The Portland Winterhawks played only one game this week, but it was a big one as they faced a four-point opportunity with the Spokane Chiefs. The Chiefs have been a .500 team thus far but impressed many after Brandon won 10-2 in Tri-City; Spokane handed them a 7-1 loss.
Portland started off with a Cross Hanas goal just five minutes into the game. That lead held for about eight minutes when Spokane was able to tie it up. John Ludvig has been on fire since he became captain, as he notched his seventh of the young season while the team was on the powerplay just past the sixteen-minute mark.
Portland ended the period up a goal.
To the second, where the Hawks Cross Hanas did it again, this time just over twelve minutes into the period as he scored his second of the game. Four minutes later, Spokane found a goal of their own as the Hawks held a one-goal lead going into the third period.
Seth Jarvis was awarded Portland’s first penalty shot of the season. Seth was able to convert the shot, giving Portland a two-goal lead. Just over a minute later, Jake Cricius scored to increase the lead, but Spokane wasn’t going down without a fight. Just over thirty seconds later, it was a Spokane goal to cut the lead to two. Jake Gricius capped off the night with a goal seven minutes later to give Portland the win at 6-3.
Notables about the game: Both Gricius and Hanus were able to get a pair of goals in the game, Gricius also added three assists for a five-point night, Robbie Fromm-Delorme got four assists in the game and Hanas ended a pair of goals. Spokane ended the night outshooting Portland 35-33 and also was unable to convert their four powerplay chances, while Portland was able to get one goal on four tries with Seth adding a penalty shot goal.
The Hawks will be off the ice in games now until Friday, November 1 as they play the first three games in three nights of the season to start November. They travel to Everett, then face Seattle November 2 in the first of many meetings with them this season and a November 3 date with the Kamloops Blazers. Portland still didn’t take the top spot as Everett won their game 3-2 over the Vancouver Giants. They have opened a four-point margin over third-place Spokane and are one point back of the Silvertips as the season starts to hit it into high gear.
Portland had their Hockey Family Day on Saturday with players fanned out between Kelso and Salem as people took in the opportunity to play a little street hockey and enter to win a Toyota Rav 4.
Next up will be the players appearing at Les Schwab on Tuesday. Eight players will take part in autographs, pictures and more with location
Tuesday, October 29, Les Schwab will host a meet and greet, which will offer autographs and picture events featuring four players at each. Fans can meet John Ludvig, Cross Hanas, James Sefan and Jack O’Brien at 12110 NE Erin Way with Jake Gricius, Seth Jarvis, Clay Hanus and Tyson Kozak going to the location at NE 167th and NE Division. This will be the first of three events during the season. The event will run 4:30pm to 6pm.
