WHL Portland Winterhawks

Hawks Fall To T-Birds 6-2

Published on February 7, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Tonight the Portland Winter Hawks traveled north up Interstate-5 to Seattle, Washington to face the Thunderbirds at Key Arena, in front of 5,167, but would fall short as Seattle comes from behind to score 6 straight goals to beat the Hawks 6-2, advancing Portland's record now to 26-22-4-1 on the year.

Both the Portland Winter Hawks and Seattle Thunderbirds came out in the first period playing physical and aggressive hockey, after the game had been delayed an hour due to the Hawks team bus being stuck in traffic on Interstate-5 due to a 50-car pile up just outside of the Seattle area. But the delay was no excuse as the two teams came out ready to play and brought a physical presence to the game. Five minutes in, Seattle's Adam Huxley and Winter Hawks enforcer, Robin Big Snake got things going as they mixed it up with one another and Big Snake getting in the last shot, however who would also be assessed an extra 10-minutes due to not having his jersey properly tied down. At 12:28 of the period, the Hawks would also then loose Cody McLeod for 10-minutes for not reporting to the neutral corner during an altercation, as Winter Hawks team captain Braydon Coburn and Seattle's Steven Goertzen mixed things up, however Coburn would be the only one sent to the penalty box for roughing. The Hawks, who have the fourth best power play in the league, would then go on to take a 1-0 lead at 15:46, while on the power play as 17-year old Brandon Dubinsky, who is the league's top 17-year old point getter, would net his 26th goal of the season with a quick one timer from about 12-feet out, left of the goal line and was able to find room in front to put it high glove side of T-Birds net minder Bryan Bridges. The Thunderbirds had a chance to tie things up with 50-seconds remaining in the period, however Seattle's Ryan Gibbons stick was above the cross bar, disallowing the goal as Denis Tolpeko had the initial shot that bounced up in the air after Portland's starting goal tender, Dustin Butler got his stick on it, blocker side which then allowed Gibbons to bat the puck into the net, but would not be counted. Portland skated into the locker room with a 1-0 lead and both teams were dead even with 6 shots on goal in the period.

Portland came out in the second period to take a 2-0 lead at 3:10 as Alex Aldred flipped a pass to the front of the net and bounced off a Seattle player's skate directly to Braydon Coburn, who was able to fire it past Bridges from the top of the right circle for his 8th of the season. From that point on, it was all Seattle. The Thunderbirds jumped on the board at 5:09 in the period as Tyler Metcalfe (17) was able to score on a deflection as the puck bounced off Winter Hawks Ivan Dornic's skate, who was checking in front of the net. The Winter Hawks would then get into penalty trouble as 3-penalties in a row were called against the Hawks. Dubinsky would go off at 6:19 for obstruction tripping and 20-year old right-winger Brad Priestlay would be hauled off at 6:47 for hooking. Then at 7:11, Portland's Darrell May would be called for high sticking, which would then give Seattle an extended 5-on-3 power play advantage. T-Birds Nate Thompson would then tie things up with a redirect shot from the left point to tip it past Butler for his 12th of the season while having the 4-on-3 man advantage. Still with the 4-on-3 advantage, the T-Birds would then take a 3-2 lead at 13:22, as Aaron Gagnon was able to score from the left circle, thru traffic, on the short side of Butler for his 14th of the season to give the Thunderbirds the come from behind lead. Portland had a tough time winning their face offs and were only able to

generate 3 shots in the period, while Seattle was able to get 19 shots in and take a 3-2 lead heading into the final 20-minutes of play.

The Winter Hawks began the third period with 1:20 of power play, but were unable to capitalize on the man advantage. The Thunderbirds would however go on to add to their lead as Clayton Barthel netted his 2nd of the season, just inside the right goal post at 5:25 to put Seattle up 4-2. Seattle, while on the odd man rush, would then flood the net at 8:35 to take a 5-2 lead with Cole Simpson scoring his 3rd goal of the season. Portland's Darrell May would then be called for elbowing at 9:37, then Coburn would join May in the box at 10:48 on a roughing call to give the T-Birds yet again another 5-on-3 power play where they would then go on to net their 6th of the night as Tyler Metcalfe would score on his own rebound for his 18th of the season and second of the night at 11:36. Portland had more of a physical presence but did a poor job at winning the face offs and did not play very disciplined as they would go on to fall to the Thunderbirds 6-2, in hopes to get revenge tomorrow night when they'll host the T-Birds at the Rose Garden. The Hawks now fall to 26-22-4-1 on the season.

Portland scratched (D) Tomas Fojtik, (RW) Shane Halifax and (LW) Frazer McLaren, who were all listed as healthy scratches. The Hawks will now return home tomorrow night at 7:00pm in the Rose Garden to wrap up the home and home series with Seattle, where the Winter Hawks mascot "Tom-A-Hawk" will host "Cool Bird" of the Seattle Thunderbirds and many more of his friends in "Mascot Hockey Night". Then on Sunday Portland will play host to the Moose Jaw Warriors at 5:00pm in Memorial Coliseum where it will be the Winter Hawks 1,000th regular season home game in franchise history and your chance to win one of two $1000 rings courtesy of Erik Runyan's Jewelers. Tickets for both games and all remaining Hawks home games are still available at all G.I. Joe's Ticketmaster outlets or the Rose Quarter box office.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2004


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