By Jonathan West
Northwest Division
All games at Olympicview Arena
Seattle Totems (2) vs. .Rock Springs Prospectors (3)
Friday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. PST
Saturday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. PST
Sunday, March 5, 12:30 p.m. PST (if necessary)
The Totems are thrilled to be representing the Emerald City in the 2023 playoffs, after a two-year furlough from junior hockey and coming over from the WSHL this year.
Seattle knows they have a few areas to work on in the playoffs. They are averaging less than one goal per game more than their opponents, and have a losing record when getting outshot by visiting teams to Olympicview Arena. The green and white have a 67 percent winning percentage at home, and have a home penalty kill percentage (65.7%) that is second to last in the league. Coach Chad Olson is ready to go after a long pause.
“Rock Springs is a good hockey club, but I am extremely confident in our group’s desire and will to push the pace in the series,” said Olson. “We are excited to play in our first playoff series since 2019 and ecstatic that we are hosting the first round of playoffs after two seasons being canceled due to COVID-19. Also on a personal note, I’ve appreciated the support of my family and girlfriend Jennafer in our first USPHL season. #T4L”
The Totems won the season series, 4-2, though Rock Springs lost twice in overtime, so it was a much closer series than it looks on paper.
Rock Springs is a southwest Wyoming city with a population of 21,000, and now has a hockey team in the Premier. The Diggers are giving up over two goals per game differential to their opponents. Their road penalty kill percentage (70.8%) is near the bottom of the league and are winless in their last four games entering the playoffs. Head Coach Bobby Randall hit the road early with his team and drove the bus to Seattle.
“A lot of people have counted us out going into this series. All the games between us this year have been close! We are arriving a day early with a full practice skate scheduled. We have added some new players, and the rest of our roster is finally healthy. We are coming for these two wins!”
