Winnipeg Jets Newest Signed Player Advances to WHL Championship

EVERETT, WASHINGTON - APRIL 02: Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Tyrel Bauer #6 skates into the corner during the first period of a game between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Everett Silvertips at Angel of the Winds Arena on April 02, 2021 in Everett, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
EVERETT, WASHINGTON - APRIL 02: Seattle Thunderbirds defenseman Tyrel Bauer #6 skates into the corner during the first period of a game between the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Everett Silvertips at Angel of the Winds Arena on April 02, 2021 in Everett, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)

On the last day before the Winnipeg Jets‘ signing rights for Tyrel Bauer would expire, the Jets reportedly signed the twenty-year-old defenseman.

The Jets then went on to confirm that they signed Bauer to a three-year entry-level contract that will begin for this upcoming season and expire at the end of the 2024-2025 season. Bauer will then be a restricted free agent.

While Bauer put pen to paper on his first contract with the Jets, who drafted him 164th overall in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Bauer was in the midst of the playoffs with his junior team, the Seattle Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds play in the WHL and Bauer is in his fourth full season with the team and this is currently his second season as team captain.

Winnipeg Jets prospect defenseman, Tyrel Bauer and the Seattle Thunderbirds have advanced to the WHL finals

Yesterday was game seven of the WHL Conference Finals between the Thunderbirds and the Kamloops Blazers.

This game seven was an even game and was all you could ask for as a neutral viewer. Kamloops scored first, but then Seattle scored three unanswered. The Blazers were able to score within the final seven seconds of the game to find themselves within one, but their comeback fell short as the Thunderbirds won 3-2.

Bauer did not have any points and finished with a minus-one plus/minus in the dramatic road win.

Seattle and Bauer will now face off against the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL Finals. The Finals will begin tomorrow night (June 3rd). Seattle will not have home ice in this best-of-seven series, which means they will only be home for games three and four. The rest of the games will be at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

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In 19 games during the Thunderbirds’ run to the Championship series, Bauer has no goals, four assists, a plus-16 plus/minus, and sixteen penalty minutes. Bauer’s plus/minus is third-best among all postseason players.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you predict that Bauer and the Thunderbirds will win the WHL championship? Leave your comments below!