Portland, OR. – The Portland Winterhawks, proud members of the Western Hockey League, announced today that the club has added forwards Cross Hanas, Jack O’Brien and James Stefan and defenseman Clay Hanus to the team’s active roster for the remainder of the 2020-21 WHL Regular Season.

The four completed their season with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) and are expected to make their season debuts with Portland in the coming days.

Hanas, a 2020 second round selection of the Detroit Red Wings (55th overall), registered three goals and 13 assists (3-13–16) in 27 games for the Stars.  Last season the Texas native finished third among all Winterhawks with 22 goals.

O’Brien (1-6–7 in 23 games) and Stefan (10-17–27 in 40 games) are first-year eligible players for this summer’s NHL Entry Draft and have three years of remaining eligibility with Portland.  O’Brien was recently ranked the 94th best prospect on TSN’s midseason draft list.

Hanus paced all Lincoln defensemen with 27 points (7-20–27) through 36 games. The 20-year-old will conclude his junior hockey career after the 2021-22 season where it all began after etching 27 points in both of his previous two seasons with the team.

The four are eligible to play up to six games with the Winterhawks prior to the conclusion of the team’s season on May 11 and they are expected to play a key role in Portland for the 2021-22 season.