Hawks Rout Rockets 11-1 on Pride Night
February 3, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
James Stefan scored a hat-trick, Kyle McDonough netted his first WHL goal and nine different Portland skaters recorded multiple points as the Winterhawks steamrolled the Rockets 11-1 on Pride Night at the VMC. With the win, Portland has now scored double digits in two games this season (10/18/23 vs. Brandon, 11-1).
The Winterhawks' record now stands at 32-12-2-1 on the year. The win puts Portland back in first place in the WHL's Western Conference.
Tyson Jugnauth, Marcus Nguyen, Stefan and Josh Mori had Portland off to the races with first-period tallies. Jugnauth struck 2:41 into the game, followed 22 seconds later by Nguyen capping off a 2-on-1 with Nate Danielson. Stefan's first of the night came at 7:04 as he completed a tic-tac-toe play with Diego Buttazzoni and Gabe Klassen, and Josh Mori rounded off the frame with his first of the season at 11:39, a bar-down bomb from the top of the circles for a 4-0 lead.
Portland poured into on in the second with four more goals. Jack O'Brien netted the first on a Danielson feed at 8:29. Stefan nabbed the double at 10:03, then McDonough followed 39 seconds after that with his first career tally. The 16-year-old redirected a pass from fellow rookie Hudson Darby for a 7-0 lead at 10:42, then Danielson made it eight with his 15th of the campaign on a wraparound play.
Stefan capped off his hat-trick just 33 seconds into the third with a wrister from the right circle. Hudson Darby and Buttazzoni then posted two goals in a 58-second span to bring Portland into double digits for the second time this season.
Ethan Neutens busted Jan Špunar's shutout bid at 13:52, but the Czech netminder put up a sterling 28 saves on 29 shots in his return from injury.
The Winterhawks now hit the road to battle the Seattle Thunderbirds in Kent tomorrow night at 6:05 P.M., with a telecast on Portland's CW.
- Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale NOW! With single-game seats, season tickets, flex packs, group tickets and more, there's an option for every fan.
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