November 24 Weekly Preview
The Winterhawks are back in Portland this week after a successful weekend in Kelowna, where the team swept a pair of games against the top team in the WHL.
Look Back at the Weekend: Nov. 21-23
- On Friday night in Kelowna, the Hawks overcame a three-goal deficit in the first period to win 4-3 in overtime, with Alex Schoenborn scoring the winner. Then, the following night, the Hawks won by a score of 4-3 again, giving the Rockets their first regulation loss at home this season. The Rockets have only five losses this season, but the Hawks are responsible for three of them after sweeping the pair of games in Kelowna this past weekend, and winning an overtime contest at the Moda Center earlier this month.
- Winterhawks goaltender Adin Hill earned wins both nights in Kelowna in his first games since early October. He replaced Brendan Burke on Friday night to stop all of the 14 shots he faced from the Rockets, and then stopped 34 of 37 shots on Saturday en route to the two Portland victories.
- After posting three points in two games against Kelowna, Oliver Bjorkstrand has extended his point streak to six games. On Saturday, Bjorkstrand’s goal gave him his 200th career point. Recently, he became the highest-scoring import player in team history and is also rapidly approaching three other records for import players: he’s second in team history with 94 career goals, 11 behind Jozef Balej for first; third in team history with 106 career assists, six behind Sven Bartschi for second; and third in team history with 155 games played, 11 behind Jozef Balej for second.
- Alex Schoenborn had four points this past weekend, including scoring the winner in overtime on Friday night. He has registered at least a point in all but one game this November, where he has earned nine of his 12 points so far this season.
Look Ahead: Thanksgiving Week: Nov. 24-30
- On Tuesday, the Hawks host Victoria at the Coliseum. The two teams last met in Victoria on Oct. 6, when the Royals defeated the Hawks 6-2 in the first of four regular season matchups this year. The Royals are currently in third place in the Western Conference with a 14-11-2-0 record. Defenseman Joe Hicketts leads Victoria with 33 points, while Austin Carroll has 32 points for the Royals.
- Friday is the Burgerville Daylight Classic, one of the most popular games of the season. The curtains of the Veterans Memorial Coliseum will be open to allow daylight into the arena as the Hawks square off against the Kootenay Ice for the special 3 pm start. The Ice have won eight of their last ten games, improving their record to 11-14-0-0. Forward Jaedon Descheneau leads the Ice with 26 points, while Sam Reinhart has been on a tear since returning from the Buffalo Sabres, with 19 points in eight games.
- Saturday the Hawks travel to Kennewick to take on the Tri-City Americans in the first meeting of the season between the U.S. Division rivals (strangely, the Hawks have finished their season series with Kelowna, but have yet to play Tri-Cities or Spokane). The Americans enter the week in second place in the division with 28 points, as the Hawks will look to make up ground on them. Tri-Cities has been led thus far by 25 points from Parker Bowles.
- This week, the Hawks will be releasing a fundraiser calendar for the Oregon and Southwest Washington Humane Societies. The calendar features photos of Winterhawks players with cats and dogs, and will be on sale beginning at Friday’s Burgerville Daylight Classic. Proceeds will benefit the Oregon and Southwest Washington Humane Societies.
- We’re getting closer to reaching our $1000 fundraising goal on our Movember page: www.mobro.co/winterhawks. If Hawks fans raise $1000 in donations by the end of the month, goaltender Brendan Burke will shave his head.
