B.C. Natives, Špunar Lead Hawks to 2-1 Win in Vancouver
Published on December 17, 2022 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
A big night for the B.C. boys and netminder Jan Špunar helped the Hawks take down the Giants for the first time this season.
Game #29: Portland (2) at Vancouver (1)
SOG: POR (31) - VAN (41)
PP: POR (1/3) - VAN (0/4)
Saves: Špunar (40/41) - Vikman (29/31)
COMPLETE BOX SCORE
SCORING:
POR - 15:14 - Second Period - Kyle Chyzowski (8) from Marcus Nguyen and Nick Johnson
POR - 3:29 - Third Period - Robbie Fromm-Delorme (13) from Jack O'Brien and Gabe Klassen
VAN - 12:23 - Third Period - Ty Halaburda (10)
The Story:
Timely goals from a pair of hometown heroes and a career-best 40-save showing from Jan Špunar carried the Winterhawks (22-4-2-1) to a 2-1 road victory over the Vancouver Giants (12-15-3-2) on Friday evening.
With the win, Portland has won four consecutive contests and has earned at least a point in six straight (5-0-1-0).
A stop-and-start contest got its first goal late in the second period, when Surrey, B.C. native Kyle Chyzowski finished off a play that saw all five Winterhawks skaters - Chyzowski, Rhett Ravndahl, Carter Sotheran, Nick Johnson and Marcus Nguyen - touch the puck immediately before the goal was scored. After winning the faceoff, Chyzowski streaked up the ice as his linemates worked the puck around the strong side, each passing to the next up the boards before Nguyen chipped an area pass for Portland's alternate captain to fire home with a quick snap shot to the stick side.
The Hawks doubled their lead early in the third on Robbie Fromm-Delorme's 13th of the year, a power-play tally assisted by Jack O'Brien and Gabe Klassen. Nine minutes after the Richmond, B.C. native knocked home a loose rebound at the side of the net, Vancouver broke Špunar's shutout bid when Ty Halaburda rattled home his 10th tally this season to make it a one-goal game. The Giants pushed in the final 10 minutes but failed to dent the Hawks' Czech netminder once more as Portland hung on for the 2-1 win.
These two teams meet again tomorrow night, this time in Portland at 6:00 P.M. for Holiday Sweater Night in the VMC.
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT presented by BBF TECHNOLOGIES:
"It's a nice win, the guys helped me so much and now we have another game tomorrow so it's right back to it. I feel they didn't have really any (dangerous) chance(s), a lot of shots from the top of the zone so it was easier (to see). I'm happy. The rookies learn so much, I learn so much, so we're practicing for the playoffs."
Winterhawks goaltender Jan Špunar
Western Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2022
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- Cougars' Comeback Falls Short in 6-5 Overtime Loss against Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Thunderbirds Push Past Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- B.C. Natives, Špunar Lead Hawks to 2-1 Win in Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Lose Tight Battle with Portland, 2-1 - Vancouver Giants
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- B.C. Natives Help Lead Hawks to Victory in Vancouver - Portland Winterhawks
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