Winterhawks Bid Farewell to Jan Śpunar as he Joins Dubuque Fighting Saints
September 27, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
Portland, Ore. - The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club announced today, September 27, that Czech goaltender Jan Špunar cleared waivers and will join the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the upcoming season.
"We want to wish Jan all the best and thank him for what he did for our organization both on and off the ice," said President and General Manager, Mike Johnston. "He was a fan favorite and statistically ranked up there with the best goaltenders of all time as far as winning percentage goes. I am confident he has the ability to play pro and will get an opportunity in the next couple years."
Špunar, 20, wraps up a memorable two-season stint with the Winterhawks, where he appeared in 66 regular-season games. During his time in Portland, the netminder posted an impressive 42-12-4 record. During the 2023-24 campaign, Špunar excelled, posting a 2.12 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage, helping the Winterhawks clinch the top spot in the U.S. Division. He continued his strong play in the postseason, recording a 2.12 goals-against average and .914 save percentage as Portland captured the Western Conference Championship.
The Portland Winterhawks extend their heartfelt thanks to Špunar for his contributions both on and off the ice. His remarkable achievements and dedication were instrumental to the team's success, and we wish him the best of luck as he embarks on the next chapter of his hockey journey with Dubuque!
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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