Dylan Sydor celebrates his goal against the Seattle Thunderbirds in Game 6 of the WHL Western Conference Championship on May 8, 2023. (Photo via Allen Douglas)
The Seattle Thunderbirds repeated as WHL Western Conference Champions for the second consecutive season after a 4-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers in Game 6 Monday night.
Seattle will face the Winnipeg Ice for the league title, and the right to represent the WHL at the Memorial Cup, which will get underway in Kamloops in a little over two weeks.
It was the second time in as many seasons that Seattle ended the Blazers’ playoff run at Sandman Centre. The T-birds beat the Blazers 3-2 in Game 7 of the 2022 Western Conference final, before falling to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Championship Series.
Kamloops native Dylan Sydor – who was listed as questionable ahead of warm-ups – struck first on Monday night to put the Blazers up in a must-win game. His fourth goal of the playoffs was the only one of the opening period.
First goal of Game 6 goes to Dylan Sydor and the @blazerhockey!#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/xb3bnoClEX
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 9, 2023
Like they did all night, Seattle kept pushing and pressing hoping to avoid a Game 7 Tuesday night after failing to clinch their series at home in Game 5 Saturday. Dylan Ernst kept them at bay on a number of occasions, including a huge pad save in the opening minute of second period to deny Reid Schaefer.
📽️ SAVE OF THE NIGHT 📽
Dylan Ernst never quits. Dylan Ernst never stops.@RealCdnSS | @blazerhockey#WHLPlayoffs | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/WuwH31EW8r
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 9, 2023
It gave Kamloops a bit of life, though Jared Davidson tied the game at 1-1 about four minutes later with what turned out to be the only goal of the second period.
Kamloopsian Sawyer Mynio, at 5:33, and Kyle Crnkovic, at the 10-minute mark of the third period, put Seattle up 3-1. Mynio’s goal – his first of the playoffs – came after his point shot hit Blazers defenceman Aapo Sarell and somehow found its way past Ernst.
Matthew Seminoff got the Blazers back to within one with 1:43 remaining. His sixth goal of the series – and tenth of the playoffs – came on the power play though any hopes of a late Kamloops rally were snuffed out by Schaefer’s empty net goal with 39 seconds left to play.
ONE GOAL GAME!@blazerhockey | @DallasStars#WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/6Mq7ZKmJU0
— The WHL (@TheWHL) May 9, 2023
Ernst was the far busier goaltender on the night. The Weyburn, Sask. native made 39 saves on 42 shots in a losing effort. Seattle’s Thomas Milic turned aside 28 of 30 Blazers shots for this 12th win of the playoffs.
Next up for the Blazers is a game against the QMJHL champion – either the Quebec Remparts or the Halifax Mooseheads – on May 26 to open up the Memorial Cup at Sandman Centre.
The Blazers will be joined by the Ontario Hockey League champion – either the London Knights or the Peterborough Petes – and the WHL champions.
Blazers fight for the tying goal….Hofer nearly had it. Just couldn’t make contact. Great push late to get it to 3-2, but it was not to be. Seattle smothering most of the night. Shots 43-30 SEA
Blazers play in just over two weeks to open the Memorial Cup May 26th vs QMJHL— Jon Keen (@JonKeenNLSports) May 9, 2023
