As expected, the trade wire heated up, especially at the deadline.
The Portland Winterhawks played two games with Friday against Everett and a game versus the Prince George Cougars that could be a highlight of a showdown come playoff time.
The Hawks have held tight against Everett; this game was no exception. With just five penalties in this game, the powerplay wasn’t a total factor, though Everett got one powerplay goal. And that was the game’s first goal, 6:16 into the first. From there, both teams traded goals. Josh Davies replied just past the fifteen-minute mark, but Everett restored their lead less than a minute later. Early in the second period, Marcus Nuguyen’s shorthanded tally tied it up, only to see Everett regain the lead two minutes later. Josh Zakreski evened things up, only to have Everett reply moments later to restore the lead. It would stay that way as Nick Avakyan was pulled for an extra attacker, but trouble struck. Josh Davies was called for tripping, and now the Hawks would be even in men with the goaltender out. Less than 30 seconds later, Marcus Nuguyen was the hero as he scored shorthanded to put the game into a tie and send it to overtime. Nothing was settled there, and both teams went to the shootout. After Everett scored first, they would be stopped on the next four attempts. The Hawks scored on the second and fifth attempts to take the win in a shootout 5-4. Portland hammered Everett in shots 55-32, keeping the Hawks’ winning streak mounting.
The next night was a meeting with the top Western Conference team, the Prince George Cougars, who had their two latest acquisitions with them. Josh Davies for Portland opened things up on the powerplay fifteen minutes in. The leading WHL points person, Zac Funk, showed his prowess with a goal and two assists; recently acquired Borya Valis scored once and had an assist as the Cougars tied the game up in the first and took the lead early in the second. Two powerplay goals by the Hawks in Gabe Klassen and James Stefan put the Hawks on top. Valis’ goal put the teams in a deadlock again, and the game looked to be headed for overtime. With a minute to go, Josh Davies fished off a play in the Cougars zone to lift the Hawks to a 4-3 win. Prince George outshot the Hawks 40-28, but Portland’s 3-7 versus Prince George’s 0-4 on the powerplay made the difference.
The last CHL rankings had Portland in 10th and Prince George in second. That may change with Portland’s continued wins and the victory over Prince George. Other teams in the poll are Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Cougars, Kitchener Rangers, Saskatoon Blades, Saginaw Spirit, Rouyn-Norand Huskies, Soo Greyhounds, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Victoriaville Tigers, then the Hawks.
This week’s rankings see the Hawks move up two spots to 8th; Prince George drops a spot.
In order, the top ten are Baie Comeau Drakkar, Saskatoon Blades, Prince George Cougars, Saginaw Spirit, Kitchener Rangers, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Portland Winterhawks, London Knights, and Soo Greyhound. The next rankings will come out next week.
Trades in the WHL
As expected, Wenatchee Wild restocked their draft pick closet by offloading two solid assets. The big deals close to the trade deadline have been seen.
To Moose Jaw goes Matthew Savoie, coming Wenatchee’s way 1st Rnd, ’24 3rd Rnd. ’24, 6th Rnd. ’24,8th Rnd. ’25, 2nd Rnd. ’26, 1st Rnd. ’27 and 4th Rnd. ’27. If you’re counting, that’s seven picks.
To Swift Current goes Connor Geekie, and to Wenatchee, players Josh Fluker, Maddix McCagherty, and Sam Ward 1st Rnd. ’25 2nd Rnd. ’25 1st Rnd. ’26 7th Rnd. ’27. Fluker and McCagherty were in 2006, and Ward in 2005, which also gives the Wild longevity. With so many picks, the club can also rebuild and provide a solid on-ice product in the coming years. Geekie was drafted 11th overall in the NHL drafty and signed an ELC weeks later. Swift Current has vaulted up the standings to 4th in the Conference, nipping on the heels of Moose Jaw, and 19 games remaining.
That said, a few trades have happened, obviously paling compared to the Savoie/ Geekie deals, but important nonetheless. Lethbridge was involved in 2 deals, first obtaining Sean Tschigerl, who is strong in shorthanded situations and originally drafted by Anaheim but not signed, giving up picks 2nd Rnd. ’25 3rd Rnd. I am 25, and then I got Dylan Sydor from Kamloops for Blake Swetlikoff and 3rd Rnd. ’24
2nd Rnd. ’25. Sydor is in the top group of powerplay specialists. Both Swetlikoff and Sydor are 20-year-old players. Swetlikoff was in Lethbridge for a season and a half after being traded by the Spokane Chiefs.
Lethbridge was in the middle of the pack of the Eastern Conference, but these additions are an attempt to break them free, as they are 17 points from the top spot with 27 games to play.
Regina continued to change the team’s look, sending defenceman Jaren Brinson to Victoria for 6th Rnd. 25 and 9th Rnd.’27. Brinson was only in less than half a season after being obtained from the Spokane Chiefs. After a tough start, Victoria sits fifth in the Western Conference.
The Canes traded with Vancouver, getting Colton Langkow and Kai Anderson and picks 2nd Rnd. ’24, 3rd Rnd. ’25 for Ty Zimmer, replacing picks given up a few days before with Kamloops. Edmonton added a pick in 8th Rnd. ’26, by trading Mason Finley to Tri City, Kamloops traded Shea Van Olm to Spokane for Cole Wadsworth, 3rd Rnd. ’25 and 2nd Rnd. In 26, Van Olm is a solid helper as a 19-year-old, whereas Wadsworth will be an 18-year-old next season.
Then came the trade deadline with a flurry of moves. A total of 15 trades were made as the final freeze on rosters took place. Only now can call up players listed before the trade deadline as affiliate players, and those who were too young to make a roster (15-year-olds) can come in. In the case of the younger players, they can only come in after their season, including playoffs, is over.
Main trades saw Kamloops restock their picks cabinet again by shipping Connor Levis to Vancouver for 2nd Rnd. ’24,1st Rnd. ’25 and 4th Rnd. ’26. Kamloops is going into a complete rebuild format and is virtually out of contention for the playoffs.
An unusual three-way trade involved Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Edmonton. Kelowna fired off John Babcock to Saskatoon and Ismail Abougouche to Edmonton, where Edmonton sent Carter Kowalyk (to KEL) and 4th Rnd. ’25 (to KEL), Saskatoon, then sent a 2nd Rnd. ’24 (to KEL) a 4th Rnd. ’26 (to KEL)
and a 2nd Rnd. ’26 (to EDM)
Near the end of the deadline, the Hawks traded for captain Nate Danielson, a draft pick of Detroit in the 1st round last year, and gave up two young players. Nicholas Johnston and Rhett Ravndahl, along with three picks, 1st Rnd. ’25 a 5th Rnd. ’26 and a 1st Rnd. ’27. The move gives Portland six NHL-signed players heading into the postseason. Danielson has 26 points in 26 games thus far and a goal and a pair of assists for Team Canada at the IIHF tournament this year.
Speaking of IIHF and the Winterhawks, defenceman Marek Alscher was voted one of the most valuable players in the tournament and captured a bronze medal for Chechia.
An interesting tidbit: even though Jan Spunar has been out of action for quite some time, he still leads the league in Goals Against Average, and save percentage.
A scary moment happened for the Seattle Thunderbirds this week. On their way to Kelowna in horrible conditions, the bus slid off the road into a ditch. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the Rockets sent their bus to collect everyone. The bus is the only form of transportation allowed during the season and playoffs, except for the WHL Finals, where the teams can if they choose, charter an aircraft between the teams, having one group sit at the front, one in the back, and reverse as the games continue.
Two bus crashes have affected junior hockey; the first was December 30, 1986, when four players were killed in a rollover bus crash on icy Highway One outside Swift Current, Saskatchewan. There is a Memorial at the site where fans can pay their respects. The 4 Broncos shamrock is adorned with the Swift Current jerseys, and the players’ numbers have been retired. The other crash was much more brutal. A bus carrying Humboldt Broncos players to Nipawin, Saskatchewan, was hit by a transport truck on April 6, 2018. That crash saw 16 people killed and 13 injured. A GoFundMe was established, raising 15 million dollars. The driver of the truck carrying bales of peat was sentenced to 8 years in prison and could be deported once his sentence is over as he is a native of India.
With the deadline now over, players can relax and bring us solid hockey. The Winterhawks will be back in action this weekend in Seattle on January 12 and Pride Night on January 13 at 6pm in Portland, also airing on CW 32. Depending on the weather, fans on the 13th have up to four hours before the drop and can bank tickets for a future date if the weather is inclement.
