After two, 2-2, shots 26-18 Seattle.

Off a defensive zone turnover by the Petes, Crnkovic would rifle home his second of the night to give Seattle the 3-2 lead at exactly the midway point of the third.

The continued pressure from the T-Birds would finally pay dividends with their first two goal lead thanks to Chicago prospect Nolan Allen beating Simpson less than two minutes later.

The Petes would not go quietly into the night, on their first powerplay of the game a wrist shot from Avery Hayes would bulge the twine to bring them back within 1, 4-3.

Seattle would add some late insurance with Jordan Gustafson snapping one past the Petes netminder to make it 5-3.

Crnkovic would complete the hattrick into the empty net to ice the contest for Seattle 6-3.