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WHL Portland Winterhawks

Game Day Hub: October 11 vs Edmonton

October 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The defending champs are in town as the Winterhawks duel with the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. PT

Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Uniforms: Black

Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App.

Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV | Evoca TV

Follow the Winterhawks: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Upcoming Promotional Games:

Saturday, October 15 - Hawktoberfest

Saturday, October 29 - Halloween Night

Friday, November 4 - Hawks Fight Cancer

Taking the Crown

When you get a shot at the champs, you best not miss - and the Hawks have that opportunity tonight. Last season's WHL Champions are in town to renew a cross-conference rivalry that spanned three consecutive Ed Chynoweth Cup Finals from 2012-14. Ironically, though, the two clubs have met just 13 times all-time during the regular season - Portland is 6-5-0-0-2 in that span.

Despite its championship pedigree, Edmonton has started the season with just one win through six games. Plenty of NHL-drafted talent from last year's squad has made the leap to the big leagues, leaving a young Oil Kings roster to go through some growing pains. But they remain dangerous with a few standout rookies leading the way, including Gavin Hodnett (4A), Ethan MacKenzie (3A) and Marshall Finnie (1G, 1A). Veterans like Logan Dowhaniuk (1G, 2A) and former Tri-City forward Rhett Melnyk (1G, 2A) offer some leadership in the lineup as well.

Finishing Strong

The Winterhawks' strong 5-0-0 start to the season has only been bettered by two Portland teams in the Club's history, but that doesn't mean there isn't room to improve. As the team picked up back-to-back wins over Medicine Hat and Spokane last weekend, they made things a bit harder on themselves by conceding a pair of goals to each team during the third period.

Portland is outscoring opponents 8-2 in the first period and 12-6 through 40 minutes this season, but remains tied 6-6 in third-period scoring. The Hawks will need to keep their foot on the gas against a team like Edmonton - look for the team to tighten up its final-frame showing tonight.

Strength Between the Pipes

Portland's solid start to the year has been fueled by balance, with scoring from every line and reliable showings on the blue line night in and night out. Steady goaltending has also been key, with the team's netminders each stepping up when called upon. Dante Giannuzzi's three wins rank tied for fifth among WHL goalies, while rookie import Jan Špunar ranks fourth among WHL goalies with multiple starts with a .918 save percentage.

Giannuzzi came out of the gates hot with a 24-save shutout in the season-opener against Kamloops, while Špunar has rapidly adapted to life in North America with a pair of 20-plus-save performances. Regardless of who gets the nod, the Hawks' last line of defense seems up to the task against the Oil Kings this evening.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2022


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