Winterhawks Weekly: Historic night highlights Hawks action
A historic night highlighted last week’s action as the Winterhawks inducted four former players – Randy Heath, Cam Neely, Grant Sasser and Ken Yaremchuk – into the club’s Hall of Fame, and retired Neely’s #21 as the first Winterhawks number to hang in the VMC rafters. The Hawks topped Spokane on Tuesday, then fell in a pair of closely fought battles against Seattle on Friday and Saturday.
Portland’s playoff opponent was also solidified over the weekend, as Everett emerged as the #6 seed in the WHL’s Western Conference. The first-round series will start on Friday, March 31, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Looking ahead to the final week of the regular season, the Hawks are on home ice for Fan Appreciation Night against Vancouver on Tuesday and Jersey Off Their Backs Night against Seattle on Friday, before heading north for game #68 in a rematch with the T-Birds.
Hot Hawks:
- Forward Jack O’Brien led all Winterhawks with four points (1G, 2A) in three games last week, notching two assists on Tuesday, another on Friday and scoring a game-tying goal in the third period on Saturday.
- Forward James Stefan found the scoresheet in all three games, scoring on Tuesday and logging assists on Friday and Saturday. The Laguna Beach, Calif. native has recorded at least a point in four of six games this month.
- Forward Robbie Fromm-Delorme enters the week on a three-game point streak of his own, notching an assist on Tuesday and goals on Friday and Saturday. The Hawks’ alternate captain has posted a career-best 32 goals and 32 assists this year.
- Forward Marcus Nguyen put up a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s win, then set up a goal on Saturday for three points in three games. Nguyen has scored in four of eight games this month and boasts points in six of his last seven.
- Forward Josh Zakreski scored on Tuesday and Friday to push his point streak to a career-high-tying four games. The rookie winger is up to double-digits in all three scoring categories with 11 goals, 10 assists and 21 points on the year.
Play of the Week:
Come for the goal, stay for the celly as Luca Cagnoni shows off what makes him a top 2023 NHL Draft prospect. The smooth-skating defenseman quickly puts himself in position to score, then follows up his own shot after it hits the post and makes no mistake on the rebound. Oh, and it all flows perfectly into a must-see celebration. ⤵️
Weekly Rewind:
Portland 6 vs Spokane 2 (Tuesday):
Four Portland skaters logged multiple points and Jan Špunar turned aside 31 of 33 shots as the Winterhawks rolled past the Spokane Chiefs by a 6-2 final on Tuesday.
Portland 2 at Seattle 5 (Friday):
Goals from Jack O’Brien and Josh Zakreski kept the Winterhawks close through 40 minutes, but four goals in the final two periods helped the Thunderbirds to a 5-2 win on Friday night.
Portland 2 vs Seattle 4 (Saturday):
A valiant late comeback effort saw the Winterhawks erase a two-goal deficit in the third, but two Kyle Crnkovic tallies in the final five minutes pushed the T-Birds to a 4-2 win at the VMC on Saturday.
The Week Ahead:
Gear up for the final week of the regular season! The Winterhawks have three games remaining in their schedule, including a pair of home games in the next four days.
First up – Fan Appreciation Night on Tuesday, March 21! The fun starts when doors open at 6pm, where fans can grab the final pack of Winterhawks trading cards from our friends at The Barbers. Miss any cards along the way? Hit the team store to purchase packs of cards from earlier in the year – including a select number of signed cards!
We’ll also have player-signed pucks and t-shirts to give away during the game, plus keep an eye on the jumbotron for the Hawks Hype Cam in the first period! Fans can scan the QR code when it is presented to turn their phone into a fan cam, and one lucky fan who joins in will win season tickets for the 2023-24 season!
On Friday, we’re celebrating our players’ fantastic accomplishments before a 7pm puck drop against Seattle. Team awards will be presented pre-game after players voted last week. After another thrilling Battle with Seattle, the Hawks will line up for the annual Jersey Off Their Backs ceremony! Winners from the WAHA raffle will receive their game-worn Buckaroos-themed jerseys (as seen last Saturday) from their assigned Winterhawks player after the game.
Finally, the regular season comes to a close with another game in Seattle. Puck drop is set for 6:00 P.M., and fans can catch the action on Portland’s CW!
Upcoming Promo Nights:
Tuesday, March 21 – Fan Appreciation Night – BUY TICKETS
Friday, March 24 – Jersey Off Their Backs Night – Learn More – BUY TICKETS
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Playoffs are right around the corner! Cheer on the Hawks in round one as they embark on their 12th straight trip to the postseason with a battle against the Everett Silvertips. The action starts March 31 in the VMC, and fans can purchase single-game tickets and playoff packages by calling 503-236-4295!
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