Four games hit the Portland Winterhawks within a week: a pair at home and home with the Kamloops Blazers and a doubleheader against the Victoria Royals sandwiched in between them.
The Hawks started with a road trip beginning in Kamloops, where the playoff type of hockey has hit the teams gearing up for postseason action. Kamloops opened the scoring when Beau Courtney went to his knees, was able to get up again, and in the process, scored on Ondrej Stebatek. Just over ninety seconds later, it was Kyle Chyzowski on the front doorstep with a quick shot. The Hawks couldn’t get out of the period fast enough as Kamloops scored again nine minutes later, right between the pads of Stebatek. However, with a minute left in the period, Diego Buttazoni was able to capitalize on traffic with a direct shot from near the blue line. Kamloops scored once on the second and finished off the Hawks in the dying seconds of the game on an empty net goal with a 4-2 win. Portland held the edge 36-34 in shots, but went 0-3 on the powerplay with Kamloops 1-5 on theirs.
The Hawks took on the Royals two days later in the Capital City on Victoria. Victoria has already made the playoffs and holds a three-point edge on the Prince George Cougars in the BC Division. The Hawks looked to gain some traction with the two games in Victoria. Teydon Trembecky scored twice in the first just under three minutes apart en route to a hat trick on the night. Five different Winterhawks scorers from Alex Weiermair, Max Psenicka on the powerplay, Carter Southran, Diego Buttazzoni, and Kyle Chyzowski thought they had it won. Victoria scored 45 seconds before the end of regulation and added the overtime marker with less than 45 seconds in the period to claim a 6-5 overtime win. At 42-39, Portland held the shot advantage, and while a perfect 1-1 on their powerplay, Victoria was 2-3 on theirs.
The next night, the two battled again. The same result of Victoria scoring twice, once in the first period and again in the second before Portland got on the board, meant an uphill climb. Diego Buttazzoni scored twice, including a powerplay marker, and Rayan Miller added another, but it seemed Victoria had an answer for every Hawk attempt. Ryan Miller’s goal came on the powerplay and brought the team close by a goal, but despite pulling Stebatek for the last minute plus of the game, the equalizer couldn’t be found in a 4-3 loss. Portland was outshot 35-24 but was a perfect 2-2 on the man advantage, while Victoria went scoreless on their four attempts.
The BC Division matches ended with a Kamloops Blazer visit. The Hawks crept into the playoffs as did Tri City with losses by Wenatchee, preventing them from catching either team. The Blazers saw Joel Plante score just 30 seconds in and responded 8 minutes later on the powerplay. Less than a minute apart, Diego Buttazzoni and Josh Zakreski tallied for the Hawks. With time winding down, Kamloops’ Jordan Keller got his second of the night as he squeezed two powerplay goals.
Kayd Reudig scored an early powerplay goal in the second period, and Kamloops replied 5 minutes later, but it was close as they came with the Hawks emerging with a 4-3 win. Portland was outshot 43-40 and went 1-4 on the powerplay, as Kamloops went 2-4 on theirs.
The Hawks will play a three-game, three-night run, starting with a home-and-home matchup with Seattle and then hosting the Everett Silvertips.
Seattle holds the 8th and final playoff spot with 4 points up over Kamloops and 3 on Wenatchee as the season gets into less than 10 games left. The Kelowna Rockets are officially out of the playoffs, as they can’t catch Seattle. It will be interesting to see what they bring as a squad when they host the Memorial Cup next year.
Out East, four spots are claimed, and the remaining 4 see mathematical possibilities, but no certainty any movement will occur. The Red Deer Rebels, Regina Pats, and the Moose Jaw Warriors are out of the race, who placed in the Memorial Cup last season to the bottom this year.
March 9 will be Hall of Fame Night in Portland, as Braydon Coburn and Jim Benning will be adorned on the Hall of Fame tapestry at the VMC. There will also be an opportunity to see the Portland Buckeroos collection of Scott Peterson at the game. Truly, there are some incredible pieces to be seen.
