The good news was that the Victory app was without issues. After experiencing problems with other streaming services over the past several years, Victory, which carried the playoffs and Memorial Cup as a test last year, began airing over 780 WHL games this season. The app, which is available through your phone’s Play Store, was solid from conversations with people, comments on Facebook, and other social media. That bodes well for fans around the league who are unable to attend games. Initial crowd figures indicate that home attendances were not affected; many arenas report either sellout crowds or strong attendance numbers, which are traditionally somewhat soft at this early stage of the season.
The bad news is that the streaming exposure involved a very young Portland Winterhawks team in Prince George. Everyone was back in the lineup, including Ondrej Stebatek between the pipes for the Hawks. You won’t win many games with just three goals to your credit, while giving up 13, and the Hawks are going to experience growing pains as they bring in an abundance of youth. Currently on the roster are just two players classified as overage, meaning they will turn 21 before the Memorial Cup begins in 2026.
The first game saw the Prince George Cougars post three goals in the first period, with Ryan Miller scoring for the Hawks. The Cougars added three more in the third period to blow the game wide open, The Cougars picked up two powerplay goals, one in the first to give them the lead for good and the second midway through the third which also saw them score just 45 seconds later to make it 5-1 and then capped it off three minutes later for the 6-1 final. Portland didn’t score on its three power-play chances, and allowing six Cougar man-advantages in the contest meant they were playing catch-up most of the game.
Shots at 25-20 favoring the Cougars meant Stebatek ‘s save percentage took a beating as well.
The next night didn’t fare any better for the Hawks. It was almost a repeat of the night before with PG taking the lead, Hawks tied it on Nathan Free’s first, but saw the Cougars pile on two more before the period was out. Unlike the previous night, the Cougars scored three consecutive goals in the second frame with one on the power play.
The Hawks scored their second goal by Jordan Duguay on the power play at the midway point of the third, only to see the Cougars end with a late power play goal. The Hawks went 1-4 on the power play and the Cougars again 2-6 on theirs. Portland outshot PG 32-28, meaning the save percentage of Stebatek took another pounding.
Sergio Davidson in the first game and Bud Clarke in the second game against Prince George were the backups in the games. Tyler DiCarlo, who was drafted by the Hawks in round 1, 20th overall, wasn’t on the regular-season roster and received no mention of reassignments, unlike Nixon Mah, who was listed as reassigned after being drafted in round 9. Perhaps things will become clearer with the next set of games, with just one set this coming Sunday versus Everett.
Three teams, Edmonton Oil Kings, Prince George Cougars, and Moose Jaw Warriors, are 2-0. Seven teams are 1-0, and five teams are 1-1. Four teams are 0-1, and four teams, including the Hawks, are 0-2. Three teams have so far given up double digits in goals against, with Brandon Wheat Kings leading the way at 15, followed by Portland at 13 and Moose Jaw at 11.
Fans shouldn’t read too much into a couple of games, as standings can change in a hurry and have several times in the past year.
The Hawks will look at games twice a week, following the Everett game, and will bear the brunt with six games in 10 nights as part of the Central swing leading to their home opener at the end of October. About that time, several games will have been played, and a consensus on where the Hawks will land will be drawn.
Before the weekend, the Hawks reassigned several players, including two Hawks who played last year, Brodie Henkel and Lachlan Tetarenko. The others, Lincoln Black-Greaves, Cash Brebant, Caden Leibel, Nixon Mah, and Hudson Sayers, were part of the training camp this year.
A piece of history took place in the QMJHL this weekend. The Terre-Neuve (Newfoundland following the 2023-24 season) Regiment played its first season in St John’s, Newfoundland, against the Moncton Wilcats. The Regiment was formerly the Acadia-Bathurst Titan, which folded and was sold after being unsuccessful as the Titan in a tough market with just over 13,000 residents, and ultimately, after failing to locate a local buyer. Finally, they located a buyer in Newfoundland and hired the coach and GM of the Titan. Their first home game was a sellout crowd of 6200.
It’s the start of the 2025/26 season, more to come.
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