The Christmas season is now behind us, but left a lump of coal to the Portland Winterhawks in one of the most grueling schedules imaginable.
Most are young and hearty in age, but even some may say this will be a true test and could be a breaking point. Imagine, following Christmas, you play six games in nine nights and, less than six days later, do it again.
The Hawks are doing just that, with the majority of these on the road, including the trip that all dread: the swing. When added up, that’s 12 games in 24 days with a six-day stretch between the two juggernauts. Even with the gap, that’s still a game every second day for almost a month!
First, there were six games featuring three teams within the US Division that started just a couple of days after the ink was put down as Christmas. The home was Portland for the first, in a back-to-back with the Tri-City Americans, who have held a steady clutch on second place in the US Division but have recently slipped to third.
Game one saw Tri-City mount a 2-0 lead with a goal in the first and one just over six minutes into the second. A flurry then erupted by the Hawks. Seeing four straight goals, the first by Carsyn Dick, then Diego Buttazzoni, and a pair by Alex Weiermair, with the second one leading off the third period. Tri-City tried to make it interesting a few minutes later with a tab of their own. However, Hudson Darby shut the door, and despite Tri-City pulling their goaltender for the remainder of the game, no further scoring occurred. Portland held a 40-36 shot advantage, and neither team scored on the one powerplay each.
The next night, the rematch in Tri-City saw the Hawks draw first blood with a Reed Brown tally, which was matched less than two minutes later by Tri-City, leaving it deadlocked at one at the period’s close. Josh Zakreski put the Hawks up for a short-lived lead as Tri-City knotted it 45 seconds later with a first of the night by Max Curran. Again, Portland took the lead four minutes later by Alex Weiermair, who would see that lead evaporate with Curran’s second of the night for Tri-City just over a minute later. Kyle Chykowski would restore the lead for good a couple of minutes later and, despite Tri-Cities with the 15-5 shot advantage in the third period, couldn’t tie it up, and the Hawks once again bested their foes 4-3. Shots favored Tri-City 43-31, and neither team was successful on the powerplay, with Portland 2 chances and Tri-City one. Portland would now claim third place in the US Division.
New Year’s Eve was a Portland-held game, but the Everett Silvertips, as the opposition, came away victorious. The bright star was Kyle Chykowski, who had three assists, one for each Hawk goal, but the seven by Everett won the game. The night for Portland started rough with an Everett goal just 43 seconds into the game. The Hawks were able to tie it near the midway mark of the period as Kyle McDonough capitalized on a shorthanded goal. That wouldn’t last long. Nine minutes afterward, the Hawks stared down at a 4-1 Everett lead paced by Dominik Rymon, who scored on the powerplay and a regular strength goal two minutes later. Ondrej Stebetak, who started the game, was relieved between the pipes by Marek Schlenker.
The Hawks tried to mount a comeback with a late goal by Josh Zakreski in the second period on the powerplay and a Diego Buttazzoni goal with less than four minutes left in the third period. With Schenker at the bench and the Tips on a powerplay, Everett pocketed one in the empty net and a regulation empty net goal to win 7-3. Everett outshot Portland 36-30 but was a devastating 3-6 on the powerplay to Portland’s 1-5.
With 2024 closing, the Hawks still had more games to play before this stint was over. The Hawks welcomed the Spokane Chiefs, who vaulted into second place, still well behind the Everett Silvertips, who led the entire league by 12 points.
Against the Chiefs, the first period remained deadlocked as both teams sprang into action in the following periods. Portland’s Jordan Duguay started things off five minutes in, only to see it tied three minutes later by Spokane. Duguay then led the Hawks into a four-straight goal blitz, with the Hawks getting two additional in the second, including recently signed Joel Plante with his first WHL goal and Biscuits by Kyle Chykowski and Diego Buttazzoni. Spokane would add a powerplay tally with a few minutes left in regulation, but the Hawks held court with a 5-2 win. Shots were tied at 37, with Portland 0-2 on the powerplay and Spokane 1-3.
Back up Kennewick, the Hawks went, and yet another meeting with Tri-City in what felt like a sugarplum game. Both goaltenders took a beating in this game. Just over three minutes in, Diego Buttazzoni notched a powerplay marker, which held until the game’s midway point. Tri-City tied it up only to see Buttazzoni with another goal. This was on the powerplay, and the Hawks went back up. Kayd Reudig scored, and the Hawks looked to be able to leave the period at 3-1. However, Tri-City’s Jake Gudelj scored with 21 seconds left in the period to make it close. His goal sparked a five-goal outburst by Tri-City, only fittingly ending with Gudelj’s second of the night. Tyson Jognauth scored with 26 seconds in the period to make it 6-4.
Portland capped the comeback with Ondrej Stebetak on the bench for the extra attacker, and goals by Ryan Miller and Ryder Thompson would send the game to overtime. The five minute period produced no results and it came down to a shootout, Portland wasn’t able to tally on their three shots, but Cruz Pavao was able to sneak one past Stebetak for the 7-6 shootout win. Portland got a point in the standings for making it to overtime. 39-37, with the shots favoring Portland, and Portland was 2-5 on the powerplay, with Tri-City 1-5 on theirs.
Back to the Coliseum, the Hawks went, and the Wenatchee Wild were ready for them. Shaun Rios bagged two straight for Wenatchee, one on the powerplay, which was salvaged somewhat with a Tyson Jugnauth score just 26 seconds from the period ending. The only goal of the second went to Evan Friesen of Wenatchee on a penalty shot. Two powerplay goals by Wenatchee and an empty net goal by Friesen for his second of the night finished off the wild scoring. Kyle McDonough scored a shorthanded goal, but with about ninety seconds remaining, the difference seemed too far to make up as the Hawks fell 6-3. Wenatchee outshot Portland 26-21, going 3-8 on the powerplay to Portland’s 1-3.
There were a few lineup changes post-Christmas as the team bid Braeden Joackims adieu. He went to the Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League. Braeden joined the Hawks on the last Eastern Swing at the trade deadline and played 66 games. His departure prior to the third game in this set of six allowed the Hawks to add yet another young face.
The Hawks brought in 16-year-old Luke Wilfley from Colorado, who joins the team after a successful time with the 16U AAA Okanagan Hockey Academy team in Englewood, CO. The 6′ 172-pound Wilfley will be a regular for the squad. Already scoring two assists since he debuted for the Hawks past Christmas, his future is very bright.
Tyson Jugnauth has committed to Michigan State University. Since being drafted in spot 100 in the NHL draft, he has been on an ATO with the Coachella Firebirds of the AHL, the farm team for the Seattle Kraken, Jugnauth, then returned to the Hawks for his 20-year-old season. As he will age out this year, it was important to have plans in place for when this season ends. Because of his time in Portland and the recent NCAA rule changes, Jugnauth probably saw that he would, at best, play AHL Hockey but forgo scholarship opportunities through the WHL. His joining the Michigan Spartans at the end of this season gives him several options, including furthering his education.
The Hawks now travel east. Their first stop is Brandon, Manitoba, against the Wheat Kings, and the trip ends nine days later with a game in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The game against Brandon is Friday, January 10, one day after the trade deadline.
With Kelowna hosting the cup in 2026, the trade to Lethbridge seems Kelowna traded unusual Caden Price to Lethbridge for 2007-born defenceman Will Sharpe, 2007-born goaltender Harrison Boettiger, a first-round pick (2026), a conditional fourth-round pick (2025), a fourth-round pick (2026), a fifth-round pick (2027), and a sixth-round pick (2025). It is apparent that the Rockets think Price will be called up by the Kraken, meaning they needed both players coming into age and draft picks to use to acquire talent. It also appears that Lethbridge has thrown its hat in the ring to compete for the WHL title and a spot in the Memorial Cup. Having already some solid talent recently, the Hurricanes, who sit sixth in the Eastern Conference, five points back of the top spot there, are obviously looking to make a significant impact in the postseason. Only a few days before the deadline, what other blockbuster deals can or will be made?
Suffice it to say the Hawks will not jump headfirst into the trading frenzy, and it will be interesting to see if the Everett Silvertips, who have a wide lead in the standings, are looking to add anything more to their arsenal.
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