Winterhawks Battle Back, But Drop 3-2 Decision to Vees
WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Battle Back, But Drop 3-2 Decision to Vees

Published on October 3, 2025 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Late goals from Nathan Free and Carsyn Dyck sparked a comeback attempt, but the Winterhawks fell just short in a 3-2 loss to the Vees in Penticton on Friday night.

Game #4: Portland (2) vs. Penticton (3)

SOG: POR (23) - PEN (33)

PP: POR (1/5) - PEN (1/4)

Saves: Štěbeták (30) - Reyelts (21)

COMPLETE BOX SCORE

SCORING:

PEN - Jacob Kvasnicka (2) from Brittan Alstead and Matteo Danis

PEN - Louis Wehmann (1) from Jiri Kamas and Nolan Stevenson (power play)

PEN - Matteo Danis (1) from Ethan Weber and Jacob Kvasnicka

POR - Nathan Free (3) from Ryan Miller and Alex Weiermair (power play)

POR - Carsyn Dyck (1) from Jake Gustafson

GAME SUMMARY:

Penticton opened the scoring just before the 10-minute mark when Jacob Kvasnicka capitalized on a loose puck in front to give the Vees the lead. The Winterhawks nearly answered back as 20-year-old defenseman Carter Sotheran found space netfront, but his chance was swept off the goal line by a heroic effort by Vees netminder Andrew Reyelts. Penticton doubled its lead late in the period, with Louis Wehmann converting on the power play to send the Hawks into the first intermission trailing 2-0.

The game remained 2-0 in favor of the Vees through a scoreless second period, despite Portland settling in and generating a flurry of chances around the midway mark. Winterhawks goaltender Ondřej Štěbeták stood tall for the Winterhawks, turning aside all 11 shots he faced in the period to keep Penticton off the board and give his team a spark heading into the third.

The Vees extended their lead early in the final frame, as Matteo Danis found the back of the net just 2:52 into the period to make it 3-0. The Winterhawks responded on a five-on-three power play, executing a slick tic-tac-toe passing play that ended with Nathan Free cutting to the net and slipping a shot through Reyelts' five-hole, trimming the deficit to two. Štěbeták went to the bench for the extra attacker as Portland continued to press, and the effort paid off as Carsyn Dyck rifled a shot from the top of the right circle, beating Reyelts for his first goal of the season. Despite a strong, late push and a spirited comeback attempt, the Vees held firm to secure the 3-2 win.

UP NEXT:

The Portland Winterhawks wrap up their weekend road trip with a stop in northern British Columbia, taking on the Kamloops Blazers at the Sandman Centre on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Reminder, you can watch all Portland Winterhawks games on Victory+ for free all season long! Click here to visit the Winterhawks hub or download the Victory+ app on your smartphone or connected device.

The Portland Winterhawks are commemorating 50 Years of Hawkey this season with a year-long tribute to the team's rich history and legendary players. As part of the celebration, the Top 50 Winterhawks of All Time will be unveiled throughout the season-starting with an alphabetical reveal at our home opener on October 25, presented by Chick-fil-A, and culminating in the announcement of the Top 10 on March 7, 2026. Fans can look forward to special events, tributes, and a season full of memories honoring five decades of Winterhawks hockey.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2025


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