Game Day Hub: October 15 vs. Tri-City
October 15, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
The Winterhawks are set put their hot streak on the line against the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last season.
Puck Drop: 5:00 p.m. PT
Venue: Veterans Memorial Coliseum - Portland, Ore.
Uniforms: White
2022-23 Season Series: Portland went 4-2-2-0 against Tri-City
Portland 2 @ Tri-City 3 (Mar 11 2023) OT
Tri-City 4 @ Portland 3 (Mar 4 2023) OT
Portland 6 @ Tri-City 3 (Feb 10 2023)
Tri-City 1 @ Portland 4 (Feb 4 2023)
Portland 1 @ Tri-City 6 (Feb 3 2023)
Tri-City 3 @ Portland 4 (Dec 28 2022) OT
Portland 3 @ Tri-City 7 (Oct 22 2022)
Tri-City 2 @ Portland 4 (Oct 1 2022)
Listen Live: Winterhawks Radio Network and on the Winterhawks App
Watch Live: WHL Live on CHL TV
Hawktoberfest
Hawktober is here and you know what that means - the return of a fan-favorite to the VMC!
That's right, we're hosting our annual Hawktoberfest tasting night on the concourse at tonight's game. Fans 21+ can enjoy free beer/cider samples from seven Portland-area breweries outside Entry MM on the VMC concourse, including:
10 Barrel Brewery
Avid Cider
Backwoods Brewing
Cartside
Ecliptic Brewing
Grains of Wrath
Kona Big Wave
See you there!
Clash At The Top
On the ice, it's a battle between the top two clubs in the U.S. Division. The Winterhawks have started on a tear with five wins in six games, posting the best win percentage in the WHL thus far. But the Americans are hot on their heels with four wins through six contests and come to town looking to pick up their second victory of a three-game weekend.
The Hawks picked up four wins in a tight eight-game season series against the Americans last year, but the Kennewick crew hits the 2023-24 campaign even stronger. NHL prospects Lukas Dragicevic (SEA) and Parker Bell (CGY) continue to set the pace for Tri-City, while promising youngsters Jordan Gavin and Jackson Smith - both drafted second overall in their respective WHL drafts - are already becoming impact players early on in their junior careers.
Hot Hawks
Three Winterhawks have found the scoresheet in every game they have played in this season - James Stefan (5-6-11 in 6 games) and Diego Buttazzoni (6-3-9 in 6 games) have been buzzing early in the year, with Marcus Nguyen (3-2-5 in 4 games) also starting hot despite missing two games due to suspension. Stefan's 11 points lead the team in that category, while Buttazzoni's six strikes are tops in goal-scoring.
Goaltender Jan Špunar has been rock-solid between the pipes with four straight wins to start the campaign. The Czech puckstopper has allowed just five goals in that span, stopping 108 of 113 shots since re-joining the team from a training camp stint with the Montreal Canadiens.
Forward Hudson Darby picked up his first WHL goal on Friday night, a seeing-eye wrister from the right circle that helped the Hawks beat the Kamloops Blazers 4-1.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2023
- Americans Blanked by Winterhawks - Tri-City Americans
- Blades Knock off Raiders in Shootout for Fifth Straight Win - Saskatoon Blades
- Hawks Thump Ams 7-0 for Sixth Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders Take Five Out Of Six Points From The Weekend After A Shootout Loss Against The Blades - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hawks Thump Ams 7-0 for Sixth Straight Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Bested by Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Preview: Americans at Winterhawks - October 15 - Tri-City Americans
- Hitmen Acquire Forward Tyson Greenway from Americans - Calgary Hitmen
- Americans Acquire Pick from Calgary Hitmen in Exchange for Tyson Greenway - Tri-City Americans
- Dingman, Yerex to Represent Broncos at WHL Cup - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: October 15 vs. Tri-City - Portland Winterhawks
- Gardner Steals Show with First Shutout, Blades Win 2-0 vs Hitmen - Saskatoon Blades
- Preview: Oil Kings vs. Red Deer Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets Fall to Tigers - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Fall to Royals on Island - Swift Current Broncos
- Americans Top Blazers, 5-2 - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors Fall to Prince Albert on Saturday Night - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Smith Scores Second Career Hat-Trick in Tigers 9-2 Win in Kelowna - Medicine Hat Tigers
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