The Portland Winterhawks ended the month of November near the top of the WHL, holding an advantage of nearly 40 more goals scored than any other team and are moving up the ladder in goals against which has come down in recent games. With just one loss, that in overtime in their past 6 games and an impressive come from behind win over Saskatoon Blades, the Hawks look to their second half of the season making their case for a repeat championship. In the Saskatoon game, only two Winterhawks got goals in, but 4 of those were from Nic Petan and 2 were from Oliver Bjorkstrand. Brendan Leipsic tacked on 5 assists to his total. Several Hawks are in the top 20 for the scoring race, proving that the depth of the Hawks wasn't lost with the departure of so many from last year's team.
Now the Hawks will be a bit thin in the depth as success in their league means players get scooped for World Junior Championships coming up at the end of December. Nic Petan and Taylor Leier have been tapped for Team Canada which should be a lock after impressive showings at the Subway Super Series, Oliver Bjorkstrand for Denmark and Layne Viveiros for Austria. Former Winterhawk import Kirill Vorobev will suit up for the Russians and again, it is due to great work at the Subway Super Series.
Skyler MacKenzie, who impressed everyone at the Winterhawks training camp at 15 years of age, will accompany the team back to Portland following the Central swing ending after the weekend. There may be others once the team returns to play in Portland. Injuries that happened in the previous months to Shane McColgan and Adam Rossignol are hoped to be healed and both might make appearances on the Central swing to test out their readiness. Another upper body injury, this one to Presten Kopeck, may be a bit longer on the mending.
While shoppers were busy gathering up their last minute items for the holiday Thanksgiving feast, there was another event taking place at the other end of the store.
The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club helped create some memories for local area children in partnership with The Sunshine Division that afternoon.
The program, dubbed "Shop with a Hawk," paired a Portland Winterhawks hockey player with a child from a member of the Oregon National Guard at the Hollywood Fred Meyer this afternoon with $100 and a shopping list.
The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club funded the entire event.
The kids aged 8-11 years old, went shopping for an hour with the players and came out with a treasure chest full of toys, clothes, shoes and more than that … memories.
From Barbies to basketball shoes and all points in between, the players and the children formed an unbreakable bond, one that will last well past the event today.
This is the first year for the Shop with a Hawk program and based on the success, it will become an annual event.
The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club has traditionally promoted hockey related programs by donating over $250,000 in its lifetime to the Scholarship Fund and other hockey related charities, but this community outreach program was the first crossover program that the Booster Club had been involved with.
The Booster Club is offering discounts to 2 games, the first January 4 and the second February 1 where fans can buy tickets normally priced at $24.75 for just $15 and $5 from each ticket goes to the Booster Club. http://www.pwhbc.com is the website for more information.
Stuart Kemp is the President of the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club, a 501(c)(3) registered charity.
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