After a weekend where the Portland Winterhawks outscored the opposition in two games by an 11-1 margin came the boatload of firsts for the team.
Jan Spunar, in the game vs. Tri-City, recorded his first career WHL shutout and, with an average of 0.50, was selected as the WHL goaltender of the week.
The Hawks haven’t lost since the opener almost a month ago, marking six straight wins and claiming the top spot in the CHL Poll. London Knights and Halifax Mooseheads switch spots 2 and 3, with Halifax dropping and London rising. The WHL is very well represented, with Saskatoon Blades and Moose Jaw Warriors in the top 5. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL is the sixth and last representative of the Q. Prince George Cougars slip one spot to eighth, with the Saginaw Spirit occupying that spot. Rounding out the top ten are the Mississauga Steelheads jumping into the poll, followed by the Ottawa 67’s. Soo Greyhounds fall out of the poll.
The Hawks also announced the TV schedule for this year, and the 10 contests will see 8 of them taken by the Seattle Thunderbirds. The other two will be sandwiched between home and home versus the Spokane Chiefs.
It starts with Teddy Bear Toss versus Seattle on December 9. The following week, it’s the Hawks Holiday Sweater Night vs. Spokane, with both games starting at 6 p.m.
Three games are featured in January. The Hawks travel to Seattle Friday, January 12, with a 7 p.m. start time, and the following night, the action heads down I-5 with the same two competing Saturday at 6 p.m. Saturday, January 27, will see the Hawks at the Veteran Memorial Arena in Spokane to face the Chiefs at 6 p.m.
Two games are on tap in February, with the Hawks in Seattle on February 3 and at home on February 10 both at 6 p.m.
Three games close out the season series with three games in a week. First St. Patrick’s Day March 17 in Seattle at 5 p.m. Sunday, a Saturday tilt at 6 p.m. March 23 in Portland, and closing out in Seattle Sunday, March 24, also with a 5 p.m. start. The last two games are awards nights, so that the actual game will start about 15 minutes later.
The games air on CW 32 Cable 3 and on various other network formats. Check local listings.
The Hawks also announced two office position elevations. Mike Johnston now becomes the President, General Manager, and Coach of the team, with Jeff McGillis now the Chief Operating Officer. McGillis has been handling much of the advertising of the brand and has built his portfolio strongly in the past two seasons.
Just prior to the contest versus Brandon, the Hawks reassigned Carsen Dyck to the SJHL (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) and Cohen Massey to the PJHL (Pacific Junior Hockey League). This leaves Portland with 25 rostered players. Because they are 17 and signed, they can be called in at any time by the Hawks with no restrictions on playtime.
Now it was time to see if the Portland Winterhawks could increase their winning streak to seven. The Wheaties took it on the chin, dropping contests to both Spokane and Seattle after taking down Tri-City last week. After Portland, they still have to contend with Everett and Wenatchee.
Portland didn’t make the fans wait long. With both teams having a man in the box and playing 4 on 4, 1:43 into the contest, Kyle Chyzowski scored his fourth of the year. Just over four minutes later, Brandon tied up, but that lasted all of ninety seconds before Josh Davies brought the crowd to its feet with a shorthanded marker. Two goals near the end of the period by James Stefan and the second of the night for Chyzowski, putting Portland up 4-1, and Brandon made a goaltending change from Carson Bjarnason to Ethan Eskit.
Just over three minutes in, Diego Buttazoni notched his seventh of the year. Six minutes later, it was Gabe Klassen on the powerplay to put the Hawks clearly in the driver’s seat. Kyle Chyzowski netted a hat trick goal four minutes later. Under two minutes later and one the powerplay, Josh Davies then got his second of the night to end the period with the Hawks firmly in control 9-1.
Luke Brunen subbed in for Jan Spunar, net up 9-1 during the third period, and the game well out of reach. Gabe Klassen also scored a hattrick as he put one behind Eskit after the Hawks were unable to convert on the powerplay. Diego Buttazoni scored with less than ninety seconds in the game, tying the 11-goal onslaught that they got in 2020 versus Moose Jaw when they won 11-2.
With the win, Portland now has the most goals in the WHL and is close to the top in goals against as well. Just over 2200 fans took in this game. Portland led 45-18 in shots and went 2 of 3 on the powerplay, and Brandon went 0 for 2 on theirs.
Portland now plays Everett on Saturday in Everett before the 6-game Central Swing beginning the week after.
