‘”They have a long history there with the Thunderbirds and the Everett Silvertips just north of there,” Barnes, who was hired as a pro scout by Seattle’s expansion team last month, said. “It’s a good hockey state. Not one that probably pops to mind when you talk about hockey nationwide, but it is. There’s an interest there. They love their Seahawks, love their sports teams. I think once it gets up and running and by the looks of everything it’s going to be a first-class operation. They’re going to do things right. Hopefully they have a lot of success and long-term they’re very successful there.”‘