The swing comes to an end with a pair of games against the top half of the Central Division. Traveling to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, now part of the Central Division following realignment with Winnipeg’s move from Cranbrook, BC. With Winnipeg now relocated to Wenatchee, WA, Swift Current remains in the Central Division.
Former Bronco Josh Davies opened things up early for the Hawks just 33 seconds into the game. The Broncos turned it up by pushing the Hawks and having to get Jan Spunar to make some highlight reel saves. Portland then took a penalty, which Swift Current cashed in on and added another just over 16 minutes in.
Portland responded with a goal by Joh Zakreski 30 seconds later to tie the game going into intermission. Just past the midway mark of the second period, Nicholas Johnson put the Hawks on top and carried the lead for the remainder.
Swift Current tied it early in the third period, and the tie carried through into overtime. There was a thought Portland had won the game with a Gabe Klassen goal; however, it was ruled that the goal came from a collision with goaltender Reid Dyck.
To the shootout, where Portland and the Broncos went to a five-round shootout before Rylan Gould scored for Swift Current to win the game 4-3. Portland outshot Swift Current 32-29 but was unsuccessful on the powerplay, going 0-4 and Swift Current 1-4. The smallest population in the league, at 16,000, still had almost 2100 in attendance.
Portland then ended the swing with a game versus the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Hawks sought to salvage the swing in Lethbridge where, if they won, it would be three of six points. Against the Canes, the Hawks came out strong. After Lethbridge took a penalty, Jack O’Brien scored on the ensuing powerplay at 15:15 to take the 1-0 lead after twenty minutes. The Hawks added a Mark Alscher marker just over 8 minutes into the second. Lethbridge made it close, slicing the lead in half five minutes later. The teams struggled to find the twine until the Hurricanes pulled Harrison Meneghin with just over two minutes left in regulation. Just 23 seconds after pulling their goaltender, James Stefan scored into the empty net to win it 3-1 for the Winterhawks. The Hawks outshot Lethbridge 31-23 and scored once on three powerplays while preventing Lethbridge from scoring on their two chances.
Portland now heads directly home after a nearly 720-mile trip and then heads back up for games in Kamloops and Vancouver before they get to see the hometown fans.
The Top CHL 10 Poll coming out later this week won’t see Portland move up. Saskatoon won its two games this weekend, and Prince George with a loss to Saskatoon but a whipping on Prince Albert this weekend. Both teams were ahead of Portland in the poll, and PG might switch spots with Portland; however, it is unlikely.
People have asked about the neckguard issue as it has seen focus in recent days. There have been several issues cropped up over the years, but they came to a head with the death of Adam Johnson in England on October 28 following a freak skate cut to the neck in a collision with Matt Petgrave. Adam Johnson was overseas playing for Nottingham Panthers when playing Sheffield Steelers.
Petgrave was also involved in a very similar style of collision in 2009, where he lifted his skate on a hit during his time in the OHL. Nowadays, that would be a kneeing penalty, but it wasn’t listed as such back in 2009. The situation didn’t appear to show any injury at the time for either player.
The injury was eerily similar to former Winterhawk Richard Zednik, who, in February 2008, was with the NHL Florida Panthers. Olli Jokinen of the Panthers and Clarke MacArthur were tangled as Zednik skated by. Jokinen’s skate clipped Zednick in the Carotid Artery, and the throat slash resulted in Zednik losing 5 pints of blood. A video of this is available on YouTube, and be warned, it is graphic.
Immediately, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had last had Johnson on their roster, demanded all players wear neck protection. Other leagues are enforcing this now as well.
