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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Game Day Hub: December 9 vs. Seattle

December 9, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Let the fur fly! The Winterhawks' annual Les Schwab Teddy Bear Toss returns to the VMC for a classic Portland vs. Seattle clash.

Puck Drop: 6:00 P.M.

Doors: 4:30 P.M. - ARRIVE EARLY!

Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Portland, Ore.

Uniforms: Red

2023-24 Season Series: Portland is 1-0-0-0 against Seattle

Portland 6 @ Seattle 1 (Sept 30 2023)

Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App

Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV | Portland's CW

Game Notes: Winterhawks Game Notes

Follow the Winterhawks: X (Twitter) | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Upcoming Promo Games:

Saturday, December 16 - Holiday Sweater Night - BUY TICKETS

Sunday, December 31 - New Year's Eve Party - BUY TICKETS

Teddy Bear Toss

Come one, come all and bring plenty of bears! It's Les Schwab Teddy Bear Toss, and we've got a great chance to break the record of 16,321 stuffed animals donated! With a sold-out crowd of nearly 10,000 expected, if everyone brings just two bears, we'll be making history later tonight.

First time at Teddy Bear Toss? Need a refresher on how it works?

The Teddy Bear Toss is a popular, holiday season promotion most common at junior and minor league hockey games. Fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears or other stuffed toys to the game and throw them onto the ice when the Winterhawks score their first goal. It's a celebration unlike any other! All the furry friends are collected and donated as presents to greater Portland-area charities and hospitals ahead of the holidays.

With such a big crowd on hand tonight, we highly recommend that all fans arrive EARLY for the game - doors open at 4:30 to ensure everyone can get through security with their bears and in their seats ahead of warmups and puck drop. You'll especially want to arrive for warmups for this game, because...

Holiday Sweaters

...We're debuting this season's holiday sweater uniforms! Before Holiday Sweater Night itself next Saturday, the new threads will hit the ice for the first time during warmups tonight and will be on sale in the team store at tonight's game. Quantities are limited, so act fast if you want to secure this year's holiday hawkey look!

Rivalry Tilt

Amidst all the excitement, there are two massive points up for grabs as the WHL's most heated rivalry makes its 2023-24 VMC debut. The Hawks got the better of their I-5 foe in their first meeting, spoiling the T-Birds' banner raising back in September. Now, things shift to the Rose City for the second of 10 matchups.

Portland went 5-7-0-0 against a stacked Seattle team in 2022-23, and will be keen to assert themselves with another win in 2023-24. Defenseman Jeremy Hanzel has been the Birds' best player thus far with 22 points in 22 games, but keep an eye on Florida Panthers prospect Gracyn Sawchyn as well.

By the way, if you can't make tonight's game - no sweat! You can catch all the action on Portland's CW as the first of nine TV games this season. Click here for more info and to find out where to find the CW through your provider.

Jugnauth's Debut

We'll have to see what Head Coach Mike Johnston officially decides to do, but all signs are pointing to newly acquired defenseman Tyson Jugnauth making his Winterhawks debut tonight!

After starting the year with the University of Wisconsin (NCAA), Jugnauth's WHL playing rights were acquired by Portland on Wednesday, and the blueliner signed a WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement with the Hawks on Thursday.

"I've been watching him since he was 15 years old and immediately recognized him as a defenseman that plays the Portland style," said Winterhawks President, General Manager, and Head Coach Mike Johnston when the signing was announced. "We're thrilled to welcome him and his family into our organization."

So keep an eye out for a new face sporting #27 as the Hawks hit the ice tonight!

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2023


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