Two Seattle Thunderbird players taken in NHL Draft

Two Kent-based Seattle Thunderbird players were selected on the second day of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Defenseman Tyrel Bauer was selected Oct. 7 in the sixth round, 164th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets. Center Matthew Rempe was taken right after Bauer with the 165th pick by the New York Rangers.

“We’re very excited for Ty and his family,” said T-Birds general manager Bil La Forge in a news release. “Ty’s selection shows that the Jets saw his value both on and off the ice. The competitiveness and leadership he brings are going to be a huge value to the Jets.”

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Bauer had three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 60 games last season. Bauer was ranked 166th in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings.

“Ty is a very dedicated, high character hockey player. He has worked extremely hard to put himself in this position,” said T-Birds head coach Matt O’Dette. “To see him get rewarded for his efforts is great to see. The Jets made a great pick and are lucky to have him.”

In his rookie season Bauer played 64 games and had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points with 91 penalty minutes. Bauer was originally selected in the second round, 41st overall, in 2017 Bantam Draft.

Rempe also has excelled for the T-Birds, who play at the accesso ShoWare Center.

“It is a pleasure to see a player like Matt get rewarded for his hard work and perseverance,” said La Forge. “It is a testament to his character and our team’s dedication to player development that sees him selected by the Rangers in the NHL draft.”

Rempe had 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points in 47 games in his rookie season last year. He missed the first 15 games of the season with an injury.

“Matt burst onto the scene this year and was an integral part of our team,” said O’Dette. “The work he put in and improvement that followed was eye-popping. To see it culminate into being drafted by the Rangers is fantastic.”

Rempe signed a WHL standard player agreement with the T-Birds in 2018.

The T-Birds are scheduled to begin the 2020-2021 Western Hockey League season in December. The start of the season was delayed because of COVID-19.

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