Portland Winterhawks this Week

December 8, 2014 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release

Hawks Happenings On The Ice:

The Hawks enter the week having won two games of the three they played in three days over the weekend, and are winners of eight of their last nine overall. They've also compiled a record of 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 games against the top-five teams in the league. One of those wins was Saturday against the Everett Silvertips in the annual Les Schwab Teddy Bear Toss, always one of the highlights of the season. Paul Bittner scored the opening goal in the first period, leading to 10,578 stuffed animals raining down onto the ice. The Hawks went on to win the game 5-3.

Winterhawks Goaltender Adin Hill has won his last seven decisions, including games Saturday and Sunday when Portland knocked off Everett and Medicine Hat on consecutive nights. Last night against the Tigers he made 43 saves on 44 shots to pick up the win. Hill has a goals against average of 2.77 and .924 save percentage this season.

With eight wins in nine games the Hawks are second in the U.S. Division, one point behind the first place Everett Silvertips. The U.S. Division could see a lot of movement in the next few weeks, as Portland will play its next 10 games against divisional rivals. They close out the first half of the season this weekend at home against Spokane and then on the road in Seattle and Tri-Cities. Following the holiday break, they'll play seven straight games within the division.

Hawks Happenings Off The Ice:

Friday's game against the Spokane Chiefs will be the KPTV Les Schwab Toy Drive. Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game, with the toys to be donated to local charities to help brighten the holidays for those in need.

After the Hawks play in Tri-Cities Sunday, the players will leave town for the team's holiday break. They'll return to action on Saturday, December 27 in Seattle. Their first home game after the break will be the following night, Sunday the 28th, at home against the Spokane Chiefs at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2014

• Cougars Reassign Ross to the Yorkton Terriers - Prince George Cougars
• Hunter Warner to Have Season Ending Surgery - Prince Albert Raiders
• Royals Host Two Games this Week; Teddy Bear Toss - Victoria Royals
• Five Prospects on Canada Winter Games Provincial Teams - Kamloops Blazers
• Pat Chat - Regina Pats
• Weekly ICE Report - Kootenay Ice
• Kneen Called up for Trip - Kamloops Blazers
• Chiefs to Deliver Teddy Bears Through Gus Johnson Ford - Spokane Chiefs
• Teddy Bear Night a Success - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Royals' Prospects to Participate in 2015 Canada Winter Games - Victoria Royals
• Portland Winterhawks this Week - Portland Winterhawks
• Hitmen's Connor Rankin Named Denny's WHL Player of the Week - WHL
• Chiefs Weekly Report - Spokane Chiefs
• Wheat Kings This Week - Brandon Wheat Kings
• T-Birds Trounce Chiefs - Seattle Thunderbirds
• Tri-City Holds off Kootenay 5-4 - Tri-City Americans
• Hitmen Gather over 25,000 Bears at Teddy Bear Toss - Calgary Hitmen

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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