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Hawks vs. T-Birds - Game 71 · Sunday March 16, 2008

For the Seattle Thunderbirds it was the Bud Holloway show… again, this season scoring 13 goals in 11 games against the Portland Winter Hawks and leading the T-Birds to a 8-2 win.

The T-Birds didn’t take long to get on the board with a goal by Lindsay Nielsen 33 seconds into the first period. Nielsen collected the puck off of the pads of Portland goaltender Kurtis Mucha and fired a shot over Mucha’s stick into the goal for a 1-0 lead. Greg Scott and Bud Holloway had the assists.

Seattle took a 2-0 lead when Brad Haber registered his first WHL goal at the 6:00 mark of the first. Haber launched a slapshot from just inside the blue line that zipped over Mucha’s glove and into the back of the net for an unassisted marker.

Portland scored at 18:18 of the first to make the score 2-1. Jacob Dietrich had the goal and Matt Schmermund with Radim Valchar had the assists.

Holloway capped the first period scoring for Seattle when he scored his 40th goal of the season at 19:47. Holloway found himself free in the slot where he took advantage of a pinpoint pass from Scott and beat a sprawling Mucha for the 3-1 advantage. Brenden Dillon had the second assist.

The T-Birds added to their lead with Holloway’s second goal of the night at 8:52 of the second period. Holloway looped through the left circle with the puck and skated into the slot firing a wrist shot behind Mucha to put Seattle ahead 4-1. Nielsen and rookie Erik Fleming were credited with the assists.

Seattle scored on their first power-play opportunity of the night to take a 5-1 advantage.

Ian McKenzie scored the marker when he beat Mucha five-hole for his 19th goal of the season. Scott Jackson and Fleming provided the assists for the T- Birds. Jackson had the second assist for Seattle.

Portland scored their second goal of the game at 7:51 of the third period. Daniel Johnston registered the goal with Valchar and Schmermund providing the assists.

Holloway scored at 4:21 of the third period to complete the hat trick. Scott made a perfect pass from the goal line to Holloway crashing the slot and he finished with a one-time shot past Mucha’s stick to make the score 6-2. Jackson provided the second assist.

Jeremy Boyer joined in on the action when he scored at 9:35 of the third to make the score 7-2. Boyer took advantage of a puck that Mucha mishandled in front of the crease as he planted the loose puck into the net for his 16th goal of the season. Ian McKenzie had the lone assist.

Jim O’Brien capped the scoring outburst with a goal at 12:04 of the third. O’Brien skated down the boards and into the zone, he then crossed in front of the slot and placed the puck over Mucha’s right shoulder for the 8-2 lead. Jeremy Schappert and goalie Riku Helenius had the assists.

The Winter Hawks outshot the T-Birds 10-9 in the third period, but Seattle held the advantage 30-24 for the game.

Attendance: 5773
Key Arena – Seattle, WA.

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
T-Birds	3	2	3	8
Hawks	1	0	1	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
T-Birds	12	9	9	30
Hawks	7	7	10	24

Three Stars

Holloway (SEA), Scott (SEA), Fleming (SEA)

Fight Card

Walker/Ols0n

Gabriel/Acolatse

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Americans - Game 69 · Monday March 10, 2008

After a five-minute major penalty late in the second period, the Tri City Americans scored twice and skated away to a 6-2 win over the Portland Winter Hawks.

Taylor Procyshen and Colton Yellow Horn scored power play goals just 36 seconds apart late in the second period to double a 2-1 Americans lead to 4-1 entering the second intermission. Both Procyshen (2 g, 1 a) and Yellow Horn (1 g, 2 a) had three point nights for Tri City. Brett Plouffe, Mitch McColm and Adam Hughesman also scored for Tri City, while Jason Reese and Blair Macauley each chipped in two assists.

Portland got an even-strength goal from Luke Walker in the first period, set up by Travis Ehrhardt and Colin Reddin, and then a four-on-four goal from Ehrhardt in the third period with assists to Jacob Dietrich and Matt Schmermund.

Jordan White went the distance in net for Portland, stopped 38 of 44 shots on the night while Trii City split their duties between Chet Pickard (7 saves on 8 shots) and Kyle Birch (12 saves on 13 shots).

On special teams, Tri City went 2 for 5 on the power play while Portland finished 0 for 3.

Attendance: 5122
Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA.

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Americans	14	16	14	44
Hawks	5	2	14	21

Three Stars

Procyshen (TRI), Yellow Horn (TRI), McColm (TRI)

Fight Card

None.

— S. Blanchard

T-Birds vs. Hawks - Game 68 · Sunday March 9, 2008

On Memorial Cup Championship reunion night it felt like game seven of the 98 championship game 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.

Seattle got goals from Thomas Hickey, Prab Rai and David Richard. Hickey added two assists for a three point night.

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. Jacob Deserres stopped 33 of 37 shots in the loss for Seattle.

On special teams, Portland finished the night 2 for 8 on the power play while Seattle went 1 for 7 with a short-handed goal against.

Next up, the Hawks will travel to Tri City to take on the Americans at 5:00 on Sunday night.

Attendance: 8115
MC, Portland, Or.

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
T-Birds	1	0	2	3
Hawks	1	2	1	4

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
T-Birds	7	9	28	44
Hawks	15	17	5	37

Three Stars

Dietrich (POR), Ehrhardt (POR), Mucha (POR)

Fight Card

None.

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Giants - Game 62 · Saturday February 23, 2008

The Portland Winter Hawks posted there 17th straight loss to the Vancouver Giants with a final score of 3-2.

The Hawks with great goaltending by Jordan White and some early scoring by Jacob Dietrick and Luke Walker took a 2-1 lead all the way into the third period. But with seven minutes to go Brent Regner’s shot from the left point slipped through the pads of White to provide the game winner.

The Hawks were a focused group that started the game well and gave Vancouver time to pause. More game effort like this will put the Hawks back in the win category. This is first time since December 29th, 2007 that the Hawks even had a lead.

Jonathan Blum and Casey Pierro-Zabotel each had a goal and an assist for Vancouver.

The Hawks finished the night 1 for 4 on the power play while Vancouver went 2 for 8 with a short-handed goal against.

Next up Seattle on the road.

Attendance: 7681
Pacific Coliseum- Vancouver, BC

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Giants	16	20	19	55
Hawks	14	5	4	23

Three Stars

White (POR), BLum (VAN), Pierro-Zabotel (VAN)

Fight Card

None.

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Americans - Game 59 · Monday February 11, 2008

Portland Winter Hawks gave the Americans a game in the first two periods until Tri-Cities slammed the door with three goals in the third, final score 7-3.

Taylor Procyshen scored a pair of goals and the Tri-City Americans won their seventh straight with a 7-3 Western Hockey League victory over Portland, moving the Americans four points ahead of rival Spokane in the U.S. Division and Western Conference standings.

Quoted from the Mid Columbia Tri City Herald:

“You can’t expect us to be good every night,” said Americans coach Don Nachbaur. “We poured a lot into last night’s game (7-2 win over Spokane). We did enough to get by tonight, and we ended up on the right side of the scoreboard.”

“The last time we had a chance to go up on Spokane, we lost to Portland,” said Americans captain T.J. Fast, who finished with three assists. “This time we came out, played hard and came out with the win. The guys have been making it easy on themselves, knowing their roles and playing to their strengths. It makes it easy on all of us and has made us successful”

Shaun Vey (1-2-3) and T.J. Fast (0-3-3) each had three point nights for the Americans while Taylor Procyshen chipped in two goals. Radek Meidl, Colton Yellow Horn and Johnny Lazo also added goals.

Portland got a two point game from rookie forward Nick Dietrich, including his first career WHL goal, to get Portland back into the game in the second period, after falling behind 3-0. Dietrich’s tip in goal off of a Keith Voytechek feed made it 3-1 and less than two minutes later Dietrich set up Travis Bobbee for a partial breakaway that Bobbee finished with a backhand over the blocker of Kyle Birch.

Tri City made it 4-2 before the end of the second period, and then added another before Matt Schmermund scored on a power-play wrist shot to make it 5-3. The Americans would add two more to round out the scoring in the final period.

Next up Tri City on the road.

Attendance: 3805
Toyota Center – Kennewick, Wa.

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Americans	2	2	3	7
Hawks	0	2	1	3

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Americans	17	16	12	45
Hawks	7	7	4	18

Three Stars

Fast (TRI), Procyshen (TRI), Macaulay (TRI)

Fight Card

None.

— S. Blanchard

Giants vs. Hawks - Game 56 · Thursday February 7, 2008

Portland Winter Hawks continue their losing streak at 11 with a lack luster, uninspired performance.

The 7-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants is nothing new, with earlier losses to the Giants of 6-2 and 6-1.

The team came out with no emotion and from the stands it looked like they could not wait to lay down, roll over and play dead; hoping that the Giants would have pity on them and not run the score up into double digits.

I could see a deep confusion, lack of confidence and apathy setting in. This is the worst of all worlds. A team that will not win without effort and for most of period 1 and 2 effort was sporadic.

Period 3 did show at times they could play an aggressive, physical style of hockey but they could not sustain it for longer than a few minutes.

It seems that fear has taken over the team: Fear of making mistakes, playing physical, taking penalties and losing again.

There were some positives:

- Jacob Dietrich provided a nice up ice rush and scored his 13th of the year.

-Tristan Kings provided a skillful and exciting penalty shot goal beating the Giants Tyson Sexsmith.

Here is some stats:

Spencer Machacek (27, 28) lead the way scoring twice and adding three assists. Mario Bliznak (10, 11) with two goals and an assist. James Henry (4), Evander Kane (19) and Garet Hunt (4) each had single goals. Henry added an assist for a two point night.

Kurtis Mucha Portland’s goalie stayed busy stopping 53 of 60 shots in the loss. Tyson Sexsmith stopped 13 of 15 in net for Vancouver.

The Giants finished the night 1 for 7 on the power play while Portland went 0 for 6.

Next up at home Tri City.

Attendance: 2234
MC – Portland, Or.

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Giants	3	2	2	7
Hawks	1	0	1	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Giants	22	17	21	60
Hawks	5	4	6	15

Three Stars

Cloud (VAN), Bliznak (VAN), King (POR)

Fight Card

Gabriel/Hunt – Gabriel instigating against Hunt after a aggressive check, in defense of a team mate

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Silvertips - Game 46 · Saturday January 19, 2008

It was the Kurtis Mucha show again tonight in Everett until 3:20 in overtime when Dan Gendur knocked home a rebound to give the Silvertips a 2-1 win over the Portland Winter Hawks.

Mucha stopped 38 of 40 shots on the night for Portland while his counterpart Shayne Barrie handled 28 of 29 for the Silvertips.

Everett took the 1-0 lead in the second period when Clayton Bauer shot from the left circle went through a screen and just inside the post.

In the third period, Portland tied the score when Jason Grecica and Keith Voytechek won a board battle and Voytechek found Jacob Dietrich coming into the zone off the bench.

In overtime, Jonathan Harty found Graham Potuer at the point and his entry shot got through to Mucha, but the pad rebound bounced right to Gendur and he filed it for the winner.

Neither team could generate a power play goal in the game as Portland went 0 for 3 and Everett 0 for 2.

No win tonight but a nice effort.

Next up Seattle at home.

Attendance: 6071
Comcast Arena

SCORING	1	2	3	OT	Total
Silvertips	0	1	0	1	2
Hawks	0	0	1	0	1

SHOTS	1	2	3	OT	Total
Silvertips	14	7	15	4	40
Hawks	8	11	9	1	29

Three Stars

Barrie (EVT), Mucha (POR), Gendur (EVT)

Fight Card

No fights tonight.

— S. Blanchard

Hawks vs. Cougars - Game 45 · Thursday January 17, 2008

Radim Valchar and Kurtis Mucha carried the Portland Winter Hawks to a come from behind 3-2 win over the Prince George Cougars.

Radim Valchar scored the tying goal in the third period and then scored the lone goal of the shoot-out. Goaltender Kurtis Mucha was solid as usual giving up two power play goals in the first an then shutting down the Cougars the rest of the way.

The win was the first in four games and broke a 13 game road losing streak. It was also the first shootout overtime win and the second win against any opponent.

The Cougars battled hard to the net in the first period, forging a 2-0 lead on a pair of power-play goals by Justin Maylan,

Portland got back within a goal in the second period when Chris Francis snapped home a shot from the circle on a 5 on 3 power play, set up by Travis Ehrhardt and Jacob Dietrich.

The Hawks evened the score early in the third period when Valchar found a rebound of a Scott Gabriel entry shot and filed it into the open net just 1:17 in the final period. Tyler Swystun also added an assist on the play.

Here are some quotes published in the Prince George Citizen:

“I thought we stopped going to the net,” was the blunt assessment of Cougars assistant coach Wade Klippenstein one night after the Cats (14-29-1-1) ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Hawks (9-35-0-1).

“We took some penalties, and (in the second period) we got a bad break when one of our guys shot the puck over the glass and it put us down two players. Their guy made a great shot to score, but we had chances to score in overtime.”

But at CN Centre, the first period was the only one in which Portland goaltender Kurtis Mucha would allow a puck to get behind him. The 18-year-old, who some call the best goaltender in the league in large part because of the heavy workload he handles backing the league’s weakest team, finished with 26 saves, none bigger than the rash of chances he turned aside in overtime.

“We had to find a way to get it done,” said Portland coach Richard Kromm, the former NHL player whose club won for just the third time in 21 road contests.

“We showed determination and Mucha was very good for us. He’s been steady all year. We haven’t been good defensively in front of him on most nights, and we’re starting to build. This is a young team and you’re going to see mistakes, and we have to stay patient. That can be tough for him.”

Next up Everett away.

Attendance: 2414
CN Centre

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	OT	SO	Total
Cougars	13	4	7	4	0	28
Hawks	6	11	9	2	1	29

Three Stars

Maylan (PG), Gardner (PG), Ehrhardt (POR)

Fight Card

Walker/Kowalski – didn’t hear it.

Gabriel/Riege – A few good blows in this one.

Edge to Gabriel

— S. Blanchard

Hawk's Problems Point to 2003 Bantam Draft (Rev) · Tuesday January 15, 2008

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 too 5th round pick Matt Schmermund acquired in a straight up trade with Kamloops.

Update: Golin as a 20 year old was not on the Kamloops roster.

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.

Note: 1/29/08 Reported that defenseman Patrick Wiercioch will play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin

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-men Patrick Weircoich and Lee Morrow; Sauer was a 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 Brandon 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 and is now an up and coming star 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

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

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

SHOTS	0	2	0	Total
Chiefs	12	8	15	35
Hawks	11	14	8	33

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

Tbirds vs. Hawks - Game 38 · Wednesday January 2, 2008

The Hawks could not recover from a 2 goal deficit in the first giving the Tbirds a final 6-3 win at the MC. The Tbirds closed out the year with another win over the Hawks.

“Tonight we were right there,” coach Rich Kromm said. “A couple of mistakes and a couple of selfish penalties cost us.”

“We’ve got to look at the new year as a clean slate,” he said. “With what we’ve got here we feel confident we can do some damage.”

Seattle jumped out to an early lead with goals from Jan Eberle and Ian McKenzie in the games opening 11 minutes.

Radim Valchar cut the lead in half with a top-shelf goal on a power play at the 15:30 mark of the first period, highlighting another strong showing from him and his line mates, Matt Schmermund and Jacob Dietrich. With their aggressive skating and checking, the three were at the heart of numerous scoring opportunities.

Chris Francis scored Portland’s second goal unassisted 2:13 into the third period. After out shooting Seattle 14-8 in the first period, Portland was outshot 32-22 in the final two periods.

Kurtis Mucha stopped 34 of 39 shots in net for Portland while Jacob DeSerres stopped 32 of 36 Portland shots for Seattle.

Portland finished the night 2 for 4 on the power play while Seattle went 1 for 3.

Next up Everett at home.

Attendance: 6762
Memorial Coliseum

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	8	17	15	40
Hawks	14	12	10	36

Hawks Box Score

Radim Valchar (5) 1G
Chris Francis (7) 1G
Kevin Undershute (6) 1G
Schmermund, Swystun, Walker, Ehrhardt, Bobbee and Montgomery 1A

Tbirds Box Score

Bud Holloway (17) 2G
Ian McKenzie (9) 1G, 1A
Jan Eberle (5) 1G, 1A
Scott Jackson (3) 1G
David Richard (4) 1G
Rai, O’Brien, Nielsen and Olson 1A

Kemper’s Three Stars

Eberle (SEA), Valchar (POR), McKenzie (SEA)

Fight Card

Dietrich/Rai – No comment.

King/Boyer – First fight I have seen from King. A lot of wrestling not much fighting.

— S. Blanchard

Americans vs. Hawks - Game 37 · Monday December 31, 2007

The Hawks scored first, put together some team defense and limit the Americans to only 38 shots for a 2-1 win at home.

Jacob Dietrich’s goal at 5:58 of the second period was a real beauty started off a pass from Radim Valchar, a break alone to the goal, deek to the right, and put it past goalie Chet Pickard on the left.

Tri-City defenseman T.J. Fast evened the score in the second period with a power-play goal at 4:28.

Colton Yellow Horn assisted on Fast’s goal, giving him 300 career points and extended his point steak to a WHL-leading 19 games.

Portland goalie Kurtis Mucha finished with 37 saves as the Winter Hawks (7-29-0-1) broke a three-game losing streak.

The Hawk back line missing (Kerr, Morrow, and Gabriel) were much better tonight. Travis Bobbee was a cool customer putting together the connecting backline pass after pass keeping the American from camping out in our zone. Bobbee deserved a star and showing why skilled nimble backline players like Bobbee and Ehrardt can make a big difference for the future Hawks.

Next up Seattle at home.

Attendance: 3492
Memorial Coliseum

SCORING	1	2	3	Total
Americans	0	1	0	1
Hawks	1	1	0	2

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Americans	8	13	17	38
Hawks	19	9	6	34

Hawks Box Score

Jason Grecica (2) 1G
Jacob Dietrich (5) 1G
Walker, King, Valchar and Montgomery 1A

Warriors Box Score

T.J. Fast (5) 1G, 1A
Yellow Horn and Reese 1A

Kemper’s Three Stars

Mucha (POR), Detrich (POR), Fast (TRI)

Fight Card

No fights tonight…just a win.

— S. Blanchard

Warriors vs. Hawks - Game 36 · Saturday December 29, 2007

The Hawks after a 3-0 goal lead at 1:47 in the second period disappeared in the next 38 minutes to give back the 3 plus 1 for a final 4-3 loss. In the final 2 periods the Hawks could muster only 11 shots giving up 36.

As the Moose Jaw Herald states:

When a team pours as many shots as the Moose Jaw Warriors did against the Portland Winter Hawks, it’s almost a matter of time before they start going in.

The Hawk back line missing (Kerr, Morrow, and Gabriel) were worked over all night. Bo Montgomery who spent the first 5 minutes in the PB could have just as well spent the rest of the night there. He Ponich and Bobbee, look like deer frozen in head lights watching as the Warriors skate bye.

To find something positive: the Hawks played a good first period looked dangerous on multiple opportunities…Mucha was outstanding all night.

Next up Tri-City at home.

Attendance: 3603
Memorial Coliseum

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Warriors	22	15	21	58
Hawks	13	6	5	24

Hawks Box Score

Jacob Dietrick (8) 1G
Radim Vachar (4) 1G 1A
Luke Walker (4) 1G
Schmermund, McGill, King and Francis 1A

Warriors Box Score

Brett Ward (2) 1G, 1A
Ryley Grantham (4) 1G
Jordan Knackstedt (20) 2G,
Jason Bast 3A
McLaren, Broda, Delaronde and Ward 1A

Kemper’s Three Stars

Knackstedt (MJ), Bast (MJ), Mucha (POR)

Fight Card

Montgomery/Knackstedt – First period check from behind by Knackstedt set Montgomery off that put both in the PB. Montgomery held his own but not many shots landed by both.

Valchar/Broda – Broda instigator after Valchar check from behind. Broda keep Valchar’s jersey over his head for most of the fight.

— S. Blanchard

Comment [1]

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

Game Summary

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 vs. Silvertips - Game 34 · Sunday December 16, 2007

The Portland Winter Hawks were out dueled by the Everett Silvertips 4-3 at the Comcast Arena at the Everett Events Center. In the back-and-forth battle, Clayton Bauer scored the game winner on a late power play to claim the victory.

Portland got two goals from Jacob Dietrich and a single marker from Tyler Swystun. Swystun’s goal was scored on a 5 on 3 two-man advantage. Travis Ehrhardt had two assists for Portland.

Leland Irving stopped 23 of 26 Portland shots in the win while Kurtis Mucha stopped 21 of 25 in the Hawks net.

Portland went 1 for 6 on the power play while Everett went 1 for 7.

Without the win, still a competitive performance by the Hawks coming off a 3-1 win over Swift Current. The Hawks expectation quota is rising game by game along with its confidence.

Next up Everett at home.

Attendance: 6657
Comcast Arena

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Silvertips	7	8	10	26
Hawks	12	9	5	43

Hawks Box Score

Jacob Dietrick (6) 2G
Tyler Swystun (11) 1G
Travis Ehrhardt 2A
Matt Schmermund 1A

Silvertips Box Score

Dan Gendur (8) 1G, 1A
Vitaly Karamnov (6) 1G, 1A
Clayton Bauer (10) 1G
Jordan Mistelbacher (4) 1G
Jesse Burt 1A
Dane Crowley 1A
Matt Ius 1A

Game Description

Game Summary

Everett Three Stars

Gendur (EVT), Dietrich (POR), Burt (EVT)

Fight Card

No fights tonight…all business.

— 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

Rockets vs. Hawks - Game 22 · Monday November 19, 2007

The Kelowna Rockets outworked the Portland Winter Hawks for 2 of the 3 periods employing a relentless fore-check. After Long’s (9) goal late in the first period to take a 2-1 lead, the Rockets intensified the fore-check even more and by the 3rd period the Hawks didn’t seemed to have much fight left.

For the Rockets, Jamie Benn and Colin Long each had 1 goal and 2 assists and Lucas Bloodoff and Luke Schenn tallied single markers.

For the Hawks, Tyler Swystun took an end-board pass from Keith Voytechek and beat Rocket goaltender Torrie Jung to the stick side to tie the score at 1-1.

The Hawks could have tied it after Luke Walker was hauled down on a shorthanded breakaway. Walker tried to back hand the shot but missed the penalty wide to the right.

This game is one step back from Saturday’s game effort. The new guys Jacob Dietrich (no show), Ryan Kerr (didn’t notice that he was even there), Travis Ehrhardt (postive backend play), Keith Voytechek (nice pass to Swystun for the only goal of the game), Jason Grecica (must of lost his edge at least five time in that game), Riley Boychuk looked slow (it is now reported that he may have re-injured his groin).

For the Hawks, Jordan White put on an outstanding performance in goal making multiple first class saves in the game stopping 34 of 38 shots. Of the goals allowed only the Schenn goal he had any chance to save. It look like his view of the shot was blocked.

Next up Tuesday the Regina, Pats here for the only appears of the season.

Attendance: 3953
Memorial Colisiem

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Rockets	9	20	9	38
Hawks	11	9	7	27

Kemper’s Three Stars

Benn (KEL), Long (KEL), Schenn (KEL)

Fight Card

No fights tonight

— 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

Hawks vs. Tbirds - Game 19 · Monday November 12, 2007

Bud Holloway scored two second period goals to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 3-1 victory. The Tbirds out-shot the Winter Hawks by a margin of 56-15, with Kurtis Mucha stopping 53 shots.

Chris Francis scored Portland’s lone goal, the first of the game, early in the second period off assists from Tyler Swystun and newcomer Keith Voytechek.

This was the debut game for six new players: Travis Ehrhardt, Ryan Kerr, Travis Bobbe, Jacob Dietrich, Nick Dietrich, Jason Grecica and Keith Voytechek.

Travis Ehrhardt impressed the coaching staff with his skating ability making the good first pass out of the defensive zone and running the power play. Kerr impressed as a solid stay home defenseman.

Overall without even a single practice with the new players before they stepped on the ice, play was justifiably rough and and out of sync. Next stop Tri-Cities.

Attendance: 4582
Key Arena

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

SHOTS	1	2	3	Total
Tbirds	13	26	17	56
Hawks	2	6	7	15

SEA’s Three Stars

McKenzie (SEA), Holloway (SEA), Rai (SEA)

— S. Blanchard

US Divisional News · Friday January 18, 2008

— S. Blanchard