The Portland Winterhawks (5-3-0-1) have a home-and-home series with the red-hot Vancouver Giants (9-1-1-0) tomorrow and Saturday. Portland comes in with wins in five of their last six, but dropped their most recent contest to Everett 4-2. Vancouver had a record-setting night when they outshot Swift Current 71-16 on Tuesday.
Rylan Bettens was acquired in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings for a conditional draft selection. The Winnipeg native appeared in four games for the Winterhawks before returning home to focus on his schooling. As of Thursday evening, Bettens is still on Portland’s Protected Players List, but is off the active roster. The Winterhawks now have 13 forwards available.
Portland is second in the Western Conference with 39 goals scored and is helped by a power play operating just shy of 30%. Meanwhile, Vancouver has scored ten goals with the man advantage on 41 attempts. Both teams will look to limit the amount of trips to the penalty box. The Winterhawks are looking to show going 0-for-10 on the power play against Everett was a fluke. Jake Gricius and Joachim Blichfeld each have four power play goals to lead the team.
Speaking of Joachim Blichfeld, he is now second in the WHL in scoring (8G, 14A) after being held off the scoresheet for the first time this season during Sunday’s game against Everett. During the off-season Blichfeld mentioned he “shot a lot of pucks after spending a lot of time working on my skating.” Joachim spent time with the San Jose Sharks prior to rejoining the Winterhawks and feels he “benefited from seeing what the NHL guys do on and off the ice. I’ve tried to take that back here and show the guys what the NHL guys do. I try to be like a pro every single day.” Blichfeld has been playing on a line with Cody Glass and Reece Newkirk for the last seven games.
Head coach Mike Johnston was looking at different options to play with Blichfeld and Glass. After moving Newkirk for a shift, Reece showed he is more than capable of playing with two NHL signed players as he’s contributed 10 points (6G, 4A) in nine games. Prior to joining the top line Reece played center for the first two games of the season. Johnston describes Newkirk as “someone who really grew last year as a 16-year-old player. He’s an energetic, working guy who I thought complimented the line.” Cody Glass agrees and says, “Reece works hard and is not scared of anything. He goes to the dirty areas of the ice, but is also a skilled player. He compliments our line well and will get rewarded for how hard he works.”
Glass was named the 43rd captain in team history after Keoni Texeira graduated last season. Glass feels “it is an honor” to be named captain of the Winterhawks “especially seeing the captains who have come through this organization and to be on that wall with them. I’m glad I can lead this team into the future.” After returning from Vegas, Glass has three goals and 15 assists in seven games. Yesterday he was announced as one of the 20 players to represent the WHL in the 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Playing for Team Canada is something on Glass’ mind especially as the 2019 World Juniors approach. Cody said, “One of my biggest goals right now is to make World Juniors after not making it last year. I feel this year is one where I can really shine and make a good push for a gold medal.” As the year progresses, Glass’ spot on the team should be more and more of a lock, especially as he continues to find players like Jake Gricius in front of the net.
Gricius is off to a strong start in his 19-year-old season and Mike Johnston rewarded him with an extra letter on his jersey. Jake was named one of the five players to be an alternate captain. “Obviously it is a huge honor” Gricius said when asked what being a captain means to him, “it is a great organization. Really humbling to me that my teammates and coaches have the faith in me. I’m going to do my best to be the best leader I can on this team.” One area Gricius has excelled is on the power play. His role on the special teams has changed this season, “I just park myself in front of the net. It is pretty each when you have guys like Blichfeld and Glass out there; I feel blessed to play with them.” As the season moves closer to November, Gricius’ leadership is making a difference for some of the younger players.
Robbie Fromm-Delorme is one of four 16-year-olds on roster and is making the most of his opportunities. He scored his first WHL goal on Sunday against Everett. Assistant coach Kyle Gustafson said, “it was good to see him get rewarded. Robbie has had some chances so it was good for him to bare down on the backside and put the puck in the net.” Fromm-Delorme has played in seven of the nine games for Portland but spoke about staying prepared, “you have to be mentally strong and stay focused so you are ready next time.”
One of the newest players on the Winterhawks is Haydn Delorme who was a standout from training camp and the Neely Cup. Haydn credits “finding good linemates who fed me the puck” as a main reason for his success. Delorme has seen limited game action so far playing in only one game against Tri-City in September. He describes himself as a “smart player who looks to make plays on the ice and score whenever possible.” Prior to joining the Winterhawks Delorme was playing in the BCHL and is working on the adjustment to the WHL game, “it is a big jump. The guys are a lot bigger, stronger, and faster. I want the team to have success and whatever I can do to help is my goal.”
On Sunday the Winterhawks had two forward prospects attend the game, Jack O’Brien and James Stefan. Both O’Brien and Stefan are 15-year-olds playing for Little Caesars U15 team. Both players were added to the Winterhawks’ Protected Players List as they went undrafted in this year’s bantam draft. Last weekend Mike Johnston and Kyle Gustafson traveled to watch several Winterhawks prospects play in a Tier 1 Elite Hockey League Showcase. Ty Murchison, Portland’s 2018 3rd round bantam selection, highlighted the list. Johnston describes Murchison as a “skilled defenseman who is a smooth skater. He makes smart plays at both ends of the ice.” Gustafson also is quick to offer praise, “Ty is an elite 2003 defenseman that carries himself well. He can be a pinnacle guy in a program.” Among others, Gustafson mentioned seeing Winterhawks prospects, Jackson Nieuwendyk, Matthew Knies, and Aidan Thompson. Portland had players in this tournament who participated in training camp but are not on the protected list. All players have not yet signed a standard player agreement with the Winterhawks.
