Although T-Birds fans had high hopes for the team to begin the year on a high note, it simply was not meant to be. The Seattle Thunderbirds lost to the Tri-City Americans on their first game of the New Year on January 2, 2016 with a score of 4-2. The game was held at the ShoWare Center. Overall, the Birds took 29 shots and made 27 of them.

Tri-City may have been outshot by the Seattle boys of thunder on Saturday night, but they were in the lead during the entire game. Their first two goals were made during the first period. Parker Bowles shot the puck right between Logan Flodell’s legs for the first score of the evening. No assists were made during the shot—when Jerret Smith’s stick broke during a slap shot, Bowles took his chance and scored the first of the four goals his team made that night. It was his 23rd goal of the season so far. Tri-City players Beau McCue and Nolan Yaremko assisted with the second goal of the evening, made by Austyn Playfair with a wrist shot, also during the first period. It was Playfair’s first goal of the season.

Turner Ottenbreit made a more skillful goal at the end of the first period with a slap shot. Nick Holowko and Jerret Smith made the assists. During the second period, Bowles made his second goal of the night, assisted by McCue and Jordan Topping. That is when Taz Burman subbed in for Logan Flodell, who seemed to be having an off night. Flodell now has a 13-10-3-0 record for the 2015 to 2016 season. Then the Birds got back on the Board with another goal when Josh Uhrich shot the puck right over the Tri City goalie’s hand. It was Uhrich’s first goal and Owen Seidel made the assist.

Tri City made the final goal of the evening during the third period. Morgan Geekie took the goal while Kyle Olson and Parker Wotherspoon made the assists.

Ready to cheer the Birds on toward a victory? They will be playing against the Portland Winterhawks on January 8 at 7:35. The Hawks have had a great year and are running hard against the Birds for first place so the Birds will really need all the fan support they can get. Then they will play against the Everett Silvertips the very next day, on January 9, at 7:05. Both games will be home matches at the ShoWare Center so be sure to buy your tickets and lend the guys your support.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia