Exit Interviews: the Defense
Published on May 2, 2023 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Portland Winterhawks featured one of the youngest, yet most effective, defensive corps in the Western Hockey League during the 2022-23 season.
The Hawks were the lone WHL Playoff team with just one 20-year-old or 19-year-old defenseman on their roster, and 18-year-old Jan Špunar got the nod between the pipes for eight of the nine postseason contests, showing the strength of the team's youth on the blue line.
"We have a really good group coming back and we decided to stick with our defense this year for our second year in a row. A young defense," Head Coach and General Manager Mike Johnston said. "A lot of teams in our league will have two 20-year-old defensemen or at least one 20 and a couple of 19-year-olds. We had one 19 and a lot of 18-year-olds. I think they played well though. They're going to be great players at 19 for us and we could have one 20-year-old in (Ryan) McCleary back so it's a good core back there on defense. I always felt that was our strength."
Ryan McCleary shoots a puck against Red Deer. (Photo: Kyle Smutzki)
Despite a younger group, the Hawks had the second-best penalty kill in the Western Conference during the regular season and they ranked third in goals against. With the nucleus coming back for the 2023-24 season, the Winterhawks have nearly four full months to train and prepare for another playoff run.
"I'm really proud of the guys, especially the younger ones because we had a pretty young group," second-year defenseman Marek Alscher said. "I'm really proud of how much effort they put in every day in practice, in games. We made a pretty good group and I really enjoyed the season. I believe next year we're going to put it on another level."
"All the guys are back and going to be better and stronger next year. It's scary for other teams for sure," first-year defenseman Carter Sotheran echoed.
Sotheran hit the ground running in his first WHL season, instantly becoming a player that Associate Coach Kyle Gustafson could trust in his defensive assignments. Becoming a regular in the lineup was impressive enough, but Sotheran took it a step further as the only Winterhawk this season to dress in all 68 regular season games and nine playoff contests. He credits the work he put in last summer before training camp for his rookie-season success.
"Last year I obviously wanted to be here (in Portland), but it drove me stronger this past summer to be even better. It was kind of weird going from (Pembina Valley) Hawks to (Portland Winter)Hawks. My parents always joke about that, but it was definitely a good year," Sotheran said.
Two years ago, Sotheran played in four preseason games with the Winterhawks and narrowly missed a spot on the 2021-22 roster. He developed with the Pembina Valley Hawks U18 AAA program in 2021-22 and led the Manitoba U18 Hockey League in scoring as a defenseman with 54 points in 41 games, earning the league's Defenseman of the Year and First All-Star Team honors. This year, he showcased his offensive ability and ranked second among all WHL rookie d-men with 23 points and received the Winterhawks' Rookie of the Year Award.
Heading into his first offseason, Sotheran's looking forward to a bit of rest and recovery before the NHL Draft Combine and preseason training begin. A now-familiar face might make an appearance too, as he returns to Manitoba alongside Portland teammate and neighbor Ryder Thompson.
"We're actually about 20 minutes apart," said Sotheran. "My mom actually bought a house right beside him a few minutes away so that will be good and Ryder should be in town, too."
In his third season, the 18-year-old Thompson relished the chance to guide younger players like Sotheran this season as a veteran voice while putting up a career-best 19 points this year. The Russell, Man. native's two-way game blossomed on the ice while his positivity and team-first attitude strengthened the locker room.
"Just learning from the guys when I was 16 up until now, it's crazy I'm already on the back half of my career," he said.
"When I came in, I was 15, watching Jack (O'Brien) and James (Stefan) as 16-year-olds and they're 20 next year, so it's pretty crazy that I'm already becoming a leader on the team and I'm just trying to help with the young guys as much as I can. It's cool to be a voice in the room - I just want to help the guys out, if it's a tap on the shin pads, saying something in the room, whatever it is, I'm happy to do anything for the team."
Ryder Thompson skates with the puck against Everett. (Photo: Matthew Wolfe)
Speaking of Thompson(s), the Winterhawks' youth movement stretched all the way to 16-year-old defenseman Alex Thompson. The first-year blueliner skated in 40 games and this season, and is looking to take the next step in his 17-year-old season.
"Coming off midget (hockey), it's just a different type of game. Knowing what I have to prepare for next year and knowing what I'm up against now is big," Thompson said. "It was definitely an adjustment, but I thought I adjusted well and saw a lot of improvement this season and kept working and getting what I needed to do done."
Notching his first goal, experiencing the raucous Rose City crowds and spending time with his teammates on the road highlighted a strong start to WHL life for Thompson, but he says the best part of the year came right off the bat.
"Stepping on the ice for my first game in Kamloops," Thompson said without hesitation on his favorite moment of the season. "I remember that. The big crowd. I wasn't used to that and I was definitely nervous that game, but it was just something I'll never forget. And the Teddy Bear Toss game, too. I was never a part of something like that."
From NHL-Drafted talents like McCleary and Alscher to players like Alex Thompson and Rhett Ravndahl getting their first taste of WHL action, it was a big year for the blue line. And between the possibility of Luca Cagnoni and Carter Sotheran making it four NHL prospects on the Portland blue line and the expected growth of the corps as a whole, excitement is high for next season's group.
"I think just our chemistry and I would say our age right now, everyone's kind of on the back end of their careers at 19 and 20 years old. So I think with that experience - and we've been together for four years now - we have a big bond in the room, and that's only gonna get stronger on and off the ice," said Ryder Thompson.
"So I'm really excited, already shaking to get back, but hopefully we all have a good summer and just do as much as we can to come back and put in a good postseason next year."
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Thank you to our passionate fans and partners for another terrific season of Winterhawks hockey! We can't wait to see you again this fall. Season tickets are now available for the 2023-24 season!
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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.
