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Hawks Top Moments for 07-08 · Friday June 6, 2008

Yes there were some great moments in 07-08, just not many. Thinking back here are a few that still put a smile on my face:

1. Matt Schmermund’s Penalty shot

The last shot of the season that turned out to be one of the top highlights.

After a scoreless overtime with the Spokane Chiefs, it went to 10 shooters, five aside, before Schmermund’s highlight reel goal ended the night and sent the Hawks into the off-season on a happy note. Schmermund’s behind the back deke was an original.

Thinking at the time, Matt showed little offense or flare during the season and why he decided at that critical time to pull off a shot that even Sidney Crosby would have been proud of. It was completely unexpected and it worked, which made it a great moment.

Schmermund was not the only great moment in that game. Kurtis Mucha was outstanding in net, stopping 35 of 37 shots in regulation before stopping all five Spokane shooters in the shoot-out. And there were over 10,000 to see it at the MC.

2. Memorial Cup Reunion Win Against Seattle

On Memorial Cup Championship reunion night it felt like game seven of the 98 championship relived all over again. The MC was rocking and this time it was I-5 rival the Seattle T-Birds. The final score 4-3, ended a ugly 22 game losing streak and 10 straight losses to the T-Birds.

Jacob Dietrich scored twice, once short-handed and one on the power play, to lead the Hawks while they got single goals from Travis Bobbee and 15 year old Tayler Peters in the win. Bobbee’s goal came on the power play. Travis Ehrhardt chipped in two assists.

Kurtis Mucha, who only had to face 16 shots through two periods, was bombarded with 28 in the final period and wound up making 41 saves on 44 shots for the victory.

That night the fans where desperate for a win and the boys did not let the crowd and the attending Memorial Cup champions of the past down.

3. Jordan Whites 68 saves

In Sparta, 300 could stop thousands (for a while), for Jordan White the Portland Winter Hawk goalie his 68 saves must of felt like it.

The end was the same though and the sacrifice was complete with 7 minutes to go in the third period when Bud Holloway caught him out of position to score Seattle’s first goal. This was after White stopped 66 shots.

White was the only one holding off the marauding hordes from Seattle adding to their point totals. It was an heroic effort that put everyone on the edge of their seat and got White the top star and much applause from the crowd.

4. Bowman/Ehrhardt Fight

In game 41 against the Spokane Chiefs with a 4 goal lead and at (16:38) to go in the third period, Travis Ehrhardt had enough of Drayson Bowman and drop the gloves. Bowman obliged which he probably regrets now because Ehrhardt gave him a major ass whuppin. I don’t think Bowman got a shot off. It was one of the most dominant one-sided fights I have seen. Give Bowman credit he didn’t go down right away, but he got pummeled.

The unexpected can be the most enjoyable. I had not noticed Ehrhart in any other fights during the season. I didn’t even know he could fight, but he can and on that night looked like a middle weight contender.

— S. Blanchard

Comment

Hawks vs. Chiefs - Game 70 · Saturday March 15, 2008

The Spokane Chiefs scored on their first three power-play opportunities of the game and doubled up the Portland Winter Hawks by a score of 6-3 on Friday night at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane.

Drayson Bowman scored two power play goals for Spokane while Ondrej Roman chipped in with a goal and two assists to lead the way for the Chiefs. Levko Koper (1 g, 1 a), David Rutherford (1 g, 1 a) and Judd Blackwater (2 a) also had multiple point nights while Justin McCrae added a single goal.

Portland scored twice themselves on the power-play, getting the first goal of the game off a man advantage slapshot from Travis Bobbee, set up by Radim Valchar and Matt Schmermund early in the first period.

After Spokane took a 5-1 lead, Portland rallied with two goals late in the second period to make it 5-3 after two periods. Colin Reddin scored a two-man advantage goal with assists by Travis Ehrhardt and Bobbee, and then Reddin set up Luke Walker for an even-strength goal just over two minutes later. Rookie David Watt added his first career WHL point on the Walker goal.

Jordan White stopped 38 of 44 shots in net for Portland while Kevin Armstrong stopped 22 of 25 in net for Spokane.

The Chiefs finish the night 4 for 8 on the power –play while Portland went 2 for 6.

Attendance: 10259
Memorial Area, Spokane, WA.

Game Description
Summary

Three Stars

Bowman (SPO), Roman (SPO), Rutherford (SPO)

Fight Card

Montgomery/Bruton

— S. Blanchard

Comment

Chiefs vs. Hawks - Game 41 · Saturday January 12, 2008

The Portland Winter Hawks looked like a top tiered team for the first two periods before the Spokane Chiefs turned it on and scored three third period goals on to a 6-2 win.

For the Chiefs, Seth Compton scored twice and added two assists for a four-point, while Jared Spurgeon and Drayson Bowman each had a goal and an assist. Tyler Johnson and Mitch Wahl also scored for the Chiefs. Ondrej Roman chipped in two assists.

Portland got a second period goal from Jacob Dietrich, his seventh goal in his last eight games, to tie the score at 1-1 early in the second period on a tremendous up-ice rush.

After the Chiefs scored twice to make it 3-1, newcomer Phil Gervais notched his first goal as a Winter Hawk scoring on a tip in of a Tyler Swystun set up to make it 3-2 at the end of the second period.

Kevin Armstrong stopped 31 of 33 Portland shots to earn the victory for the Chiefs while Kurtis Mucha stopped 29 of 35 in the loss.

Chiefs went 1 for 3 on the power play while Portland went 0 for 3 with a short-handed goal against.

Next up Everett at home.

Attendance: 3603
Memorial Coliseum

Game Description
Game Summary

Kemper’s Three Stars

Compton (SPO), Spurgeon (SPO), Gervais (POR)

Fight Card

A lot of good fights tonight.

McGill/Donaghy – The openning dance. McGill didn’t seem to get set up for this fight.

Edge to Donaghy.

Kelner/Gabriel – Not really a fight. Kelner jumped Gabriel after Gabriel put the clean big hit of the night on Bowman.

Bowman/Ehrhardt – Ehrhardt what a nice supprise. You just put a major ass whuppin on Bowman. I don’t think Bowman got a shot off. That was one of the most dominant one-sided fights I have seen.

No contest Ehrhardt may have found a new career in fighting after hockey.

Gervais/Donaghy – Donaghy’s second fight of the night. Gervais first game as Hawk.

Slight edge to Donaghy

Ponich/Kelner – Another nice suprise. Kelner didn’t have the advantage of jumping his opponent this time. Ponich showed a clear effective right hand that was decisive.

Edge to Ponich

Grecica/Letts – Not much of fight. A lot of flailing around by Grecica

Edge to Letts

— S. Blanchard

Comment

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

Game Description
Game Summary

Kemper’s Three Stars

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

Fight Card

No fights tonight…all business.

— S. Blanchard

Comment

US Divisional News · Friday January 18, 2008

— S. Blanchard

Comment