WHL Portland Winterhawks

Grenier Stones Kamloops Cold in Winter Hawks Home Debut, 3-0

Published on October 30, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Blake Grenier (GRENN-yay) did what no other goalie in the 29-year history of the Winter Hawks has ever done Friday night in Memorial Coliseum.

Grenier became the first Hawks' goalie to post a shut out in his first ever game on home ice in Portland.

The 20-year-old Grenier, acquired in a trade with Swift Current three weeks ago, stopped 31 shots and was solid all the way as the Winter Hawks shut out Kamloops 3-0. It was Grenier's 100th Western Hockey League career appearance and it was his 10th career shut out.

Brian Woolger (WULL-ger) and Brandon Dubinsky scored power play goals and Cody McLeod sealed the win with an empty net goal for the Hawks, now (7-6-0-1), and winners of three straight home games.

The Hawks, who came into the game 2 points behind second place Everett in the U.S. Division, play at Everett Saturday at 7:05 p.m. (Airtime 6:35 with the pre-game show on 970-AM). After that game, the Hawks will join everyone else in "falling back", turning clocks back one hour. Portland's next home game is this Wednesday November 3 against the Prince George Cougars at 7:00 in Memorial Coliseum. It's the last of eight straight home games in the Coliseum since an opening night Rose Garden game against Seattle back on October 2. Seattle returns for another Rose Garden game this Saturday, November 6 at 7:00.

Portland pared its roster down to 21 players this week. As little as three weeks ago, the Hawks had 26 players, which meant as many as six healthy players had to sit in the stands every game. This week, both European players elected to leave the team. 19-year-old Slovak forward Ivan Dornic requested a trade last Thursday citing lack of ice time. The Hawks had hoped rookie 18-year-old winger, Czech Martin Bucek, who had played on the same line with veterans Brandon Dubinsky and Cody McLeod for three games, would stay with the team, but he elected to fly back to Europe with Dornic yesterday after the Hawks could not trade Dornic to another WHL team.

The Hawks had some nagging injuries following two losses on the road in Spokane and Tri-Cities last weekend. And, a virus of some kind went through the team this week resulting in several players missing practice. But, everyone showed up for the game and all 21 players took the pre-game skate. Nick Hotson had to sit out due to numbers and Shane Halifax left the game ill after the first period.

Kamloops, the most successful ongoing franchise in Western Hockey League history with only one losing season since 1981-82, is off to a rough start. The Blazers, who have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs five straight years, are now (4-10-1-0). Kamloops enjoyed one of its best games of the year with a 6-1 win in Spokane last Saturday, but followed that up with a 6-0 loss in Everett on Wednesday. The Blazers are missing 3rd round NHL draft choice Rick Kozak as a result of a 15-game suspension as a result of an altercation with Everett's trainer early in the season and key forward Reid Jorgenson (groin).

Grenier, who was impressive in his Winter Hawks' debut in Spokane in a 2-1 overtime loss last Friday, had quite a bit of action in what turned out to be a scoreless first period. Kamloops had a few dangerous chances in the slot, a couple from Cam Cunning who leads the Blazers with 9 goals, including 4 in the last 3 games. Kamloops also had a 4-on-2 rush where Grenier made a nifty initial kick save on Derek Werenka and then defenseman Braydon Coburn helped out by deflecting the rebound wide from behind. Portland, which outshot Kamloops 11-9 in the first period, had a few good chances too. The best were probably on the power play. Brandon Dubinsky had an attempted wrap around slide off his stick, through the crease, and behind first round NHL draft choice, 6'5 goalie Devan Dubnyk. Cody McLeod was on the back side and would have had an open net, but the puck was out of his reach. Brian Woolger had a dangerous rebound chance, also on the power play, barely miss the net.

Grenier had to be even better in the second period as Kamloops started to carry the play. The Hawks, at times, were sloppy in their own zone. Grenier made a tremendous save on Cunning, set up on the weak side to Grenier's right by Werenka from behind the Hawks net. Grenier beat him with a quick pad stop. Grenier made good saves on Aaron Richards and 16-year-old Keaton Ellerby and then Kamloops went on the power play. A shot from the right point was deflected off the right goal post and it ricocheted all the way to left wing for a Richard Jasovsky one-timer. Grenier quickly moved to his right and flashed the glove, his best save of the game. Grenier held his ground on Kris Hogg and turned aside another close-in chance, Hogg getting called for interference. The Hawks capitalized on their fourth power play of the game to open the scoring. Dan Da Silva held the puck at the right goal line and, with no other option, threw the puck into the crease area. Woolger paid the price to find it, battle a Blazer for possession, and shove it through Dubnyk. Kamloops outshot Portland 12-7 in the period, but the Hawks led 1-0 after two.

Portland's penalty killing unit maligned a few weeks ago as it wallowed around the bottom of the WHL rankings, go tested again early in the third period. It passed again, with flying colors, early in the third period as the Hawks have now killed 28 straight shorthanded situations in the last 5 games. It was a big kill, up 1-0 and the Blazers continuing to carry the play against a Winter Hawks' team that is battling a virus that has affected numerous players. Grenier made every save look easy and did a great job of deflecting rebounds out of harm's way and covering up, stopping play, to settle things down and give his teammates a chance to change lines. The Hawks' power play, ranked third in the league coming into the game, struck again at 4:55 of the third period for the insurance goal. Michael Funk's pass down low did not connect, but Darrell May retrieved the puck out of the corner and fed Dubinsky on the half-wall. Dubinsky took one step toward the slot and unloaded a quick shot that beat Dubnyk clean, short side, through traffic in front. Kamloops, chastised by their coach Dean Clark for not playing hard when things got bad in Everett Wednesday, sure did not quit Friday. The Blazers kept coming and Grenier kept turning things aside. Portland got a terrific defensive effort from poised 17-year-old rookie Michael Sauer and some gutsy back checking from versatile swing man Alex Aldred. May played well at both ends too, finishing with two assists and some key defensive plays.

Final shots were 31-24 for Kamloops, but the Hawks had the special teams numbers. Portland was (2-5) on the power play and a perfect (5-5) on the penalty kill.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2004


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