Portland Winterhawks/Kendra Frankle
U.S. Division

Portland Winterhawks prepared to defend title

Written by Lizz Child on

 

New ownership, new schedule, a temporary new home, but the same winning style. That’s the plan the Portland Winterhawks will be working to uphold over the shortened season.

The Winterhawks are the reigning WHL regular-season champions with 97 points in 63 games before the season’s early end. They finished on a three-game win streak with a 45-11-3-4 record, second in the league in goals for (270), and third in the league in goals-against (164). This season, Portland will be defending the title and proving working to show that their dominance last season is sticking around.

This season will see the Winterhawks open their season on the road against the Tri-City Americans in the US Division’s first game on Thursday, March 18.

At this time, the Winterhawks have not announced their leadership group, but we will see a new captain named this season.

Division only

Jonas Brondberg (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Donovan MacGowan)

Before last season’s stoppage, both the Everett Silvertips and Spokane Chiefs were making a charge for the top spot in the league. With all play being in-division only, fans will witness a great battle for the division title.

The reigning champions will be facing each of the other four teams in the division six times for a total of 24 games.

Throughout at least the rest of March, the Winterhawks will be sharing home ice with the Seattle Thunderbirds and calling the Accesso ShoWare Arena home. As of the time of posting, there is no word on when the Winterhawks will be allowed to return to play at the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum in Portland, but the hope is that it will be soon after the month’s end.

Those we won’t be back in the City of Roses

As we face the season start, the Portland Winterhawks look set to start the season right where they left off. However, this year’s noticeable losses will be ‘19-’20 captain Johnny Ludvig and star goaltender Joel Hofer. Both are signed to NHL contracts and are spending the season with their respective NHL teams or minor league affiliates.

Last year’s overage players Lane Gilliss, Jake Gricius, and Matthew Quigley are also notable losses from the champion roster.

Additionally, absent from the start of the season will be James Stefan, Cross Hanas, Jack O’Brien, and Clay Hanus. All four have been released to the Lincoln Stars of the USHL for the remainder of Lincoln’s season. The final game on their schedule is set for April 24. Meanwhile, the last game for Portland is scheduled for May 11. Should it work with the schedule, the four may be returning to Portland at that time.

For the time being, the Winterhawks will be turning to a group of young and talented players. Each one of whom is up to the task.

Guarding the goal

Dante Giannuzzi (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins)

Taking over as Portland’s starting netminder is Dante Giannuzzi. The 18-year-old Manitoba native is leading the way to victory this season. Finishing last season with a 7-1 record, Giannuzzi is ready to prove himself to be the starter for Portland.

Still, every goaltender needs a partner. Fresh off his trade from Moose Jaw, Brock Gould will be the second man in net for the Winterhawks this season. Last season’s performance behind him and a clean slate ahead, Gould has the potential to turn heads in the months to come.

AHL assignments and back again

Seth Jarvis started the season red-hot for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL but has since returned to Portland. Look for him to continue lighting the lame for the Winterhawks as he put up seven goals and four assists through nine games with the Wolves. Following a standout sophomore season in Portland last year, Jarvis earned himself a first-round draft selection at 13th overall to the Carolina Hurricanes. Not long after the draft, Carolina signed the Portland phenom to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Also returning from AHL assignment is Jaydon Dureau. Last year, the winger saw a breakout season, resulting in him being drafted, 154th overall, to the Tampa Bay lightning. Dureau signed an ATO with the Syracuse Crunch following a six-game stint with the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL. While with the Millionaires, Dureau collected seven goals and four assists in just six games.

The full roster

Returning Players

Forwards: Robbie Fromm-Delorme, Reece Newkirk, Gabe Klassen, Tyson Kozak, Jaydon Dureau, Seth Jarvis, Mason Mannek, Simon Knak, and Kishaun Gervais

Defensemen: Kade Nolan, Kurtis Smythe, Nick Cicek, and Jonas Brøndberg

Unlike many WHL teams this season, both import players for the Winterhawks have been able to make their return despite travel restrictions.

Simon Knak (photo- Portland Winterhawks/Donovan MacGowan)

Rookie Players

Forwards: Aidan Litke, Kyle Chyzowski, Jonah Bevington, and Marcus Nguyen

Defensemen: Luca Cagnoni, Ryan McCleary, Ryder Thompson, and Brody Tallman

Head coach Mike Johnston on missing players from last year’s roster:
“What it did provide us now is a chance for the young kids to come in, you know 16-year-old or 17-year-old players to come in, get extra ice-time and development time. So I think looking forward for this year, and for next year, it puts us in a good position.”

Safety precautions

  • At this time, no fans will be permitted at US Division games. As the season progresses, we may see changes.
  • The players were tested when they arrived in Portland. They will continue to be tested 3-4 times a week throughout the season.
  • Whether in high school or taking college classes, all players are doing remote, online schooling from the rink.

“Any time the players are gathering as a group, or small group meetings for fitness or whatever it is, we make sure there are very few players together at the same time, and that everybody’s wearing masks. So we’re really strict. We want to have a 24-game season. We don’t want to miss any games, so we’ve got to be very, very careful, and we will have a small number of people who will have contact with the team.”
-Johnston on how the club is promoting COVID-19 safety