WHL Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Weekly: Hawks Win Two, Clinch First-Round Home-Ice Advantage

April 11, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Winterhawks made their final regular-season trip to Canada for a pair of games against playoff-caliber competition and returned stateside with four points and a lock on the #3 seed in the WHL's Western Conference heading into games 67 and 68.

Hot Hawks:

Forward Marcus Nguyen lit the lamp in both games last week and chipped in an assist on Friday. Nguyen has now scored in three of his last four games.

Forward Jack O'Brien struck twice in the win over Vancouver, then set up Luca Cagnoni's go-ahead goal in the second period of Saturday's victory in Kamloops. O'Brien has recorded multiple points twice in his last four games.

Forward Cross Hanas was the only Winterhawk to record more than three points last week, notching goals in both games and setting up a pair of tallies on Friday. Hanas enters this week on a four-game point streak (3G, 5A).

Defenseman Clay Hanus tallied three helpers in last week's games and boasts points in six straight contests (3G, A). Looking back even further, Hanus has found the scoresheet in 11 of his last 12 appearances, and ranks second among WHL defensemen with 72 points on the year.

Defenseman Marek Alscher chipped in an assist on Friday before further flexing his offensive muscles on Saturday, setting up Cross Hanas' opening goal and scoring a clutch tying tally in the third period against Kamloops for his second career multi-point game as a rookie.

Goaltender Taylor Gauthier backstopped both victories once again and has won four straight games to move to 23-4-0-0 with the Winterhawks. Gauthier continues to lead the WHL with a .928 save percentage.

Weekly Rewind:

Portland 7 at Vancouver 2 (Friday):

Jack O'Brien scored twice and six different Portland skaters lit the lamp as the Winterhawks roared past the Vancouver Giants by a 7-2 final on Friday.

With the win, Portland secured home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the 2022 WHL Playoffs.

Portland 5 at Kamloops 4 OT (Saturday):

Goals from Cross Hanas, Marcus Nguyen, Luca Cagnoni and Marek Alscher set the stage for Jaydon Dureau to tally his 22nd goal of the year at 2:22 of overtime as the Winterhawks topped the Blazers 5-4 in a thrilling battle at the Sandman Centre.

The Week Ahead:

It's time to wrap up the regular season with a pair of U.S. Division matchups!

The Winterhawks' road trip continues in Kennewick on Tuesday as the Hawks look for their seventh straight win over the Tri-City Americans. That duel is set for 7:05 P.M. and you can catch all the action on WHL Live.

Then, on Friday, it's Fan Appreciation Night in the VMC as Portland engages Everett in a heavyweight clash. Keep an eye out for unique giveaway items at the door as we seek to end the regular season on a high note! Puck drops at 7:00 P.M. at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

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It's playoff season! Winterhawks single-game tickets and 11-game playoff packages are on-sale NOW! Be there for every thrilling moment as the Hawks make their 11th consecutive postseason appearance. Call 503-236-4295 to speak to a Winterhawks ticket-sales representative today!

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2022


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