Megan Connelly
2021-22 WHL Season, U.S. Division

2021-22 US Division opening weekend recap

Written by Lizz Child on

 

As we head into the second week of play in the WHL, we should first take a quick look back at how US Division opening weekend unfolded.

Portland Winterhawks

In what was perhaps one of the most unexpected starts this season, the Portland Winterhawks followed a perfect preseason performance with an 0-1-0-1 opening weekend. However, in the CHL’s power rankings, the Winterhawks find themself remaining in the top-10. If they want to keep their powerhouse status, they will have to find another level to their game, even though they are missing some of their stars to start the season. Though they’ve accrued just one of four possible points so far, the Winterhawks are never a team you can doubt will put together a strong season overall. Look for them to bounce back as the season progresses.

Spokane Chiefs

The Spokane Chiefs are a team you can never count out, especially this early in the season. However, with a 0-1-1-0 record after their first two games of their season, they have some work to do to remind everybody why they are always a threat. Following their season opener at home against the Tri-City Americans, the Chiefs lost two players on their roster to suspensions. Cordel Larson is available to return Saturday, October 9, and Timofey Kovforeniya will be available Friday, October 15. Both games also see the Chiefs facing the Americans.

Seattle Thunderbirds

One of the only two teams in the US Division to have played just one game on opening weekend, the Seattle Thunderbirds find themselves undefeated, taking down the Portland Winterhawks in their season opener. Goaltender Thomas Milic continues to impress while Matthew Rempe, Connor Roulette, Lucas Ciona, and Tyrel Bauer continue to make their presence felt every time they take the ice. Unfortunately, there’s a question on their roster for the time being as forward Henrik Rybinski was injured just moments after the first faceoff of the Thunderbirds season. Friday, the Thunderbirds are again on the road, this time to Spokane, and the team looks to maintain their perfect start to the season. Then, on Saturday, they are again looking to come out strong and walk away with a second victory over the Winterhawks in front of a home crowd at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Everett Silvertips

The other team to have taken to the ice just once in this young season is the Everett Silvertips. After just one game and one win, the Silvertips already seem to have picked up right where they left off last season. With star goaltender Dustin Wolf moving on to the AHL, Koen MacInnes and Braden Holt are poised to maintain the goaltending legacy Everett has built. Throw in skaters like Olen Zellweger, Ronan Seeley, Jackson Berezowski, and Alex Swetlikoff – not to mention the rest of the roster –  and you have a team that is ready to defend their place atop the US Division. They look to find their second victory of the season in Friday’s match against the Portland Winterhawks at home in Everett.

Tri-City Americans

Perhaps one of the teams most want to root for to have a great run this season; the Tri-City Americans are off to the hottest start in the division. With a perfect 2-0-0-0 record, the Americans took down the Portland Winterhawks and Spokane Chiefs on the first two days of the season. Goaltenders Talyn Boyko and Tomas Suchanek had outstanding performances to lead their team to their first 2-0 start since the 2018-19 season. Tri-City has also won their last three season openers leading into this season. With the previous season’s opener also being an overtime victory against the powerhouse Winterhawks. With rookies like Dwayne Jean Jr. and Elouann Lemonnier to keep up with veterans like Marc Lajoie, Jake Sloan, and Connor Bouchard, this team may be the one to watch. If they can continue the momentum they’ve built, fans may see the Americans make a deep run this season.