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Phil Gervais Dealt to Portland · Friday January 11, 2008

The Portland Winter Hawks have acquired 17 year old forward Phillip Gervais from the Vancouver Giants for a 5th Round Pick in 2009.

Gervais began his WHL Career in Swift Current, where he was a 3rd Round, #52 overall, selection in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft. Gervais was traded to Vancouver earlier in the season for a 3rd Round pick in 2008.

This is a puzzling move by Hawk management. Especially since they have released two of the teams most popular and hard working players. The Hawks believe Gervais can add more to the team then released Matt Betker or Victor Sjodin.

Is this another 17year old experiment? Are we now going younger, smaller and less physical for a team that was too young, too small and not physical enough before the trade?

— S. Blanchard

Cougars vs. Hawks - Game 40 · Monday January 7, 2008

After their embarrassing Saturday nite performance against Everett, the Hawks found some inspiration beating Prince George 3-1.

The Oregonian said it right:

Portland played inspired defense, led by goalie Jordan White, with who earned his first win in 10 tries. And the Hawks showed resiliency on offense despite being outshot 42-40 and wasting eight of nine power-play opportunities.

The results didn’t show, but the Hawk power play lead by Ehrardt was very good tonight, but the Hawk PK lead by White and crew was even better.

White finished with 41 saves, holding Prince George scoreless until the tail end of the second period where Cougars center Evan Fuller broke the deadlock with his sixth goal of the season at 14:42.

Less than two minutes later, at 16:29, Viktor Sjodin tied the score at 1-1 on Portland’s fifth power play. Travis Ehrhardt’s entry shot hit Prince George goalkeeper Real Cyr in the shoulder. It then skipped off Sjodin into the net.

Portland took a 2-1 lead 35 seconds later. King’s shot from the slot hit Cyr’s pad before hopping in. The 19-year-old center said he had lately been gripping his stick too tight, telling himself, “I have to score.”

Relaxed, with more confidence, King scored his second goal of the game and fourth of the season 1:56 into the third period. His post-faceoff shot ricocheted off a few bodies into the air and over Cyr’s shoulder.

Next up Spokane at home.

Attendance: 3024
Memorial Coliseum

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Cougars	0	1	0	1
Hawks	0	2	1	3

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Cougars	13	12	17	42
Hawks	9	10	21	40

Kemper’s Three Stars

White (POR), King (POR), Ehrhardt (POR)

Fight Card

Walker/Bidievshkii – couple young pups that wanted to see what this fighting was all about. Walker got in the most blows, but Bidievshkii got the knock down.

Slight edge to Bidievshkii.

— S. Blanchard

Silvertips vs. Hawks - Game 35 · Wednesday December 19, 2007

The Portland Winter Hawks take a early holiday break giving up four first period goals on the way to a final 6-1 home loss to the Everett Silvertips.

This was one of the most disappointing Home games this season. Jordan White the Hawks backup goalie, who has been stellar all season long though has not tallied a win, put the Hawks so far in the hole it was game over in the first 3 minutes.

The Hawks could not recover from the early two goals and the Silvertips just keep aggressively floor checking pinning Hawks in their offensive end. Are these 17,18 year olds staying up too late or just in bad physical conditioning? Because when the teams matched up, the Silvertips were winning every board battle and completely out playing the Hawks.

Portland broke the shut-out in the final minute of the second period when Jacob Dietrich poked in a rebound of a Matt Betker entry shot with 31 seconds left in the second period. Travis Ehrhardt also added an assist on the play.

Kurtis Mucha relieved White to start the second and stopped 21 of 23 the rest of the way. Leland Irving stopped 27 of 28 Portland shots in the victory.

Everett went 2 for 8 on the power play while Portland went 0 for 8. Both teams had to kill off major penalties as Matt Kirk levied five minute major penalties to Portland’s Matt Schmermund for Charging at the end of the first period and then a five minute major to Scott Gabriel for Cross-Checking in the final five minutes of the third.

Next up Moose Jaw at home.

Attendance: 3655
Memorial Coliseum

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Silvertips	4	2	0	6
Hawks	0	1	0	1

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Silvertips	19	15	8	42
Hawks	10	12	6	28

Hawks Box Score

Jacob Dietrick (7) 2G
Matt Betker 1A
Travis Ehrhardt 1A

Silvertips Box Score

Dan Gendur (9) 1G
Shane Harper (7) 1G, 1A
Zack Daily (2) 1G
Vitaly Karamnov 2A
Clayton Bauer (11) 1G, 1A
Jordan Mistelbacher 1A
Dane Crowley (9) 1G
Lukas Vartovnik 1A

Game Description

Everett Three Stars

Karamnov (EVT), Daily (EVT), Harper (EVT)

Fight Card

Everett’s Eric English got a stand-alone fighting major early in the third period after jumping Gabriel in a scrum along the boards.

— S. Blanchard

Hawks Find On-Ice Leadership · Tuesday December 11, 2007

Thoughts on the 12/8 game with Spokane.

Don’t turn the lights out yet.

The team showed something at home last night against Spokane that I have not seen all year…on-ice leadership. Could it be that a kind of leadership and chemistry has set root?

Maxwell on leadership:

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” “A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.”
-John C. Maxwell

The trade to acquire Erhardt, Undershute and Dietrich may now be ready to fulfill its promise. Erhardt has taken over as quarterback of the back line and point man on the power play. Undershute has impressed from day one though has been injured since his first game as a Hawk.

Lao Tzu described another kind of leadership, that the Hawks may have found:

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
-Lao Tzu

I think of Betker providing this type of leadership with many other soft spoken players on the team.

What ever we found, Spokane wasn’t ready for it. In fact, they seemed to be surprised or shocked by it. And when they scored 4 straight goals to take a two goal lead with 10 minutes to go, everything was just as predicted.

But wait, when we pulled Mucha and scored with Dietrich at the net to make it 4-3 with 1:46 to go, the crowd got on board, and the pressure was on. Wahls was called for slashing and Undershute on the PP found the net for the tie.

I did see something different tonight and maybe it has arrived from this multi-player trade.

I also saw it in the coaching staff. After coming on the ice for the beginning of the third period with the score tied, coaches each spending time patting each boy on the back for support. In the hard world of hockey, sometimes kindness and support is just what the doctor ordered.

— S. Blanchard

Chiefs vs. Hawks - Game 31 · Monday December 10, 2007

The Portland Winter Hawks rallied from two goals down in the final two minutes to force overtime against the Spokane Chiefs. The Chiefs pulled it out in the shoot-out, to win 5-4. For most fans at the MC this was a real winner for the Hawks.

Spokane came into the game as the top team in the WHL and ranked #2 overall in the entire Canadian Hockey League.

The Hawks pulled Kurtis Mucha twice in the final two minutes and scored both times as Jacob Dietrich and Kevin Undershute scored to force overtime. Undershute’s tying goal came with just 18.4 seconds left on the game clock.

Portland took a two-goal lead early in the second period after goals by Luke Walker and Chris Francis, but Spokane rallied for four consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the third period. Spokane got goals from Chris Langkow, Drayson Bowman, Chris Bruton and Jared Spurgeon.

Travis Ehrhardt had two assists, setting up both the third and fourth goals for Portland. Bowman and Bruton each added assists for two-point nights as well for Spokane.

After a scoreless overtime, Jace Coyle scored the lone goal in the shoot-out for Spokane as the second shooter for the Chiefs. Dustin Tokarski stopped Undershute, Tyler Swystun and Ehrhardt to preserve the victory. Kurtis Mucha stopped Bowman and Ondrej Roman in the shoot-out as well.

Mucha stopped 47 of 51 Spokane shots and received the number one star of the game.

Portland went 2 for 5 on the power play while Spokane went 1 for 5.

Next up Spokane away.

Attendance: 3330
Key Arena

SCORING	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
Chiefs	0	2	2	0	1	5
Hawks	1	1	2	0	0	4

SHOTS	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
Chiefs	13	15	17	6	1	52
Hawks	5	12	9	3	0	29

Kemper’s Three Stars

Mucha (POR), Ehrhardt (POR), Bowman (SPO)

Fight Card

No fights tonight…all business.

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Tbirds - Game 30 · Sunday December 9, 2007

The story in Seattle:

After 19 assists, Prab Rai finally scored his first goal of the season to help the Seattle Thunderbirds rout the Portland Winter Hawks 7-1. -Seattle PI

The story in Portland:

The Seattle Thunderbirds scored six times on their first 13 shots in the opening 22 minutes of the game on Saturday night. Kurtis Mucha started in net for Portland and after making six saves on ten shots in the opening period was replaced by Jordan White who allowed two goals on three shots to start the second period. White rebounded to stop 24 of 27 shots in his forty minutes of action. -Hawks Web Site

Seattle got goals from seven different goal scorers – Ian McKenzie, Lindsay Nielsen, Bud Holloway, David Richard, Jim O’Brien and Prab Rai – in the victory. Rai and Richard also had two assists each for three point nights.

Travis Ehrhardt scored Portland’s lone goal, off assists from Tristan King and Luke Walker to tie score at 1-1 halfway through the first period, but it was all Seattle after that.

Seattle went 2 for 4 on the power play while Portland went 0 for 2.

Next up Spokane home.

Attendance: 4605
Key Arena

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	4	3	0	7
Hawks	1	0	0	1

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	10	16	11	37
Hawks	10	3	12	25

SEA Three Stars

Richard (SEA), Rai (SEA), Dillon (SEA)

Fight Card

Betker/Dillon – no information.

Grecica/Olson – Only a couple shots before they both go down. Give Grecica a couple stars for taking on tough guy veteran Olson on.

Ponich/Quakenbush – Poniches first; just an opening dance.

— S. Blanchard

Tbirds vs. Hawks - Game 29 · Saturday December 8, 2007

Injuries forced the Hawks to play only four healthy defenseman, giving up 50 shots on four goals for a 4-0 loss on home ice.

Seattle got goals from Ian McKenzie (6), Jan Eberle (4), Greg Scott (10) and Bud Holloway (11) in the victory. Sena Acolatse added two assists.

Jordan White stopped 46 of 50 Seattle shots in the loss.

Portland went 0 for 2 on the power play and killed all nine of Seattle’s power plays on the night.

Next up Seattle away.

Attendance: 5054
Memorial Coliseum

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	1	1	2	4
Hawks	0	0	0	0

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	19	11	20	50
Hawks	6	12	7	25

period 1

The young Hawks spent the first period killing four Seattle power plays: Schmermund (checking from behind), Montgomery (Tripping), Valchar(High Sticking), Bobbee (Tripping). As Andy Kemper the Hawks broadcaster stated, the refs were only seeing Hawk red tonight. This was only too apparent when Lindsay Nielsen checked Lee Morrow from behind into the boards injury Morrow who had to be assisted off the ice. No call?

The Hawks left the period only being down 1 goal with some good PK and solid goal tending by Jordan White.

period 2

The Hawks played better in the second more shots on goal followed by a better floor check. Good goal tending by Tbird’s Jacob DeSerres stopping good scoring chances from Dietrich and Betker. A defensive break down allowed Jan EBerle a open shot off a Tbird’s break that gave a 2-0 lead. Bo Montgomery took a hooking penalty at the whistle that put the Hawks back on the PK for the beginning of the third.

period 3

Two more goals by Scott and Holloway took the fans out of the game. Without Gabriel, Ryan and Sjodin, the young Hawks could not provide a physical element to the game. Tbird’s Olsen, Jackson and Scott seem to be playing with the young Hawks. Aaron Mcgill made a couple good hits and tried to provide some emotion to an unemotional game. The Hawks took their beating well which is very strange for a Home Portland/Seattle match. A disappointing performance.

Kemper’s Three Stars

Eberle (SEA), Helenius (SEA), White (POR)

Fight Card

No fight tonight

— S. Blanchard

Comment [1]

Hawks vs. Blazers - Game 28 · Wednesday December 5, 2007

The Kamloops Blazers scored five unanswered goals to rally from a two-goal deficit and defeat the Portland Winter Hawks 6-4.

Tyler Shattock scored twice and Brock Nixon and Juuso Puustinen each chipped in with two assists as the Blazers ended a 3-game losing streak.

The ‘Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Keith Voytechek – 28 seconds in – and Matt Betker before Ivan Rohac cut the Portland lead to 2-1 late in the first.

Chris Francis restored the 2-goal lead with a powerplay marker early in the second only to have the Blazers get that one back – from Tyler Shattock – just 34 seconds later. The Blazers then rattled off three more goals in a span of 4:24 – from CJ Stretch, Shayne Wiebe, and Brady Calla – to take a 5-3 lead to the room after 40 minutes.

An early third-period two-man powerplay goal by Shattock gave the Blazers a 6-3 lead before Betker made it 6-4 on a powerplay with 1:25 left.

Justin Leclerc stopped 27 of 31 Portland shots to gain the victory while Kurtis Mucha stopped 38 of 44 in the loss.

The Hawks went 2 for 6 on the power play while killing 6 of 8 man advantages against.

Another bad game for the Hawks. If there is any consolation, not as bad as the last two. We did score 4 goals tonight but gave up the lead and goals against at such a pace it seem like it was a hockey version of a layup drill.

The Hawks have brought in Dr. Saul Miller a leading Performance Specialist and Sports Psychologist to assist the team through these
trying times and get the team in the right mental state. The question is when will the Hawks make his services available to the fans.

Next up Seattle at home.

Attendance: 4118
Interior Savings Centre

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Blazers	1	4	1	6
Hawks	2	1	1	4

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Blazers	20	12	12	44
Hawks	11	11	9	31

KAM Three Stars

Nixon (KAM), Hall (KAM), Shattock (KAM)

Fight Card

All in the first period.

Kerr/Bender – solid wood laid by both players.

Walker/Hall – spontaneous combustion, stopped before it got started.

Gabriel/Gauthier – Gauthier jumped Gabriel.

— S. Blanchard

Blazers vs. Hawks - Game 21 · Saturday November 17, 2007

The Kamloops Blazers scored early in the third period and it was enough to defeat the Portland Winter Hawks 4-2. This is the third game in the Hawks/Blazers series with the Blazers winning all three.

The new guys Jacob Dietrich, Travis Ehrhardt, Ryan Kerr, Keith Voytechek, and Jason Grecica made a good impression and the Hawks looked like a more balanced cohesive team. Erhardt showed good skating ability and a take charge confidence that the back-line has not demonstrated to this point.

Dietrich’s goal was impressive when he took the puck from the side board went straight to the goal and bounced the shot off of Priestner. This was a pure effort goal. Dietrich also showed some dangerous offensive moves with the ability to get his shot off around the net.

This was also the Home debut of Riley Boychuk. Boychuk is big forward that moves well. He made an outstanding outlet pass to Schmemund to set up the first goal of the game.

Kurtis Mucha stopped 28 of 31 shots on the night for Portland while Priestner stopped 32 of 34 Portland shots for his third victory against Portland this season.

Portland finished the night 0 for 5 on the power play, while Kamloops was 0 for 6.

Attendance: 7044
Memorial Colisiem

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Blazers	1	1	2	4
Hawks	1	1	0	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Blazers	10	8	14	32
Hawks	11	16	7	34

period 1

7:59 – Matt Schmermund (4) took a feed from Riley Boychuk behind the Kamloops defense and beat goaltender James Priestner high over the blocker. The assist for Boychuk was his first career WHL point.

11:40 – A back line PP turnover by Ehrhardt left Calla one-on-one with Mucha to tie the game.

period 2

14:03 – Jacob Dietrich (3) bounced a shot off of Priestner to take the lead 2-1.

11:40 – Kamloop’s Bartley (3) scored with 22 seconds in the period to tie the game 2-2.

period 3

1:32 Kamloops took the lead with a goal by Rodgers (5) from a redirected Ivan Rohác’s centering feed past Kurtis Mucha.

Portland couldn’t break through the Kamloops defense and at 19:13 Shattock (4) scored an empty net goal.

Kemper’s Three Stars

Calla (KAM), Priestner (KAM), Dietrich (POR)

Fight Card

Gabriel/Golin and Betker/Wray

Give the edge to Gabriel and Wray

— S. Blanchard

Wheaties vs. Hawks - Game 14 · Monday October 29, 2007

A competitive game for the young Hawks all the way until then end when Panychson fumbled the puck in the offensive end to give Ty Dittmer an open net goal and a 4-2 lead.

Strange game played with virtually no special teams play, both Portland and Brandon finished the night 0 for 1 on the power play. I think Matt Kirk and the other officials just weren’t interested in calling tickie-tag fouls. Personally I am not a fan of watching special team play (PP,PK) and like the up and down style of 5-on-5 and 4-on-4. I just have never seen a game like that.

This style of hockey seems to suit the young Hawks with their speed and ethusiasiam. Most nights the Hawks look painfully inept when it comes to the PP and cannot seem to handle the puck when pressure is applied.

Overall a good performance by the Hawks with out a good result.

Attendance: 2736
Memorial Coliseum

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Kings	1	1	2	4
Hawks	0	1	1	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Americans	12	13	12	37
Hawks	14	5	14	33

Game Description

Kemper’s Three Stars

Hayes (TRI), Lowry (TRI), Mucha (POR)

— S. Blanchard

Blades vs. Hawks - Game 12 · Wednesday October 24, 2007

The Portland Winter Hawks finally gave the Home crowd its first win of the season (4-2) against the visiting Saskatoon Blades. With the first win came many other FIRSTS for the team:

Mark Guggenberger’s first start at Home stopping 29 of 31 shots for the game.

A goalie other than Mucha to notch a win since Butler in Jan 2006.

Out shooting its opponent (34-31)

Out scoring its opponent in the third period (2-0)

Hawks came from behind to win a game

Hawks looked good on the PP

Aaron McGill gets assaulted by TWO Saskatoon Blades (John Flatters and Ryan Funk).

Attendance: 2317
MC

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Blades	1	1	0	2
Hawks	1	1	2	4

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Blades	7	10	14	31
Hawks	8	16	10	34

Game Notes:

Here are some of the highlights.

Period 1

Hawks and Blades came out of the box slow with only 7-8 shots respectively. Blades two PP opportunities, Hawks one.

10:17 – Blistering slap shot from the right point by defenseman Niemi (6) on the Power Play (PP) assists Elliott and Hulak.

18:57 – Rebound PP goal for Swystun (6) assists Sjodin and Sceviour.

Period 2

Hawks come back from an early short hand goal by the Blades to take the lead.

9:42 – Good PP movement by the Hawks, but Francis lost puck at point that set McCrae (4) down the wing and with 2 on 1 help beat Guggenberger to the blocker side. Given up a short handed goal after a strong PP could have buried the young Hawks confidence… but not tonight.

16:27 – Walker’s shot was blocked but managed to poke it towards McLaren (2) assists Walker and Hotson.

Period 3

6:28 – King spent most of the period with 10 min misconduct for losing his mouth guard. Never seen that call before. King’s play has been much improved over the last two nights, but remember your dentist and the WHL officials want to see that mouth guard in the mouth.

7:03 – Aaron McGill local boy gets assaulted by two Saskatoon Blades (John Flatters and Ryan Funk). Both started wailing on a down McGill after he was pushed into the goaltender. Betker and the official Andy Thiessen had to jump on both the players to stop the assault. After the alteration McGill looked like he was OK. In my opinion the Blades got off easy with only and extra 2min of PP time.

Andy’s Three Stars

Swystun (POR), McLaren (POR), Guggenberger (POR)

I would add Tristan King to the list.

— S. Blanchard

Bruins vs. Hawks - Game 11 · Monday October 22, 2007

The Hawks looked like they were going to get their first win of the season with a 3-2 lead into the final period, but the Chilliwack Bruins scored two goals, one each by Michael Proudley and Colby Kulhanek in the first 3:30 of the third period to skate away with a 4-3 win.

Sunday nights game came with a small but enthusiastic crowd looking for the Hawks first Home win. It’s hard to not be negative about a team that can’t hold a lead and does not come back when down in the scoring column. But on the positives the team showed no quit, Sceviour’s goal in the second period was a real beauty that could make any highlight screen.

As a fan I found this one of the most entertaining games of the year. The Bruins wanted to go up and down the ice, the young Hawks where right with them, and the officials did not call many penalties.

Attendance: 2281
MC

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Bruins	1	1	2	4
Hawks	0	3	0	3

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Bruins	12	19	7	38
Hawks	4	9	10	23

Game Notes:

Here are some of the highlights.

Period 1

Hawks came out of the box slow with only 4 shots on goal compared to the Bruins 12 and gave up an easy goal on a mistake by White in goal.

4:02 – Goaltender White got caught out of the goal mouth making it an easy score for Proudley (3) assists Moller and Santorelli.

Period 2

This is one of the best periods of the year for the Hawks.

1:55 – Goal of the year: Sceviour (1) jukes into the goal area then goes one-on-one with Esposito assists Swystun and Sjodin

6:03 – Another nice goal by the Hawks with a nice pass floor-check turnover by King behind the net that created a centering pass to Betker (1) for the Chilliwack natives first goal of the season.

7:02 – Moller hits the post, breaks his stick, gets another stick, finds the puck and screams it passed White off his glove hand to tie the game at 2-2 Moller (10).

14:41 – The Hawks break their PP streak with Swystun (5) goal assists King and Sceviour

14:43 – McCue/McLaren 2 – McLaren got in some nice shots in on McCue for the second scrap of the year. Give McLaren the edge and a 2-0 year advantage.

Period 3

1:57- Another early goal from Proudley (4) assists Potter and Campos.

3:30 – Bad turnover behind the net created by Proudley that feed Kulhanek (7) camping out in the front the net. White had no chance to stop this goal.

Pulled White with 1:57 in the period and created a torrid of activity in the Bruins in but could not get the tying goal.

Andy’s Three Stars

Proudley (CHK), Sceviour (POR), Swystun (POR)

Hit of the game: Portland’s Gabriel on Smuk. Clean centered hit chest high at mid-ice. Best hit of the year.

— S. Blanchard

Opening Nite (Giants vs. Hawks) - Game 1 · Sunday September 23, 2007

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Giants	2	2	2	6
Hawks	1	1	0	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Giants	17	16	11	44
Hawks	8	5	6	19

Game Report

Game Notes:

Yes it is the start of the season where optimism rules the day and hope springs eternal.

Unfortunately, Portland had to start the season against the defending Memorial Cup champions, the Vancouver Giants. Who still are viewed as one of the top teams in the league. Vancouver has the talent combined with an effective coaching staff that have created a cohesive group that consistently out works, out plays and out scores their opponents. No change tonight, in many ways this was similar many last years Port/Van encounters.

Even with Vancouver’s dominance there is still reason for optimism. From my seat, Portland did show improvement over last year’s team in the following areas:

Speed on the front line:

New additions: Radim Valchar (this years European Import Draft pick), Tyler Swynson (trade for Thomas Frazee), and Luke Walker (trading camp walk on whose Dad is former Hawk Gordie Walker) all showed that they can get up and down the ice. Walker was especially impressive with many high speed rushes at Vancouver’s net giving the Hawks multiple dangerous counter attack.

More experienced back line:

This is harder to judge. They are still inexperience and last nite were not playing as a cohesive unit. New addition Panchyson could help and Bo Montgomery for a young defenseman shows great poise

For Vancouver Repik was moving the puck all too well and the Hawks back line was not able to keep Spencer Machacek from camping at the net. Three of Vancouver’s seven goals were caused from out-of-positioned defenseman leaving Vancouver open nets on the far post. The Hawks still need more help on the back line and rumor is that the Hawks will use one of their overage slots to acquire a defenseman.

Depth at Goal tending:

Mucha is a solid goaltender and has been an important part of any success we have had in the last two years. That being said he needs some competition to make him better and not allow the losing of the team to fall heavily on him ever nite. This year the fans will not be as charitable to the team’s losing and Mucha may get some of that fall out. I hope not, Mucha seems to be an outstanding young man that most fans are rooting for every nite.

The Hawks right now have three goalies listed which makes me wonder how impressed they are with NHL draft pick Guggenberger and whether the other goalie White has just impressed more. Either one should give Mucha some help.

Things I saw and liked:

— First goal with Betker and Sokol. Betker working hard on the floor check taking the puck and passing to a streaking Sokol for a goal.

— Sjodin with his typical big hit of the nite, some very nice passing in traffic and the first that I can remember Sjodin in a fight.

— Colton Sceviour healthy moving up and down the ice.

— The refs did not call a lot of technical interference and holding calls with few power plays as a result. Just let’em play.

Things I saw and didn’t like:

— Where was Fraser McLaren in that game? My first thought was that there was some bad residue from coming back from San Jose to early that he hadn’t shook off yet.

— Ty Ariss getting major penalty for back checking. Didn’t think it warranted the major but didn’t have a good visual angle on the play. Either way that was the start of a bad run for the Hawks.

Kemper’s Three Stars:

Repik (Van), Machacek (Van), Swynson (Port)

My Son’s Portland Three Stars:

Betker, Sjodin, Mucha

— S. Blanchard

Hawk's Problems Point to 2003 Bantam Draft · Wednesday June 20, 2007

After reviewing the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Bantam draft it is clear why the Portland Winter Hawks are having trouble putting together a competitive team. 2003 was a disastrous year for Hawk draft picks starting with their number 1 pick 10th overall forward Sasha Golin.

Golin as a right winger/centerman showed promise in 05-06 with 10 goals, 18 assists, in 68 games, but dropped off the map in 06-07 with only 1 goal, 6 assists in 39 games. The Hawks lost faith in Golin’s upside and moved to 5th round pick Matt Schmermund acquired in a straight up trade with Kamloops.

After round one it got worse for the Hawks proceeding to get nothing from their 2nd round highly rated D-man Eric Gryba who recently signed with Boston U and their 3rd round pick Rhett Rakhshani, a top forward making an impact at the U of Denver. Both chose collegiate hockey over Major Juniors and both are highly regarded by NHL scouts.

Without Michael Sauer a 4th round bantam pick, they would be left with no impact players in the draft. But the 06-07 season was so bad that they quickly dumped their older players with any value leaving the franchise to flounder with a truly developmental team of mostly untested 16, 17, and 18 year olds.

As part of the “ look to future/get younger movement” Sauer was traded to Medicine Hat at the end of 2007 season for two 16-year-old D-man prospects in Patrick Weircoich (a 2005 2nd round draft pick) and Lee Morrow (a 2005 9th round draft pick).

To date Patrick Weircoich is keeping his options open playing for the Junior A Burnaby Express in the BCHL, but this seems more and more like a kid that that is not sure whether the WHL is for him. He also may go the way of Gryba, Rakhshani, and Knelson to the US college route.

You only have to look at the success of the 2003 bantam draft to find out who is at the top and bottom of the US division in 06-07. Everett drafts and signs: Zack Hamill, Peter Mueller, Brady Calla and Leland Irving. Portland drafts Sasha Golin, Erick Gryba, Justin Mazurek and Rhett Rakhshani and signs only Golin and Mazurek.

2003 (Today’s 19 year olds)

Round	Player	Status
1st Rd #5	Sasha Golin	Low impact player traded for Matt Schmermund a 5th rounder
2nd Rd #23	Eric Gryba	Highly rated D-man who signed with Boston U, a 3rd round pick of the Ottawa Senators
3rd Rd #33	Justin Mazurek	Low impact player that played some for the Hawks and was traded; now on the Gatineau Olympiques [QMJHL] roster
3rd Rd # 49	Rhett Rakhshani	Top forward making an impact at the U Denver; 4rd pick of the New York Islander
4th Rd # 63	Justin Favreau	D-man who played for Nanaimo Clippers [BCHL] in 06-07
5th Rd # 49	Michael Sauer	Top D-man played for Portland and traded to Medicine Hat near the end of the 06-07 season for two 16 year old D-man Brent Ponich and Lee Morrow; 2nd rd pick for the New York Rangers
6th Rd # 103	Kelly Friesen	Low impact player played for the Hawks said to retire from the WHL injured
7th Rd # 103	Cameron Cepek	Starting D-man for the Hawks on a poor defensive team. Injured most of the 06 season, played 49 games in 07. Picked by the Oil Cans in the expansion draft.

Red indicates players on the current roster.

All in all 2002 was a much better draft for the Hawks with Brandan Dubinsky, Fraser McLaren, and Dustin Butler all proven WHL players and if Dubinsky would have stayed in the league as a 20 year old he would have been considered one of the top 5 forwards in the league.

2002 Draft (Today’s 20 year olds)

Round	Player	Status
2nd Rd #32	Fraser McLaren	Hawks’s top-line forward; part of a multiplayer deal for Travis Erdhardt
3nd Rd #51	Kevin Tipper	Traded to Prince Albert for Garth Collins then ended up with the Junior A Burnaby Express
4nd Rd #70	Rick Lecuyer	D-Man with the Junior A Winkler Flyers
5th Rd # 88	Brandon Dubinsky	Impact player who move on to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) with a 6 game stay with the New York Rangers
5th Rd # 89	Dustin Butler	Starting Goalie for Kamloop Blazers

The book is not yet written on the class of 2004 crop of 18 year olds but there does seem to be some hopeful early signs with Colton Sceviour who could be the most talented player in the group that shown in 2006 that he could make a difference if he can stay healthy. Kurtis Mucha with a fantastic season as a 16 year old, playing on the worst defensive team in the league as a 17 year old, hopefully will contributed positively to his development as an 18 year old.

2004 Draft (Today’s 18 year olds)

Round	Player	Status
1st Rd #10	Colton Sceviour	Hawks’s top-line forward for upcoming season; part of a multiplayer trade to acquire Travis Bobbee, Ryan Kerr, Jacob and Nick Dietrich
2nd Rd #25	Kurtis Mucha	Top 17 year old goalie in the league. Put up poor numbers on the worst overall defensive team in the league
3rd Rd #45	Trevor Verwolf	D-man played for the Langley Chiefs [BCHL]
4th Rd # 70	Lewis Laczko	Top D-man for Midget AAA Prince Albert Mintos
4th Rd # 73	Dion Knelson	Signed with the U of Alaska to play with his brother.
5th Rd #85	Jacob Verheyden	Forward for the Merritt Centennials [BCHL], 41 games played with 3 pts.
6th Rd #110	Aaron Lewadniuk	Traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings in exchange for a 6th round choice in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft that turns into a 4th round choice if he play in the 07 season.
7th Rd #130	Lucas Alexiuk	Starting D-man as a 17 year old on a poor defensive team. Could develop into a solid back line player; part of a multiplayer trade to acquire Travis Bobbee, Ryan Kerr, Jacob and Nick Dietrich
7th Rd # 170	Matt Betker	Scrappy forward with potential to be a solid role player

Dion Knelson is the little fish that has turned into a big fish that got away to the U of Alaska along with his older brother Brandon. He is just what the Winter Hawks need today a smart, quick, young, gifted scorer. He was the second leading scorer with the Drumheller Dragons with 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 28 games. At the U of Alaska was voted top rookie and earned “honorable mention” honors for the CCHA All Rookie Team.

According to NHL Prospects, on the NHL Central Scouting’s “Players to Watch” listing, Dion Knelsen is one of four collegians listed as an “A” player, meaning that he is one of the top players eligible for the 2007 NHL draft.

— S. Blanchard

US Divisional News · Friday January 18, 2008

— S. Blanchard