The Hockey News July 1, 1997 Issue Highlights Exceptional T-Birds Draft Class
The Hockey News July 1, 1997 Issue Highlights Exceptional T-Birds Draft Class
Ever since the Western Hockey League Seattle Breakers changed their name to Thunderbirds in 1985, the franchise has been a rich source of NHL talent.
Drafted Thunderbirds you'll recognize include Matthew Barzal, Shea Theodore, Thomas Hickey, Nate Thompson, Jan Hrdina, Brendan Witt, Deron Quint, Petr Nedved, Turner Stevenson, and Chris Joseph. All 10 played more than 400 games in the NHL.
A total of 15 T-Birds have gone in the first round. Three times, a pair of T-Birds were selected in the first round of the same draft; most recently in 2022, with Kevin Korchinski selected by the Chicago Blackhawks, and Reid Schaefer going to the Edmonton Oilers.
This past June, a bumper crop of six Seattle players were chosen at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. Never, though, have the Thunderbirds so prominently appeared on the NHL draft board as in 1997.
Patrick Marleau, who we intentionally omitted from the earlier list of prominent T-Birds, was selected second overall in the 1997 first round by the San Jose Sharks. He went on to play 1,779 NHL games, a league record.
As highlighted by Mike Moaut's The Hockey News article, "Thunderbirds Big Favorites At Draft," Marleau was just the first of eight Seattle players to be chosen. Jeremy Reich (2nd round, Chicago), Rick Berry (3rd round, Colorado), and Jame Pollock (4th round, St. Louis) also made it to the Show.
July 1, 1997
Patrick Marleau was the poster boy of the 1997 entry draft.
The Seattle Thunderbirds’ center, selected second overall by the San Jose Sharks, plays the position most favored by NHL clubs on the team most favored by NHL clubs.
Fifty-three centers were chosen among the 246 players picked. Ninety-four defensemen were selected but they outnumber centers 2-to-l on the ice. Eight members of the Western League’s Thunderbirds were selected-more than any other single team. The WHL’s Kelowna Rockets had six players chosen.
Players chosen by country of origin
Players chosen by league or country of origin
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