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Portland Winterhawks mourn the passing of Matt Davidson

Nick Marek — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:45:26 +0000

The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is deeply saddened by the news that Matt Davidson, our Director of Player Personnel, has passed away. Matt had a tremendous impact on our organization as a player from 1993-1997, as a regional scout, and as Director of Player Personnel, leading our scouts and players. Matt had an infectious personality, loved his family, was passionate about hockey, and deeply cared for everyone. Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to his wife, Jane, his son, Hyde, and all his family and friends during this difficult time.

50 Years of Hawkey – Team Historian Andy Kemper

Nick Marek — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:16:14 +0000

Around the time of the Neely Cup training camp in late August/early September, I met with Josh Critzer at a Starbucks to discuss the team's plans for celebrating the 50^th Anniversary Season of the Portland Winterhawks and what I could do to help. There were some grand plans being discussed, some materialized, and some didn’t, but it was the groundwork for what I feel turned out to be a very successful marketing effort executed to do proper homage to the occasion. One of the things we discussed was me putting in writing what 50 years of Winterhawks hockey means to me. I have a unique perspective on the organization, having been around since day one, and have progressed from fan to broadcaster to historian, and for the most part these days, back to fan. We talked about this a few times during the season but there was so much going on with the Top 50 players and other events, this fell to the back burner. The main culprit for the procrastination falls on me, not knowing how to broach the topic, as accepting the team has played 50 seasons meant that I had to accept that the 10-year-old kid who got obsessed with the team, junior hockey, and everything about it, was approaching, if my math is correct, his 60^th birthday. I don’t feel 60, I don’t act 60, and most people (perhaps out of kindness) say that I don’t look 60. But time is still the infinite jest. Now that we are closing in on about a month since Ryan Miller scored the final goal of the 50^th season in the closing seconds of a first round playoff defeat, I have had some time to reflect on what the 50 years mean to me and I finally feel that I can do proper justice to detail what has truly been a staple in my life, a cornerstone of who I am and what I am. This is not going to focus on the players or the on-ice product much, as those are ancillary to the discussion. That is the backdrop to what, in the end, revolves around the primary theme of five decades – family. It starts with my parents, two hard-working, middle-class individuals who were working in the early stages of the high-tech boom in Oregon at Tektronix. I was born and raised in Cornelius as the youngest of five children, four boys and one girl. My parents involved us in everything – camping, hunting, fishing, and sports. When I was very young, hockey was not a huge part of my life. I was exposed to the sport, having gone to Portland Buckaroo games with my family, and with my sister being involved in a relationship and eventually marrying a guy who played with the Junior Buckaroos in the early 70’s. My father was a baseball guy, having pitched and coached at the Semi-Pro level. Baseball is still a passion of mine - Go Cubs! When the Winter Hawks (two words) moved to Portland in 1976, my parents bought tickets for opening night and brought the three youngest kids (ages 10-12) with them. The Hawks won that night 7-5 over the New Westminster Bruins for their first victory as the new franchise after losing their first seven road games. That game was played on October 10, 1976, my parents’ 23rd wedding anniversary. We were hooked. In those days, the upper level of the VMC was General Admission seating, and fans would get in line early to race to get to their preferred seat as soon as the doors opened. For my family, it was Section 54, Row E, right above the rail. There was another family who also liked that row, and whichever family got there first would make sure that both families’ seats were held. That family was the Ickes family. Don Ickes would become a huge contributor to the Hawks Booster Club, and the Most Popular Player award presented by the Boosters is named in his honor. After the first season, the Ickes and Kemper families approached the Winter Hawks office and convinced them to reserve the first two rows in Section 54 to be sold as reserved seats with the commitment to buy season tickets for the seats we wanted. They agreed, and a 49-year (and counting) stretch of season tickets for my family began. Eventually, they made the first 10 rows of the upper-level reserved and later the entire upper-level, and my family moved to what were my parents’ permanent seats in Section 52 Row E. The first decade of 1976-1986 was incredibly formative for me as I was maturing from a 10-year-old through my teens, and going to hockey games had a huge impact on who I became. Living in rural Washington County meant that not a lot of my friends and classmates knew or cared much about hockey. My family got more involved with the team, getting to know some of the players away from the rink and billeting for a couple of seasons from 79-82. As a person not much younger than the players, it opened doors for me to grow closer to the team and the sport, and the VMC is where I grew up. Watching the games, often doing my own play-by-play in my seat, and then spending the intermissions roaming the concourse. The concourse was like a playground – concessions, kids playing mini-sticks in the corners, and as I grew older, lots of cute girls. Starting about 1984, I kept seeing one of those cute girls at nearly every game. She would pass me on the concourse with her friends but never interacting. It was early in the 1985-86 season when I finally summoned the courage to speak with her, the then Vicki Mitchell. That grew into a relationship that eventually led to two young kids tying the knot in August of 1987. Vicki’s parents were also season-ticket holders, and when we got engaged, our parents thought it would be fun for us to marry at center ice before a game…but it never worked out. Vicki and I are quickly approaching our 39^th anniversary, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like if we hadn’t met at a Winterhawks game. Once married, Vicki and I got our own season tickets in the lower Northwest corner of the VMC, Section 10. This was equidistant between my parents in Section 52 and her parents in Section 15, not wanting to show favoritism. We didn’t have a lot of money, but that was an expense that we just couldn’t give up. From that seat, I could still hear my father voicing his displeasure after a bad call…his voice resonating over others. My father passed away from complications caused by cancer in 1992 at the age of 61. My Mother kept attending games with us, my brother, and my sister after his passing. She passed away last summer at the age of 89, and while she stopped attending games a few years earlier, she would still follow her boys via online streaming. The family theme would be continued through their grandchildren. My daughter Aiden was born in September 2000 and attended her first Winterhawks game three weeks later. She, even more so than me, has grown up with this organization. Her cousin, Keegan, was born four months later, and his sister, McKenna, two years after that. Those three grew up in the VMC and Rose Garden, sharing games with their Grandma Barb. Grandma taught them the game as much as anyone, and they always marveled at her ability to wish a shorty into a reality, as it happened a lot. She would say, “c’mon boys, we need a shorty” and the team would deliver. Aiden and I still point to the sky and thank Grandma after the Hawks score a much-needed shorthanded goal. When Aiden was just four, I was given the opportunity to join Dean Vrooman in the broadcast booth, and with both Vicki and Aiden’s blessings, this introduced me to a new family – the broadcasting family. Working with Dean, and later, his son, Todd, John Kirby, Kevin Flink, Larry Lester, and so many others was like giving me the golden ticket to the Hawkey chocolate factory. Having access and nurturing relationships within the hockey community not only with the Winterhawks staff and players, but the WHL league office, opposing teams’ broadcasters and staff, the players families, NHL scouts, and fans from across the WHL are enduring memories that I will always have and have resulted in lifelong friendships. When Scooter stepped away, and I moved into the play-by-play seat, I had the opportunity of filling a young fan’s dream in Section 52 of being the voice of the franchise. Unfortunately, those first two to three seasons behind the mic coincided with the lowest point of the team in both on-ice and off-ice results. It was a struggle – juggling the game calls with a full-time job and a young family – and there were a lot of days I felt like walking away, but I couldn’t do it. I felt a commitment and responsibility to the Winterhawks family to stay, as I knew, eventually, the team would recover and return to its former glory. They did…and the stretch of seasons from 2009-2015 made my decision to remain a happy one. Being as close as I was to those teams and working with Todd Vrooman was special, as I think we delivered a broadcast quality that matched the team’s results on the ice. Building relationships with Mike Johnston, Travis Green, Kyle Gustafson, Rich Campbell, Rob Gagne, Matt Bardsley, Graham Kendrick, Lisa Hollenbeck, Lesley Dawson, Jeremy Imig, Kelley Robinett, Doug Piper, and so many others solidified even more the Hawkey family for me. Having those years made it easier for me to step away from the booth in 2019. It was time to watch hockey with my family, and I am glad that I was able to be with them in our seats in Section 66, especially the last few years with my mom. When I talked with the front office about leaving, they could have easily said “thank you” and let me walk away. Instead, they gave me an opportunity to continue to be a small part of the organization in the Team Historian role and have done more than they should for me, Vicki, and Aiden. I am forever grateful for what they have done and continue to do. If you have made it this far, dear readers, I commend you. Let me close by saying that without family, I wouldn’t be where I am today in relation to the Winterhawks organization. Had my parents not decided to go to the first game or decided not to include their children in going, my life would have been drastically different. My family would be drastically different. I’m ready for the next 50 years. I’ll close with some words written by Neil Peart, the drummer for my other life passion – the band Rush, from the song “Headlong Flight”: All the journeys of this great adventure It didn’t always feel that way I wouldn’t trade them because I made them The best I could, and that’s enough to say Some days were dark I wish that I could live them all again Some nights were bright I wish that I could live them all again All the highlights of that headlong flight Holding on with all my might To what I felt back then I wish that I could live it all again

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Portland Winterhawks named winner of WHL Business Award for 2025-26

Nick Marek — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:57:08 +0000

Portland, Ore. – The Western Hockey League announced today the Portland Winterhawks as the winner of the WHL Business Award for the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season. The WHL Business Award is presented annually to the WHL Club that best exemplifies giving back to the community and producing an electrifying game-day experience for fans. “This is a tremendous honor for our organization,” Chief Operating Officer Jeff McGillis said. “Our staff is passionate about delivering a professional and memorable hockey experience for Portland and the surrounding community every year. This award recognizes the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our entire team. From the business staff, hockey operations, and our players, everyone has a hand in bringing our vision to life. We also view this as a direct reflection of the incredible support we receive from our fans and sponsors. Their passion and loyalty allow us to create the special atmosphere at the Glass Palace.” The Winterhawks have been nominated for the WHL Business Award for three consecutive seasons; this marks the second time in franchise history Portland has been named the winner, having been last recognized in 1993-94. In 2025-26, the Portland Winterhawks commemorated their 50th Anniversary season in the Western Hockey League. This included a partnership with the City of Portland and Rip City Management to execute a $50 million renovation of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Winterhawks became the first WHL organization to add 360 LED dashboards to improve the game-day experience and increase sponsorship revenue. Over 175,000 fans attended a Winterhawks game this season, an increase over previous seasons and including two sellouts. Premium ticketing experiences were offered, including suites between the lower and upper bowls, VIP tables along the glass, and a beer garden. In addition, a renovated VIP lounge with food and beverage options was provided. Throughout the season, Portland unveiled its Top 50 Winterhawks Players of All Time with six unique promotion nights. Opening Night unveiled the Top 50 players in alphabetical order. Then, once a month for five months, ten players were unveiled, culminating in the Top Ten on March 7. That evening, the Winterhawks retired the number one Winterhawk of all time, Ken Yaremchuk’s jersey. The ceremony featured current Winterhawks forward Sam Spehar presenting his number 15 jersey to Yaremchuk and debuting his new number seven jersey. Through player-involved community initiatives led by Kyle McDonough, Jordan Duguay, and Nathan Brown, Portland honored different communities throughout the year. On Hawks Fight Cancer Night, Brown raised funds for cancer research with a post-game haircut immediately after the game, while still in his equipment. Over $10,000 was received in donations directly benefiting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Additional cultural celebration promotion nights in the series included Hispanic Heritage Night, Pacific Islander Night, Pride Night, and Chinese Lunar New Year Night. The Winterhawks rose to number two overall in the WHL in total followers on social media and is the only WHL team to rank in the top five followers in all four social media platforms. Portland partnered with Victory+ to deliver a high-quality, unique fan-viewing experience, resulting in the fifth-highest unique average viewership, the second-highest average watch time, and over 5 hours of team-specific content on the team’s Victory+ Hub platform. The Winterhawks partnered with a digital marketing agency to drive ticket sales and elevate social media, Victory+, and website content. This fueled an increase in ticket revenue and created multiple team media days, promo videos, a recruiting video for prospects, and an individual media-day photo shoot for key prospects. Post-game press conferences were opened to the public to increase the fan experience, provide media training, and drive social media content.

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Six Winterhawks Named to NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings

Nick Marek — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:50:19 +0000

Portland, Ore. – NHL Central Scouting released its North American Final Rankings on Thursday, naming six Winterhawks to the list of top players on the continent: Jake Gustafson, Will McLaughlin, Jordan Duguay, Reed Brown, Nathan Brown, and Ondřej Štěbeták. Jake Gustafson In his debut WHL season, the California kid has showcased a 200-foot game shift after shift. Out of San Jose, Gustafson played in all 72 regular season and postseason games this season, amassing 25 points behind 13 goals and 12 assists. Three of those goals came in a hat-trick performance against the Kamloops Blazers on Nov. 21. His position flexibility allowed him to play both center and wing along with both power play and penalty kill. Central Scouting has named Gustafson as the No. 52 skater in North America. Will McLaughlin Also in his first season of WHL hockey, Will McLaughlin saw crucial minutes on special teams as the season progressed. The Canmore, Alberta native led all Portland blueliners with nine goals this season, and added 21 assists for a 30-point campaign – tied for the team lead among defensemen. McLaughlin’s strong play this season has elevated his ranking with Central Scouting, bumping him up to No. 57 among North American skaters from being ranked No. 91 on the Mid-Term Rankings. Jordan Duguay A player with a nose for the back of the net, Jordan Duguay was a constant force on ice. Showcasing an ability to play in multiple roles on different lines, the Edmonton, Alberta man finished the season with 65 points from 22 goals and 43 assists. Duguay was one of three players to finish the season above the 60-point threshold, alongside Alex Weiermair and Ryan Miller. Central Scouting has named Duguay as the No. 123 skater in North America. Reed Brown From the growing hockey hotbed of Tempe, Arizona, Brown finished the season strong with 29 points behind 17 goals and 12 assists in 62 games played. Often flying down the ice, Brown was always a threat on odd-man rushes and breakaways. Brown had a seven-game goal streak between Oct. 24 and Nov. 11 earlier this season. Brown’s speed and dynamic play landed him as the No. 154 skater in North America, up from 167 earlier this season. Nathan Brown Appearing on the Central Scouting rankings for the first time this season, Brown made an immediate impact in Portland. Playing in his debut WHL season, Brown was named an alternate captain earlier this season and demonstrated a hard-nosed style of play. On top of his physicality, the Winnipeg, Manitoba native finished with 39 points (16G, 23A) in 55 games. Brown also scored one playoff goal in Game Four against Everett. Central Scouting has named Brown as the No. 224 skater in North America. Ondřej Štěbeták Continuing his second season in the WHL, Štěbeták was depended upon heavily in the back stretch of the campaign. The Czech netminder played in 48 games, working to a 3.40 GAA, 0.897 SV%, and 23-19-5-1 record. On Jan. 13 against the Moose Jaw Warriors, Štěbeták turned aside all 26 shots that came his way for his first WHL shutout. Štěbeták also represented Czechia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in Minnesota earlier this season, winning a silver medal. Central Scouting has named Štěbeták as the No. 35 netminder in North America. These six Winterhawks are joined by 72 other WHL players on Central Scouting’s rankings.

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Winterhawks Alumnus Tyson Jugnauth named to AHL All-Rookie Team

Nick Marek — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:00:27 +0000

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to share that alumnus Tyson Jugnauth has been named to the 2025-26 AHL All-Rookie Team. Jugnauth, from Kelowna, B.C., played 106 games across two seasons in the Rose City. In that span he compiled 130 points from 20 goals and 110 assists. During the 2024-25 season Jugnauth was named as an alternate captain, and took home WHL Defenseman of the Year honors. Drafted by the Seattle Kraken 100th overall in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Jugnauth currently plays for Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. In his first pro season, Jugnauth led all AHL rookie blueliners with 44 points from nine goals and 35 assists across 70 games. Congratulations to Tyson for this incredible achievement! Cover Photo credit: Kai Brown

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Winterhawks Alumnus Marek Alscher Makes NHL Debut with Florida Panthers

Nick Marek — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:40:47 +0000

Portland, Ore. – The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to announce that alumni Marek Alscher made his NHL debut with the Florida Panthers on Thursday night against the Ottawa Senators. Alscher becomes the 143rd Winterhawk to play in the NHL! Alscher, from Kladno, Czechia, saw 19:28 of ice time over 25 shifts while recording two shots, one hit, and one block. Alscher was selected 93rd overall in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Panthers. Since beginning his pro career in 2024, Alscher has skated in 104 games with Florida’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. He’s posted 21 points from 5 goals and 16 assists across two seasons. “I just thought about how big of a dream it was for me,” Alscher said of his thoughts during Thursday’s rookie lap. “And it was just pure emotion out there.” “You’re in your first game, and you play almost 20 minutes,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. “Really really happy with his game…Marek got a little more opportunity tonight to play and play against the other team’s best; got up the ice a few times, used the size a little bit, didn’t look like he was afraid to make a play.” Maurice also said that he expects Alscher to play in Florida’s Saturday matchup with Toronto. The 6’3, 205-pound defenceman played in 178 games for the Winterhawks between 2021 and 2024. In that span, Alscher amassed 66 points behind 22 goals and 44 assists. Alscher also played in 38 playoff games in Portland, scoring two goals and seven assists. He was also a key member of the 2024 Western Conference Champion Winterhawks team. In his final year in the WHL, Alscher joined the Czech World Junior team for seven games en route to a bronze medal. Florida would fall to Ottawa 5-1 on the road, as Alscher made his debut alongside Checkers teammate Ludvig Jansson “It’s sweet and sour,” said Alscher post game “The first NHL game, that’s big for me, but unfortunately we didn’t get the win, which would’ve been awesome. Like I said, sweet and sour. It’s nice to play in my first NHL game, but it would be much nicer if we won.” Cover Photo Credit: Florida Panthers

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The Winterhawks trust Riverside Payments for all of their credit card processing as the team’s official credit card processors.

Alex Weiermair named U.S. Division Representative for WHL Scholastic Player of the Year

Nick Marek — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:11:56 +0000

WHL announces Winterhawks as 2025-26 finalist for WHL Business Award

Nick Marek — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:04:41 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today the 2025-26 finalists for the WHL Business Award, presented annually to the WHL Club that best exemplifies giving back to the community and producing an electrifying game-day experience for fans.

Winners of 2026 WHL Awards will be announced from Tuesday, April 21, through Wednesday, May 6.

WHL Business Award – Western Conference Finalist

Portland Winterhawks

WHL Business Award – Eastern Conference Finalist

Prince Albert Raiders

Portland Winterhawks

The Portland Winterhawks business success came through revenue growth, fan engagement, and innovative marketing. The Club saw ticket sales revenue increase by six per cent and surpassed 5,100 in average attendance, while expanding premium seating offerings, growing merchandising revenue, and partnerships. The Winterhawks enhanced the fan experience with state-of-the-art LED rinkboards, themed promotional nights, and community-driven initiatives. Digitally, the Winterhawks ranked among the WHL leaders in social media reach and streaming engagement, supported by strategic content and paid campaigns. The Club’s collaboration with League initiatives and operational excellence further reinforced their position as a top-performing franchise.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

Winterhawks forward Domenichelli invited to Switzerland World U18 Championships camp

Nick Marek — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:30:48 +0000

Hawks forward Weiermair named as Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy nominee

Nick Marek — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:04:22 +0000