WHL Portland Winterhawks

Portland Winterhawks This Week

October 12, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Hawks Happenings On The Ice:

The Portland Winterhawks leave Tuesday for their longest road trip of the season, a six-game trek through the WHL's Central Division that takes them to Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Kootenay. Tuesday's practice at Valley Ice Arena will be the media's final opportunity to talk in person to the Winterhawks before they begin the road trip. Portland's next home game is October 27 against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Winterhawks are 7-3 through their first 10 games of the season, and sit in first place in the U.S. Division, four points ahead of the second place Tri-City Americans. Last season the Winterhawks didn't earn their seventh win until November 15, their 21st game of the season.

The Winterhawks are averaging 4.5 goals per game, the third best mark in the WHL, while giving up just 3.1 goals per game. Portland's goal differential of +14 (45 goals for, 31 against), is tops in the WHL and fourth among all CHL teams. As a result, the top two plus/minus leaders in the WHL are Winterhawks: Joe Morrow is first at +13, while Daniel Johnston is second at +11. Morrow's +13 mark leads all players in the Canadian Hockey League, which includes 60 teams in the WHL, Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Troy Rutkowski leads the WHL and is tied for first in the CHL for goals by a defenseman with five, is tied for fourth in the CHL for points with by a defenseman 13 and is tied for second in power play goals by a defenseman with three.

Hawks Happenings Off The Ice:

At this weekend's games the Winterhawks held a silent auction to raise money for Tanner Hubbs, a close of friend of team captain Brett Ponich, who was paralyzed in an accident during the summer. Over the two games, the auction raised over $4,000, which will help the Hubbs family renovate their home to make it wheelchair accessible for Tanner. Among the items in the auction were an autographed Brett Ponich St. Louis Blues jersey, dinner with Ponich and the associate captains, and autographed team memorabilia.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from October 12, 2009


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