The Portland Winterhawks issued the following statement Friday morning regarding recent decisions made by state officials allowing fans to return in person to several Portland-area sports teams.
“We are thrilled that Portland sports fans are being allowed to return to cheer for the teams they love. We miss our Winterhawk fans greatly and are so excited to have the Rose Quarter filled with their passion once again in person. Our 2020-21 season comes to a close on Tuesday. At this time, we will continue focusing on providing a safe and entertaining experience to our fans in the fall, adhering to the latest CDC and OHA guidelines.”
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to the team’s official website and social media channels for news and updates regarding the 2021-22 Western Hockey League season.
Games were played this weekend in both the BC and US Divisions. The first night saw …
Tri-City Americans get upended by Seattle Thunderbirds 5-2. Seattle blasted 45 shots at Tri-City, with the Americans getting just 20 against Seattle. Seattle went 0-4 versus Tri-City 0-2 on the powerplay.
Spokane Chiefs were hammered by the Everett Silvertips 5-1. Everett manhandled the shots at 45-15 but only went 1-5 on the powerplay. Spokane went 1-2 on theirs.
Vancouver Giants dumped the Kelowna Rockets 6-2, where they went a perfect 3-3 on the powerplay. Kelowna went 1-4 on the powerplay
The next night saw …
Portland Winterhawks wallop Spokane Chiefs 5-1. Originally Gabe Klassen of Portland was credited with a pair of goals in the game, but after a review, of the last goal, it ended with a hat trick! Portland got a pair in the first, one in the second, and a pair in the third to take the game. Portland held command of 37-18 in shots and went 1-2 verse 1-7 on the powerplay.
Everett Silvertips dumped Seattle Thunderbirds 4-1. Everett went 1-4 on the powerplay, blanking Seattle on their 5 tries. Everett also outshot Seattle 35-30 in the game,
Kamloops took care of the Vancouver Giants 3-1, with both teams unsuccessful on the powerplay. Kamloops had 2 chances; Vancouver had 3. Kamloops outshot Vancouver 33-21
Victoria Royals scored a 2-1 win over the Prince George Cougars. The Cougars led in shots at 34-21, with both teams 1-3 on the powerplay.
The closure of the weekend with Mother’s Day saw …
The Portland Winterhawks traveled to Kennewick to face the Tri-City Americans and shellacked them with the highest goal total of the season at 9-1. Mason Dunsford played the entire game for the Americans, who surrendered a pair in the first, then five in second, and two more in the third. The Hawks were also a perfect 2/2 on the powerplay, giving up 1/3 to Tri-City. Brock Gould went the way for the Hawks. In honoring the overage players, Tri-City listed them as the three stars, but it was all Hawks. Simon Knak was the only Hawk to get more than a goal in the game, with Singles by Robbie Fromm-Delorme, Cross Hanus, Seth Jarvis, Cross Hanus, Jaydon Dureau, Nick Cicek, and the first of the season for Marcus Nguyen late in the game. The Hawks outshot Tri-City 37-32
Spokane Chiefs was shut out by the Seattle Thunderbirds 3-0. Seattle scored all their goals in the middle frame, blasting 58 shots Spokane’s way to just 21 for the Chiefs. Seattle went 2-3 on the powerplay and skunking Spokane on their 3 tries. Though Mason Beaupit was the losing goaltender, his 55 saves in the game netted him third star of the game.
Kelowna Rocks scored twice in the first against the Prince George Cougars, who finally scored in the third period to end the game at 2-1. The Cougars outshot the Rockets 31-25, going 1-6 on the powerplay to 1-5 for Kelowna.
1 game will be played on Monday with the BC Division and 12 games on Tuesday, which will feature the Hawks versus Tri-City, and 2 games in the BC Division on Wednesday which will be the completion of the BC Division with Prince George and Kamloops and the Kelowna Rockets playing Victoria Royals to end the abbreviated season.
From there, the teams will finish their exit interviews and get ready for the 2021-22 season as yet uncertain road ahead. As the pandemic may hopefully come to a close, one can hope borders will open and allow players to return to teams they currently play for. A few were “loaned” to other teams based on geography as they couldn’t cross borders.
