Amidst career firsts and a dominant team shutout, brothers Will and Sam Bitten paid tribute to a fallen family member during Springfield's Hockey Fights Cancer night.
It was an emotional, and offensively fruitful night for the Springfield Thunderbirds as the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues mowed down the Utica Comets 7-0.
There were plenty of storylines to be found between the lines of the box score for the T-Birds, beginning with prospect forward Zach Dean, who netted his first pro goal in the contest.
The 30th overall pick of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights in 2021 ripped his first pro goal at the 4:09 mark of the third period.
Dean, who played for four seasons with the Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, putting up 33 goals and 70 points in 50 games in his final junior season, was traded from Vegas to the St. Louis Blues last season and is currently building his way in the organization.
Vadim Zherenko, a 2019 seventh-round draft pick of the Blues in 2019, earned his first AHL shutout in his second season in Springfield. The 22-year-old native of Moscow, Russia suited up for 25 games with the Thunderbirds in 2022-23 and is currently sitting on a six-win, 2.79 GAA and .921 SP through 10 games this season.
But away from the pure statistical analysis, the night belonged to the Bitten brothers.
As the Thunderbirds held their Hockey Fights Cancer event at home, brothers and teammates Will (two goals and two assists) and Sam Bitten (one assist), dedicated the evening to their cousin Martin, who tragically passed away from brain cancer in January 2021 at just 31 years old.
In an interview with Patrick Williams of theahl.com ahead of the contest, the brothers shared that the evening would serve as "a special night for everyone,” Will said. “We’re really looking forward to it. It should be a great night for everyone, my teammates, the fans.”
Added Sam, “Everyone’s been affected by cancer, so to have this night, and especially dedicated to Bitsy’s Army, it’s very special.”