The playoffs have begun, and for some, they’ve already ended. The Portland Winterhawks are among that group.
Following an 8–1 loss and a 4–1 defeat in a closer battle in Everett, many thought a return home to Portland might result in at least one win. However, their first night back turned into a nightmare, as they failed to score a single goal. A crushing 7–0 loss gave Everett a 3–0 series lead. The Tips outshot the Hawks 50–19, including just two shots from Portland in the entire second period. It was clear the Hawks began to fade after Everett’s third goal, leaving Stebetak hung out to dry in net.
The final game was another letdown. Everett managed 42 shots, a noticeable drop from the 50 to 60 shots in the first three games. The Hawks improved from an embarrassing 19 shots to 29, but still couldn’t get past the juggernaut that is the Scotty Munro champion Tips.
It looked like the Hawks might pull one out. Nathan Free scored just over five minutes into the first period, and Nathan Brown added another just over five minutes into the second on the power play, giving the home fans something to cheer about. However, as has been the case with the Hawks this season, the lead evaporated quickly. Everett scored just over a minute later to cut the lead in half, then added two more goals within 90 seconds late in the period to take control for good. An early third-period goal, followed by two more eight minutes apart, made it insurmountable.
Ryan Miller scored with just thirty seconds left, but Ondrej Stebetak never headed to the bench for an extra attacker, sealing a 6–3 loss and a four-game sweep by Everett. While fans often debate the selection of the game’s three stars, home teams typically honor departing 20-year-old players. Since the Hawks only have two, they were recognized along with Stebetak.
With that, Everett advances and will host Kelowna, the Memorial Cup hosts, in the next round. It was also surprising that the Kamloops Blazers struggled just as much, failing to take a game from the Rockets. That’s playoff hockey.
The other Western series will go at least one more game, as both Prince George and Penticton dropped one-goal decisions. The PG Cougars still hold a 3–1 series lead after a 3–2 loss, while Penticton also sits at 3–1 despite a 4–3 loss to Seattle. The winners of those series will meet.
In the Eastern Division, Calgary has two chances over the next few days to close out the Brandon Wheat Kings, holding a 3–0 lead. Other 3–1 series include Medicine Hat over Regina and Prince Albert over Red Deer. Meanwhile, Edmonton and Saskatoon are tied 2–2, ensuring at least a six-game series.
In the OHL, Flint swept Owen Sound in four games, outscoring them 35–3, including a 16–1 margin in the final stretch. Windsor over Saginaw and Kitchener over Guelph both hold 3–0 leads. Sault Ste. Marie leads the London Knights 3–1. In the Eastern Conference, Brantford leads Sudbury 3–0, as does Ottawa over Kingston. Peterborough and North Bay are tied at two games apiece, while Barrie leads Niagara 2–1.
In the QMJHL, three teams completed sweeps: Moncton, Chicoutimi, and Blainville-Boisbriand. Newfoundland, Rouyn-Noranda, and Val-d’Or hold 3–1 leads, while Shawinigan and Sherbrooke, along with Charlottetown and Quebec, are tied 2–2. All series are set to conclude by April 7, with the next round beginning the following Friday. As always, the playoffs seem to move faster than expected.
Looking ahead, the Hawks face some tough decisions. Sam Spehar is joining Ryan Miller on the college route in Denver, while Jake Gustafson will play next season in Portland before heading to Colorado as a 20-year-old. With overage players departing, at least four roster spots will be up for grabs as the Hawks prepare for their 51st season.
There will also be incoming players, as other teams deal with similar roster turnover, though likely not to the same extent as the first year of the CHL/NCAA agreement. This new reality means fans will need to adjust to players not spending their entire junior careers in one system.
Looking ahead, training camp is expected around August 27–30, followed by the Everett Tournament on September 4–6 and Tri-City on September 10–12. The regular season should begin around September 18. Dates may shift slightly, with the preseason schedule typically released in late June or early July and the regular season shortly after.
In the meantime, attention turns to the remaining teams battling toward the Memorial Cup. All games are available on the Victory Plus app, with the tournament set for May 22–31 at Prospera Place in Kelowna.
Be the first to comment