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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Game Day Hub: January 8 at Kelowna

January 8, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland Winterhawks at Kelowna Rockets

The Winterhawks head north to put their four-game winning streak on the line against the Kelowna Rockets.

Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m. PT

Venue: Prospera Place - Kelowna, BC

Uniforms: Red

Previous Meetings This Season: Portland is 3-0-0-0 Against Kelowna

Kelowna 2 @ Portland 4 (Nov 20 2021)

Kelowna 5 @ Portland 6 (Nov 19 2021) SO

Portland 5 @ Kelowna 4 (Nov 5 2021) SO

Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App. Fans can listen live in the arena on 87.9 FM.

Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV

Crossing the (Border) Line

For the first time in two months, the Hawks are headed to Canada for a handful of games. And after Friday's postponement in Kamloops, tonight's tilt against Kelowna remains full steam ahead.

Portland is hoping for better fortunes on this foray into the Great White North after picking up just two of six possible points during their last trip, and if the team's 11-4-3-0 run since returning stateside is any indication, the Hawks are a different team this time around. Stellar goaltending, explosive offense and some clutch showings by depth talent - particularly in recent games - have carried the Winterhawks over the last two months, and they'll surely look to keep the good momentum alive as they return to full strength.

Kel-owned-a

Canada may not have been kind to Portland earlier in the year, but games against Kelowna have yielded nothing but wins for the Winterhawks. With three wins in three games, the Hawks have had the Rockets' number in 2021-22.

Make no mistake, these games were no blowouts - a pair of shootout wins and a 4-2 victory at the VMC could all have gone either way, but their previous success against this opponent should give the Hawks plenty of confidence tonight. Conversely, Kelowna will surely look to ensure they erase that goose-egg in the final regular-season meeting between the clubs.

A look at the WHL Western Conference standings adds to the drama, as both teams sit on 36 points, with Kelowna still hosting a pair of games in hand. With bragging rights, playoff position and a potential regular-season sweep on the line, there's no shortage of storylines heading into tonight's tilt.

Fresh Faces

Four new(ish) names could find their way into the Hawks lineup this weekend in Taylor Gauthier, Rhett Ravndahl and Nick Johnson, as well as the returning Josh Zakreski following his two-game call-up stint earlier in the year.

Gauthier, a 20-year-old netminder acquired from Prince George via trade on Dec. 27, participated in the Winterhawks' practices this week and traveled with the team from the Rose City. After Dante Giannuzzi starred during nine straight starts, Gauthier could be in line to provide some relief and make his Winterhawks debut against some familiar B.C. Division foes.

Ravndahl, Johnson and Zakreski, all 16, joined the team on the other side of the border as affiliate players. Zakreski played a pair of games with Portland in November before returning to the Saskatoon Blazers, while Ravndahl and Johnson would be making their WHL debuts should they suit up. All three were selected by Portland in the 2020 WHL Draft - Johnson and Ravndahl could become the second and third members of that draft class (after Zakreski) to suit up in the regular season for Portland.

WIN A TOYOTA:

Back for another season, fans 18+ who reside in Oregon or Southwest Washington can ENTER TO WIN a brand new Toyota car, truck, or SUV.

Each game this season, one lucky fan will have their entry drawn and they will have a chance to win our grand prize if they get all five game predictions correct.

Tonight, we are cheering on: Justin F. from Vancouver, WA

What our Hawks fan could win: A brand new 2021 Highlander

What needs to happen?

Portland Winterhawks (4) beat the Everett Silvertips (2)

Jaydon Dureau scores the first Winterhawks goal.

Portland goaltenders make 23 total saves.

Everett goaltenders make 35 total saves.

Good luck tonight, Justin!

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 8, 2022


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