Winterhawks Weekly: Portland Concludes Regular Season, Looks Ahead to Playoffs
March 24, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release
With their playoff seeding officially locked up in the No. 5 overall seed in the Western Conference, the Portland Winterhawks finished their final weekend of the 2024-2025 regular season with a pair of contests against U.S. Division playoff teams.
Portland was competitive in both games but fell on Friday to Tri-City 4-2 and 5-4 in Seattle on Saturday. Head coach Kyle Gustafson was able to give players additional ice time and play in unique situations to help prepare for the first round matchup against Prince George presented by Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks.
Hot Hawks:
Josh Zakreski scored his 38th and 39th goals of the season in Saturday's finale against the Thunderbirds. The 19-year-old from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, set career highs in goals (39), power-play goals (13), assists (31), and points (70). He also picked up an assist in Friday's home game against Tri-City.
Seventeen-year-old defenseman Kayd Ruedig had a three-point weekend with three assists. The 5-foot-10, right-shot rookie recorded his second two-assist performance of the season.
Ryan Miller, a fellow 2007-born skater, scored in both games, giving him 16 goals in his second full season with the Winterhawks. A native of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Miller doubled his point production from 15 as a rookie to 31 as a second-year player.
Jordan Duguay, the team's second-round selection in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, was the only Portland player to appear in all 68 games in 2024-2025. Per team historian Andy Kemper, Duguay is only the sixth 16-year-old to play in every game in his first season and the first to do so in 18 years. The only others were Gary Nylund (1979-1980), Ken Yaremchuk (1980-1981), Peter Derksen (1980-1981), Rick Davidson (1983-1984), and Andrew Ference (1995-1996). He was also the recipient of the team's Rookie of the Year end-of-season award.
Play of the Week:
Diego Buttazzoni's shot gave WHL netminders trouble all season long, and Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center showcased the pin-point accuracy the British Columbia native possesses. His 38th goal of the season came from a tight angle after he worked his way through the offensive zone, around multiple Thunderbird defenders, and up over the shoulder of signed Buffalo Sabres prospect Scott Ratzlaff.
2024-2025 Team Awards:
Before the game on Friday, the team announced their end-of-season awards and honored its 20-year-old players Tyson Jugnuath, Ryder Thompson, and Kyle Chyzowski.
Portland Winterhawks Booster Club Player of the Year - Kyle Chyzowski
Leading Scoring Award - Kyle Chyzowski
Rookie of the Year - Jordan Duguay
Scholastic Player of the Year - Cole Slobodian
Jann & Robert Boss Best Defensive Player Award - Tyson Jugnauth & Ryder Thompson
Sportsmanship & Ability Award - Alex Weiermair
Winterhawk Award - Ryder Thompson (First back-to-back-to-back winner in 49-year franchise history)
Most Valuable Player - Kyle Chyzowski
Victory+ Announced as new streaming partner starting with 2025 WHL Playoffs:
The WHL Playoffs will be available on Victory+ without geo-restrictions, giving fans the opportunity to follow their favorite teams and players on the road to the championship. With Victory+ offering a free, ad-supported streaming service, this ensures that the game is accessible to everyone, no matter where they are or what devices they use, including Samsung and Vizio smart TVs, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android and web browser.
Learn more at victoryplus.com/download.
Save the Dates - April 1 and April 2:
The Winterhawks will host Games 3 and 4 of the first round, presented by Werner Gourmet Meat Sticks, at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. against the No.4 seed Prince George Cougars. This is a rematch of the 2024 Western Conference Championship, where Josh Davies' double-overtime goal gave the Winterhawks a 4-2 series win.
Don't miss your chance to see playoff Hawkey in person!
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 1 - (GAME 3)
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 - (GAME 4)
The Week Ahead:
Portland departs for Prince George later this week in preparation for Game 1 of the best-of-seven series at 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the CN Centre. Game 2 will also be at the home of the Cougars on Saturday, but an hour earlier. This will be the third playoff series between the two Western Conference rivals in the last four years. Three Hawks members have played in each series: Josh Zakreski, Ryder Thompson, and team captain Kyle Chyzowski.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2025
- Cougars, Winterhawks Set for WHL Playoffs Rematch in Round One - Prince George Cougars
- Jackson Smith named WHL Player of the Week - Tri-City Americans
- Top 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Smith Headlines Final 2024-25 Regular Season WHL Weekly Awards - WHL
- Chiefs Honor 2024-25 Award Winners in Pre-Game Ceremony Friday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Weekly: Portland Concludes Regular Season, Looks Ahead to Playoffs - Portland Winterhawks
- March 24 - Canes Chatter - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Hitmen to Face Saskatoon Blades in Round One of WHL Playoffs - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades Announce Round 1 Playoff Schedule Versus Hitmen - Saskatoon Blades
- General Manager Jason Ripplinger Reflects on the Season - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Oil Kings Announce 2024/2025 Team Award Winners - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Face Tigers in Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals - Swift Current Broncos
- WHL Awards Expansion Franchise to Penticton Vees, Launches Franchise Application Process for Chilliwack - WHL
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