Winterhawks Weekly: The Final Four
For the first time since 2015, the Portland Winterhawks will compete for the Western Conference Championship as one of just four teams remaining in the 2024 WHL Playoffs! The Hawks are set to battle the 1-seed Prince George Cougars, who finished just one point ahead of Portland in the regular season. The Winterhawks are as hot as can be with a Club-record eight-straight victories and are coming off a dominant 5-0 shutout in Game 4 in Everett – cheer on the boys as they look to keep it rolling in PG this weekend!
Tickets are available NOW for Games 3 and 4 at the VMC on Monday and Wednesday of next week, and stay tuned for info about a potential Game 5 next Thursday if it becomes necessary!
Hot Hawks:
- Defenseman Carter Sotheran continued a breakout performance in the postseason with four points (2G, 2A) last week, including the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 3. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect has points in seven of eight playoff games, with 4G-6A–10PTS in that span.
- Forward Kyle Chyzowski scored for the fourth and fifth straight contests in Games 3 and 4, netting the tying tally in the third period on Monday and an insurance marker on Friday. His five power-play goals in Round 2 also marked a new club record for PPGs by a Winterhawk in a single series.
- Forward James Stefan picked up two assists on Monday, then posted a goal and a helper on Friday to co-lead the Hawks in points last week. Stefan boasts six goals in eight games during the postseason.
- Forward Gabe Klassen netted four points last week and has found the scoresheet in three straight contests. The Hawks’ captain scored the second of Portland’s four unanswered goals in Game 3 to help spark the comeback and has points in six of eight games during the playoffs.
- Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth pushed his point streak to five games with an assist in Game 3 and a 1G, 1A showing in Game 4. The Seattle Kraken pick has posted multiple points in three of his last four games and ranks sixth among all WHL defensemen with nine points in eight playoff games.
- Goaltender Jan Špunar earned WHL Goaltender of the Week honors with 71 total saves on 74 shots in Games 3 and 4, including a 27-save shutout in a decisive Game 4 to backstop Portland’s eighth straight win. Špunar has a .931 save percentage and 1.94 GAA in eight starts during the playoffs.
Play of the Week:
It won’t win too many style points, but Carter Sotheran’s Game 3 overtime winner was as big a moment as the Hawks have had this postseason. His second of the night, Sotheran’s pinball marker capped off a remarkable three-goal comeback to put Portland firmly in the driver’s seat of the series, and was integral to the team picking up a second straight sweep. Enjoy! 
Weekly Rewind:
Round 2, Game 3 – Portland 4 at Everett 3 OT (Monday):
Carter Sotheran’s second goal of the night at 15:55 of overtime helped the Winterhawks complete a remarkable comeback for a 4-3 win over the Everett Silvertips in Game 3 of their second-round playoff series on Monday night.
Round 2, Game 4 – Portland 5 at Everett 0 (Friday):
The Winterhawks rode a dominant second period and a 27-save shutout from Jan Špuanr to a 5-0 victory over the Everett Silvertips in Game 4 of their second-round series, completing their second straight sweep this postseason.
The Week Ahead:
The Winterhawks and their Club-record eight-game winning streak head way north this week to open the Western Conference Championship series in Prince George against the Cougars on Friday and Saturday. The clubs then return to the Rose City for Games 3 and 4, plus a potential Game 5, starting next Monday – click here to grab tickets while they last!
Western Conference Championship Schedule:
Game 1 – Friday, April 26 – @PG – 7:00 P.M.
Game 2 – Saturday, April 27 – @PG – 6:00 P.M.
Game 3 – Monday, April 29 – @POR – 7:00 P.M.
Game 4 – Wednesday, May 1 – @POR – 7:00 P.M.
*Game 5 – Thursday, May 2 – @POR – 7:00 P.M.
*Game 6 – Monday, May 6 – @PG – 7:00 P.M.
*Game 7 – Tuesday, May 7 – @PG – 7:00 P.M.
*If Necessary | HOME
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Tickets for the Winterhawks 2024 WHL Playoffs run are on sale NOW! Click here to purchase single-game tickets as they become available and be there as your hometown Hawks chase a fourth WHL Championship!
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