The Portland Winterhawks traveled to Vancouver Island for a back to back set against the Victoria Royals, their final games against a BC Division opponent this season. The two teams were tied in the standings entering the weekend and remain that way.
With nine games left for both clubs, and each holding a game in hand on the Tri-City Americans who are trying to chase them down, the race could not be tighter.
Game one was a defensive battle early, but Victoria jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. One goal came on a backhand into an open net, the other on a sharp short side shot that barely found its window.
Portland responded in the second period when Jake Gustafson redirected a Reed Brown shot past the Royals’ goaltender, who had already made several impressive saves. Hawks netminder Ondrej Stebetak was equally sharp, turning aside quality chances while teammates helped clear traffic in front.
In the third, Nathan Free tied the game when the puck bounced off Ethan Eskit’s pad and in. Then came the dramatic finish. With just 50 seconds left in regulation, Free took the puck from the corner, stepped out front, and roofed the game winner for a 3-2 Portland victory. The Hawks outshot Victoria 36-28. Both teams struggled on the power play, Portland going 0 for 3 and Victoria 0 for 4.
The following night, the same goaltenders squared off again, but the tone was very different. Victoria scored just over three minutes in. Alex Weiermair answered with a shorthanded goal midway through the period, but that was as close as Portland would get.
The Royals regained the lead 28 seconds later on a power play goal, then added another three minutes after that. A power play tally less than a minute into the second period widened the gap. Reed Brown scored for Portland about seven minutes later, but Victoria responded again before the period ended.
Victoria added another goal near the 15 minute mark of the third, though Alessandra Dominichelli scored his first WHL goal just 34 seconds later. An empty netter capped a 7-3 Royals win. Portland once again led in shots, 30-26, but went 0 for 6 on the power play, while Victoria converted three of five opportunities.
The Hawks now face Everett in a home and home series, then host Tri-City in a demanding stretch of three games in three nights. The final stretch also includes a midweek trip to Spokane, another game against Everett, two more versus Tri-City, and a pair against Seattle.
There was also positive news for Alex Weiermair, who signed an entry level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights. Weiermair, who will age out after this season, was drafted by Portland in 2020 but remained in college before joining the Hawks last year. His arrival sparked a strong offensive push, and this season he leads the team with 32 goals and 45 assists.
Around the CHL, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape.
In the WHL, only Saskatoon from the Eastern Division has officially clinched so far. Six of eight Eastern Conference teams are essentially playoff bound, while the Western Conference still has just two teams that have secured spots. With standings so tight, every point matters over the next week.
In the OHL Eastern Conference, six of eight teams have qualified. Kingston and Sudbury are close to locking up the final two spots, while Brampton and Oshawa have been eliminated. In the Western Conference, the Kitchener Rangers have secured the Midwest Division title, and five of eight playoff spots are claimed. Sarnia and Erie remain alive mathematically but are on the outside looking in.
The QMJHL will have only two teams miss the postseason. Baie-Comeau and Rimouski are currently on the outside, though Rimouski sits just four points back of Gatineau for the final seed. With only a 64 game schedule, there is little margin for error, making every remaining win critical.
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