WHL Portland Winterhawks

With Renewed Confidence, James Stefan's Breakout Year Has Arrived

February 3, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Portland Winterhawks News Release


Portland, Ore. - The past two years have taught us all a lesson in adaptability. From grocery shopping to getting a haircut, completing even the most everyday tasks now requires measures of forethought undreamt of as recently as three years ago.

For junior hockey players trying to capitalize on a limited window to be discovered by NHL scouting staffs, the pandemic has required certain flexibility from everyone in the community.

For example, as the Winterhawks awaited news on the start of the 2020-21 campaign, an opportunity arose for several of the team's American-born players to skate with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL), including forward James Stefan.

Coming off a 49-game rookie season with the Winterhawks as a 16-year-old, the Laguna Beach, Calif. native joined Cross Hanas, Clay Hanus and longtime friend and teammate Jack O'Brien in Lincoln. And after posting just nine points during his first stint in Portland, Stefan found his groove with the Stars, notching 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 41 games.

"It's definitely been a journey. Coming into the WHL as a 16-year-old, I didn't really perform like I wanted to. I felt like I had a bit of an off year and it was kind of a learning curve, and it was weird when COVID-19 hit, then I went over to Lincoln," he said, "It was definitely a little weird, but I enjoyed Lincoln, it was fun. I felt like I got a little bit of my touch back and it was a good experience, then I just brought that confidence back to Portland this season."

Since returning to the Winterhawks ahead of the 2021-22 season, Stefan ranks third in team scoring with 20 goals and 21 assists through 41 games, a point-per-game pace that is turning heads around the WHL and beyond.

On Jan. 12, Stefan and teammate Marek Alscher were listed in NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings at #205 and #177, respectively. And sure, it's an honor that naturally excites any player who finds his name there, but Stefan knows to take it in stride.

"It's super nice to get some recognition and be on the list," he said, "I don't pay too much attention to that stuff, but it is nice."

After not hearing his name during his first year of eligibility at the 2021 NHL Draft or being named to the initial "Players to Watch" list from Central Scouting last fall, it took a heads up from his father - longtime NHLer Patrik Stefan - for James to realize just how strong his start to this year has been.

"My dad texted me, I didn't really know. I didn't even know the list was coming out that day, but yeah I just looked at it and saw my name, so it was pretty exciting," he said.

That's not to say Stefan's standout performance this year wasn't planned. After his rookie season, Stefan put the work in to elevate his game to a new level.

Between a more focused summertime training regimen and constructive input from Winterhawks coaches, the 6-foot-0 winger is steadily improving each element of his game - and it's been paying off since his journey to Nebraska.

"I wanted to work on some things in the summer, I know the coaches wanted me to work on some things, so I just took that to the gym and on the ice and definitely improved on some things. I felt like that kind of resulted in me playing a lot better the following season in Lincoln," said Stefan.

Now, Stefan's focus turns towards fine-tuning his skillset. While Head Coach Mike Johnston puts the team through its paces with a targeted practice plan, post-practice is where you can find Stefan and his teammates working on more specific skills and habits, often autonomously.

"I'm always trying to work on something different. I feel like I can get a little bit quicker, so I've been trying to work on that in the gym. And then on the ice after practice, whether it's my shot or battle drills down low, something like that," he said.

The habits Stefan and his teammates have built in their post-practice breakout sessions have propelled Portland up the WHL standings. The team currently ranks second in the U.S. Division and third in the Western Conference, and has an eye on teams like Everett and Kamloops just ahead of it.

It's a far cry from the rollercoaster that was the start of Portland's season, with wins and losses alternating on a nightly basis. But with more consistency in their game, the Hawks have turned things around.

"We just have to keep playing the way we've been playing...we've had different guys playing different goals and a lot of our younger guys stepping up as well, so that's really good to see. I feel like we're definitely playing better, full 60-minute games. It felt like early in the season, we weren't really doing that, and now I feel like we're playing complete games," said Stefan.

Portland's place in the standings finally looks more like what was expected of the perennial Western Conference contenders, and a look back and the first month or two of the season reveals just how far the team has come over the course of the 2021-22 campaign alone.

"We've had some games in the past where we felt like we could have won but we took a period off or whatever it was and the other team got on top. I feel like in recent games we've been doing better, whether we go down a goal or up a goal, just staying even keel and playing a full 60 minutes," said Stefan.

As they enter February's action on a 14-game point streak, the Winterhawks' 60-minute efforts have certainly become a staple of the team's identity. And with a team-high 18 points during the team's current streak, Stefan remains at the forefront of all of it.

The NHL's draft rankings may not be at the forefront of Stefan's mind now, but as he sits atop the team's scoring ranks with NHL-drafted teammates Cross Hanas (Detroit) and Tyson Kozak (Buffalo), his talent and pedigree is becoming increasingly clearer by the day.

Not too bad for the kid from Laguna Beach.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 3, 2022


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