Following the Portland Winterhawks loss last Wednesday in Spokane, the players regrouped and set their sights on the second game on Friday. With a 3-goal performance by Paul Bittner including an empty net goal, the Hawks won 5-3. They would have to travel by bus back to Portland, arriving early Saturday morning, grab a few winks and get ready for the evening match with the Vancouver Giants.
Several hours prior to the game with the Giants was the trade deadline, where rosters would have to be set for the remainder of the season. Though the Hawks had made a trade a couple days before, they elected to make one more deal by acquiring Mitchell Walter from the Edmonton Oil Kings for a fourth round draft pick in 2016. Walter received the news while the Oil Kings were in Saskatchewan and was to fly to Edmonton and meet the Winterhawks in Kamloops on Tuesday. The deal came about following decisions by nineteen year old Tyson Predinchuk and seventeen year old Ethan Price to head home. Neither player has been removed from the protected list and most expect Price to be in camp next season. It may be more difficult for Predinchuk who would return as a 20 year old. Price has joined the USHL franchise Lincoln All Stars in Lincoln, NE close to his home.
Austin Gray, 17, who signed with the Hawks in early December, came in to play a few games with the Winterhawks after an impressive performance in the Mac’s Midget Tournament in Calgary, Alberta. Gray was expected to return back to the Cariboo Cougars as the Hawks head to Kamloops to start a three game road trip. Gray is the captain of the Cougars and could return to Portland once the Cariboo season is done.
The Vancouver Giants, who started the season in similar fashion to the Winterhawks, have been in a dogfight for a coveted playoff spot and came to Portland to face a tired Winterhawks team. Despite the fatigue, the Hawks kept pace on the scoresheet in the first period as Miles Koules and Keegan Iverson sandwiched goals in between a pair of Vancouver goals by rookie Tyler Benson. The Hawks would take a two goal lead as Alex Schoenborn on the power play and Oliver Bjorkstrand while shorthanded, left the score at 4-3 as Vancouver’s Zane Jones made it close. In the third, Oliver Bjorkstrand pocketed a goal with less than five minutes left to close the scoring. Despite the flurry at the end of the third, Portland was able to weather the storm, bending at times, but not breaking. Trailing US Division leaders Everett Silvertips by six points, with the two wins on the weekend, Portland moved into a tie for second in the US Division with Spokane, though the Chiefs hold a three game in hand advantage.
In the next eighteen days Portland plays nine games, all against Western Conference opponents which could heavily affect the playoff race. The Hawks will play six games in nine nights at the end of January which may prove to be the most brutal part of the schedule. Added into the mix is a player appearance at the Les Schwab 122nd and Division on Wednesday January 21 from 4:30 – 6pm with players still to be announced.
Ice Chips: The Portland Winterhawks Booster Club presented a check to assist “Backpack Buddies” for $1,000 towards groceries for families in need. With the donation, the program affecting Southeast Portland elementary schools will be expanded. The Booster Club will be appearing in the pages of the Prince George Citizen newspaper and CKPG TV while in town for the games against the Prince George Cougars this week as the club will be the first group from outside Prince George to take in games this season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
