WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Weekly: Hawks Keep Rolling with Win over Kelowna

January 10, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Winterhawks took down the Kelowna Rockets 3-1 on Saturday in the only WHL game of the week, picking up their fifth consecutive victory and completing a 4-0-0-0 regular-season sweep of Kelowna in the process.

Hot Hawks:

Forward James Stefan struck twice on Saturday for his second multi-goal outing in his last five games. He also added an assist in the win, marking his second three-point game of the year. Stefan's strong showing stretched his point streak to five games, totaling five goals and three assists for eight points in that span, and he was named Player of the Week in the WHL. Stefan's 15 goals lead the Winterhawks this season, and his 31 points are tied with Tyson Kozak atop the team's scorers.

Forward Cross Hanas also posted three points on Saturday, his first multi-point effort since Dec. 11. Hanas missed three games between Dec. 28 and this weekend, but has been prolific when active, hitting the scoresheet in each of his last five games with three goals and five assists for eight points in that time.

Forward Nick Johnson made his WHL debut on Saturday night. The Calgary, Alta. native was selected in the 10th round, #220 overall by Portland in the 2020 WHL Draft and became the second player from that draft class to suit up for the Winterhawks, joining fellow forward Josh Zakreski.

Defensemen Ryan McCleary and Ryder Thompson were the only Hawks blueliners to get on the scoresheet on Saturday with an assist apiece. For McCleary, the helper marked his fourth point (1G, 3A) in the last five games and snapped a two-game pointless skid.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made his first start in a Winterhawks sweater on Saturday since joining the team via trade on Dec. 27. The Rockets scored just 31 seconds into the game, but Gauthier was unflappable with 38 saves on 39 shots for his first win with Portland. Gauthier's standout showing earned him Goaltender of the Week honors in the WHL.

Play of the Week:

With just one game on the docket, pickings could have been slim for this week's play of the week. Luckily, the Winterhawks' power play was operating at full force for James Stefan's second tally of the night:

Weekly Rewind:

Portland 3 at Kelowna 1 (Saturday):

James Stefan scored twice and Taylor Gauthier stopped 38 of 39 pucks in his Winterhawks debut as Portland knocked off Kelowna 3-1 to earn its fifth consecutive win and complete a 4-0-0-0 regular-season sweep of the Rockets.

The Week Ahead:

****BE ADVISED****

Wednesday's Winterhawks home game against Kamloops has been moved to this Sunday, Jan. 16. All tickets for Wednesday's game will be honored on Sunday. Reach out to your account representative or call us at 503-236-4295 with any questions.

It's another Battle with Seattle as the Hawks head north to duke it out with the Thunderbirds. Catch the game on Portland's CW (ch. 703 & 3)!

After that tilt, Portland takes the ice at the VMC for the first time in two weeks as the Hawks host the Tri-City Americans. If Portland's 9-2 win over the Americans last time they met is any indication, this is one game you won't want to miss!

Finally, the Hawks host the Kamloops Blazers on Sunday (rescheduled from Wednesday) in a clash between two of the top four teams in the WHL's Western Conference.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2022


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