The Portland Winterhawks headed back to Alberta, Canada for the remainder of the "Central Swing" with a brief stop in Everett versus the Silvertips. Things started well with a strong 6-3 win followed by a 2-hour drive into Canada. The next day it was another 13-hour bus ride to Edmonton, Alberta and a matchup against the Oil Kings who the Hawks have faced in the WHL finals the past 2 seasons. Similar to the even battles then, this one was equally a battle and a high scoring one, which the Oil Kings would take 5-4 in a shootout. Less than 24 hours later, and 90 minutes down the road it was the Red Deer Rebels who played host. Another tough game for the Hawks, but one that they would win 5-4 in regulation. Another 90 minutes down the road, it was the Calgary Hitmen who would host the Hawks. Now playing their third game in 3 days and only 18 hours after the last one ended, the Hawks did what they could for 2 periods and keeping the score at 2-1 for the Hitmen. The third period was when the fatigue had really set in and the Hawks gave up 2 more goals to drop a 4-1 decision and end the trip at 2-1-0-1 which was good for 5 points and keeping pace with the division leaders.
Currently, the Kelowna Rockets have the best record having the same number of points as Portland but have played 4 fewer games than the Hawks. The Hawks have played one more game than Everett, but are 2 points up on the Tips. The nemesis for the Winterhawks being the Seattle Thunderbirds are 6 points back and have a huge home and home series with the Portland Winterhawks this weekend.
With the Hawks being off this week from regular play, they were able to visit local area hospitals and Veterans groups to deliver toys and good cheer. As part of the arrangement with KPTV where the team put out the call for toy donations, over 2,000 came in to a recent game and many were taken by the players to the hospital visits where the children were able to select a toy from the many boxes brought in.
This Saturday is the annual Teddy Bear Toss game where the Winterhawks first goal will mean flying fur from the stands and local area agencies benefit. On average, well over ten thousand bears and other stuffed plush are brought to the game to be tossed onto the ice when the Portland Winterhawks score their first goal and then a 15 minute cleanup off the ice as well. It's always a fun event, usually at or near capacity and this year is being played in Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The players will have one final game the following Tuesday before heading home for the 8-day Christmas break.
Several players won't be at the next few games as they are taking part in the Annual World Juniors which is taking place this season in Malmo, Sweden. Layne Viveiros (Austria), Oliver Bjorkstrand (Denmark), Taylor Leier Derrick Pouliot and Nic Petan (Canada) have left for their respective training camps for the tournament which starts around Christmas. To fill the void, the team has brought in reinforcements from training camp in 16-year-olds Justin Greer on defense and Colton Veloso as a wing and 15-year-old Skyler McKenzie as a forward. McKenzie was prominent in training camp and in the preseason tournaments.
The Portland Winterhawks also made trade news as well when the dealt 18-year-old Preston Kopeck to the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick. That pick is actually as insurance against a player from Red Deer's roster and currently in the NHL, defenseman Matthew Dumba. Dumba,a 19-year-old was drafted and signed by the Minnesota Wild, but has seen limited playing time and as a 19-year-old is ineligible to play in the AHL for another year. With Dumba being loaned to Team Canada for the upcoming World Juniors by the Wild; speculation is that the Wild would be willing to send Dumba back to junior to get more ice time. General Manager and Coach of the Portland Winterhawks, Mike Johnston, has played this type of odds before and has usually won. For Red Deer, it's a somewhat rebuild as the team has struggled to put a winning formula out and has a strong leader type player in Kopeck arriving in January. Kopeck is currently recovering from surgery and is expected to join the Rebels after the Christmas break and play a couple of weeks later.
If Dumba reports to Portland, the Hawks will also give to Red Deer second round picks in the next three seasons, with the last one potentially a third rounder depending on Dumba's stay in Portland.
Trade deadline for the WHL is Friday, January 10 and there will be a few teams hoping to land the big one, though the Hawks have certainly created some buzz already.
Stuart Kemp is the President of the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club, a 501(c)(3) registered charity.
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