Winterhawks clinch berth in 2024 WHL Playoffs
The Portland Winterhawks officially clinched a berth in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with their 8-3 win over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday night. Standing at 37-13-2-1 on the season, the Winterhawks have now qualified for the WHL Playoffs in 13 consecutive campaigns and will chase their fourth Ed Chynoweth Cup beginning this spring.
Currently leading the Western Conference with 77 points, Portland once again has high hopes for challenging for another championship. The 2024 WHL Playoffs are expected to begin one week after the conclusion of the regular season during the weekend of March 29 – 31.
Led by second-year captain Gabe Klassen, the Winterhawks rank first in WHL scoring and boast a handful of players who have already set career bests. Klassen, 20, sits top five in WHL scoring with 90 points, shattering his previous career high of 69 points in 64 games. The Prince Albert, Sask. native was named a 2022-23 U.S. First Team All-Star and has a chance to repeat that honor again in 2024. His linemates James Stefan (39 goals) and Josh Davies (31 goals) both sit top ten in league scoring thanks to career-best performances in the Rose City. In their final years of junior eligibility, Klassen and Stefan each have a chance to crack the Winterhawks’ top 20 scorers of all time.
Portland boasts a bounty of talent outside of their top-scoring line starting with recently acquired Detroit Red Wings first-round selection Nate Danielson. Players like first-year NHL Draft eligible forward Diego Buttazzoni have benefited on this talented lineup, quadrupling his goal totals from his rookie campaign, and ten Winterhawks have already surpassed double-digit goal scoring this year.
Defensively, San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni leads all WHL defensemen with 55 assists and 67 points. Cagnoni, 19, ranks top ten in Winterhawks’ all-time goals, assists, and points among defensemen. Newcomer Tyson Jugnauth has scored 27 points in his first 25 games in Portland, pinning him second in WHL rookie scoring among defensemen. Fellow NHL-drafted defenseman Carter Sotheran remains steady with his second consecutive 20-plus point campaign. The veteran-heavy defensive corps has helped contribute to the Winterhawks’ top-five ranked penalty kill and impressive defensive statistics this year.
Now entering the top 10 in career goals among all-time Winterhawks defensemen…
Luca Cagnoni! 👏 pic.twitter.com/cacQQQ72Lc
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) February 5, 2024
Between the pipes, Jan Špunar has elevated his play to become one of the best, if not the best, netminders in the Canadian Hockey League. Špunar owns a CHL-best 1.77 goals-against-average and .931 save percentage. The Olomouc, CZE native was previously named the WHL Goaltender of the Month in September and October before missing over two months of the year with a lower-body injury. Since his return to the lineup on February 2, the second-year backstop has turned aside 121 of the 129 shots he’s faced. Not to be overlooked, the trio of rookie Luke Brunen and 19-year-olds Justen Maric and Nick Avakyan have solidified the Winterhawks’ position as a contender. Portland has been named to the CHL Top Ten rankings 17 times this season.
Now, the Winterhawks are in a race for U.S. Division and Western Conference titles, as well as home-ice advantage in the WHL Playoffs. Their journey continues on Sunday when the Winterhawks wrap up a three-in-three weekend set in Everett against the Silvertips.
Playoff ticket availability and pricing will be announced in the coming weeks – stay tuned to Winterhawks.com and Winterhawks social channels for more information.
–
The Winterhawks trust Riverside Payments for all of their credit card processing as the team’s official credit card processors.
