Three Portland Winterhawks earned medals at the WHL Cup. These are players who, at 15, are not eligible to play more than 5 regular games until their junior team is out of the playoffs. They can then play as many as are available. Ryder Thompson earned silver on Team Manitoba with Kyle Chyzowski and Carter Streek took home Bronze as part of Team British Columbia.
Ryder will go back to captaining the RHA Elite 15’s with Streek playing for Yale Hockey Academy Prep in 2019-20 and Chyzowski returning to Delta Hockey Academy Prep. All will be joining the Hawks camp for next season.
It took a while, but JoeTV and CW 32 will air the continuing Battle of Seattle, which starts with the first game on Saturday. Only eight contests will air this year with four of each town being represented. Ian Furness has been tapped to do the play by play again but may have Portland company in a game or two.
Saturday, November 2, Seattle at Portland, 6:00pm
Saturday, November 16, Portland at Seattle, 6:05pm
Sunday, December 15, Seattle at Portland, 5:00pm
Saturday, January 25, Portland at Seattle, 6:05pm
Saturday, February 1, Seattle at Seattle, 6:00pm
Saturday, February 29, Portland at Seattle 6:05pm
Saturday, March 21, Portland at Seattle, 6:05pm
Sunday, March 22, Seattle at Portland, 5:00pm
After being shunned in the rankings, the Portland Winterhawks with wins in the past two games made the Honorable Mention roll. Oshawa, which has ridden the top of the rankings, fell to third. Edmonton, which has been winning its share of games., vaulted a spot to land in second. Prince Albert fell to fourth on account of a lackluster US Division run that saw them win the last two, but fall in the first three games. Everett continues near the bottom of the poll, but this week will be far more games to get a better look at for all the teams as to their ranking. Portland will pick up three games in as many nights for the first time this season. Here are the current rankings as they stand as of Wednesday:
(1) Sherbrooke Phoenix, (2) Edmonton Oil Kings, (3) Oshawa Generals, (4) Prince Albert Raiders, (5) Chicoutimi Sagueneens, (6) Moncton Wildcats, (7) Cape Breton Eagles, (8) Owen Sound Attack, (9) Everett Silvertips, and (10) Flint Firebirds, with honourable mention to the Peterborough Petes, Portland Winterhawks, and Windsor Spitfires.
The Hawks had two meet-and-greet events this past week and will look to the New Year when they will resume. The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club has a small extension of the Fan Excursion to Kamloops. Owing to only having four games over two months with fans not being able to attend, games on November 2, 3 and 9 will allow for signups. Fans can also vote for Player of the Month and their favorite ornament as decorated by the Winterhawks players at the games on November 2 and 3.
