In a rare weekend tilt, the Hawks had to only play two games in two nights, but they did pick up a game during the week against the Spokane Chiefs. As expected, the Hawks fell out of the CHL Poll, but so too did the Victoria Royals, who were twice beaten by the Hawks last week. Victoria also lost to Spokane this week, further solidifying their slide. Everett continued winning this week as it kept atop the US Division standings. After a loss to Portland, Spokane got back on the winning trail with a win over Victoria but still hasn’t found its groove as the team remains well back in the Division. After a hot start, Seattle has started to fall back.
The CHL Poll sees Prince Albert still the top team with only one loss and a move up by two spots to Vancouver to fourth overall. Red Deer holds down the 10th spot and the Tri City Americans, who started the year in the hole, have moved to an honorable mention with a 10-4 record as a wildcard team. Portland at 11-6-0-1 sees them still in second place in the US Division and only six teams ahead of them in the entire WHL.
As mentioned, Portland played a pair of games at home against Kelowna Rockets, a team that had the first coaching change, and the Hawks were not only the first team to get a win against Adam Foote as the coach of the Rockets, but did so with a 50-shot barrage against James Porter in the net for Kelowna. The Hawks scored a goal in each of the periods, Joachim Blichfeld, Cody Glass and Reese Newkirk provided the scoring; Shane Farkas got his first shutout of the season, but also his first ever goose egg. This also marks the second straight game the Hawks have put up at least fifty shots. Neither team was successful on the combined 1 power plays, and the Hawks pinned the Rockets in their own end for the final minute of the game, which gave the Hawks the win.
The next night, the teams went across the plaza to Veterans Memorial Coliseum, a fitting place for the Veteran’s Day game as the two teams faced off in another battle. Mason Mannek opened the scoring in the first period, and in eerie fashion, the score remained that way through the first period. In the second, Joachim Blichfeld scored to keep his streak alive and the Hawks were up by two. Kelowna ended the shutout about eight minutes later, but Portland restored the lead less than two minutes later by Reece Newkirk with a shorthanded goal. Near the end of the period, Kelowna scored again to make a tight, one-goal game. Midway through the third, Joachim popped in his second of the game and again the Hawks didn’t give much to Kelowna during the latter part of the frame. Portland again outshot Kelowna this time by a much closer 41-31 and gave one power play goal on four tries to Kelowna while being blanked on four tries themselves.
Joachim Blichfeld was announced as WHL Player of the Week after an impressive run the three games. His five points against Spokane and a total of nine points in three games, gave him the nod which is hist first as a WHL Player. Since his return from San Jose, Blichfeld has been on a tear with 15 goals, 22 assists for 37 points in just 18 games, which ranks him third in goals for and points and just misses being ranked on assists.
The Hawks will play a home-and-home series with Everett and the first television match of the season against Seattle on Saturday. Portland will play three games at home and follow with a road game against Everett to end the month of November.
Portland also signed a couple of prospects this week with James Stefan and Jack O’Brien inking standard WHL contracts. Both born in 2003, they are playing out the year for their regular Junior Teams. They participated in the Neely Cup tournament with the Hawks back in September.
