Sports stats



Portland Winterhawks

Winterhawks Weekly: the Last (Home)Stand

February 26, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


The Winterhawks are bringing two more wins back to the Rose City after a successful trip to Vancouver Island, topping the Victoria Royals 6-2 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday. Topping the U.S. Division with 81 points, the Winterhawks now host three games at the VMC as they chase down the top seed in the Western Conference, including a pair of games against Eastern Conference foes!

Hot Hawks:

Forward Jack O'Brien led the Winterhawks with five points (all assists) across the two games in Victoria, bringing his total to 48 points (18G, 30A) in 48 games this season. The 20-year-old has 10 points in his last six games.

Forward Gabe Klassen became just the 20th all-time Winterhawk to hit 250th WHL points after scoring the tying tally in the first period on Friday. The Hawks captain tacked on an assist in that game, then scored again on Saturday, as he approaches 100 points on the season.

Defenseman Carter Sotheran returned to the scoresheet with an assist on Friday, followed by a 1G, 1A effort in Saturday's win. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect is up to 29 points (9G, 20A) in 54 games this season, already setting career highs in all three scoring categories.

Defenseman Tyson Jugnauth scored in both games and set up Diego Buttazzoni's game-winning goal on Saturday. Jugnauth has posted 30 points (7G, 23A) through 29 games with Portland and ranks second among WHL rookie defensemen despite playing just half the games of others.

Goaltender Jan Špunar backstopped both wins on the weekend with a total of 33 saves on 37 shots across the two games. Since returning from injury, Špunar has earned wins in six of eight starts and has not allowed more than three goals in a game.

Play of the Week:

Plenty of options this week, but we've got to to back to Gabe Klassen's 250th career point! Becoming just the 20th Winterhawk to hit the mark, Klassen netted the Hawks' first goal of the weekend after some slick passing between James Stefan and Marek Alscher. Speaking of Stefan, he's not far from joining Klassen with 241 points of his own!

Weekly Rewind:

Portland 6 at Victoria 2 (Friday):

Led by Gabe Klassen's 250th WHL point and a two-goal, one-assist showing from James Stefan, the Winterhawks knocked off the Victoria Royals 6-2 on the road on Friday night.

Portland 5 at Victoria 2 (Saturday):

Five multi-point performances and a 19-save effort from Jan Špunar helped the Winterhawks go back-to-back on the island, knocking off the Victoria Royals for the second straight evening by a 5-2 final.

The Week Ahead:

Just six home games left in the regular season, and three of 'em come this week!

First, it's a box-office battle on Wednesday as Eastern Conference power Moose Jaw comes to the Glass Palace. Puck drop is set for 7:00 P.M. for this midweek melee between two of the WHL's very best - don't miss out!

Then, at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, we're hosting our first-ever Art Night at the VMC as the Hawks battle the Regina Pats! Celebrate local artists on the concourse and stop by the team store for special game-night merch! Plus - it's another tasting night! Enjoy free beer & cider samples at the game - stay tuned for more details on our social channels this week!

Wrapping things up, Glass Palace Night returns on Saturday as we lower the curtains in the VMC bowl and let in the light! Enjoy an outdoor vibe at one of the most unique games in hockey while the Winterhawks look for another win over the Victoria Royals. See you there!

Upcoming Promo Nights:

Friday, March 1 - Art Night - BUY TICKETS

Saturday, March 2 - Glass Palace Night (Daylight Game) - BUY TICKETS

Saturday, March 9 - Oregon Hockey History Night - BUY TICKETS

Friday, March 15 - Fan Appreciation Night - BUY TICKETS

PLUS - did you hear the big news? The Portland/Seattle rivalry is climbing to new heights with the "Battle on the Sound" - a regularly scheduled road game on March 17 against the Thunderbirds will now be played at Climate Pledge Arena, home of the Seattle Kraken! See you there!

Playoff tickets are available NOW with the "Chase The Dream" Playoff Pass! For just $175, you get a lower-bowl seat to every single potential home game at the VMC in the 2024 WHL Playoffs. Availability is limited - act fast to secure your seat on the bandwagon!

- Tickets for the 2023-24 season are on sale NOW! With single-game seats, season tickets, flex packs, group tickets and more, there's an option for every fan.

-

The Winterhawks trust Riverside Payments for all of their credit card processing as the team's official credit card processors.

Check out the Portland Winterhawks Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2024


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.

OurSports Central