Hockey season is back and so are the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks start their season with a 5-2 victory on the road, against the Kamloops Blazers. For Portland, the starting lineup looks very different from last season. Ten of the Winterhawks skaters have less than 10 regular season games played in their WHL careers. The goalies are also new to Portland, including the Winterhawks starting goaltender, Ondrej Štěbeták.
Sandman Centre in Kamloops was packed for the start of the WHL season, and the Blazers would take advantage. Kamloops would put up 25 shots through the first two periods of action. The first goal of the game would come late in the second period. After keeping the puck in the offensive zone, Zach Pantelakis would receive a pass along the boards. From there, Pantelakis would drive towards the net and be forced outside. However, Pantelakis would keep his head up and skate behind the net. Then, Pantelakis would go for a wrap-around attempt, and beat the left leg of Štěbeták to the post. Pantelakis would score with 4:16 remaining in the period, giving the Blazers a 1-0 lead.
The scoring in the second period was not done. Almost two minutes later, a stretch pass from Samuel Borschowa would find Max Sullivan at the attacking blue line. With quick footwork, Sullivan would gain a step on his defender and cut towards the middle of the zone. Sullivan would show a wrist shot, then bring the puck back to his backhand. Štěbeták stretched his leg pad out as far as he could, but Sullivan would hold steady and slide the puck just around Štěbeták’s skate. With 2:28 remaining in the second period, the Blazers had now gone up 2-0.
The Winterhawks knew they had work to do in the third, and the momentum would change just five minutes into the final frame. Off a faceoff, Portland would hold possession in the offensive zone. Ryder Thompson would skate along the boards with the puck, and work his way behind the net. Thompson then spotted Kyle Chyzowski in the nearside faceoff circle and passed him the puck. While fading towards the boards, Chyzowski quickly wristed the puck on the net. The shot would split the legs of the approaching defender, and catch Kamloops goaltender Dylan Ernst off guard. The puck would sneak under Ernst’s right leg, and stay inside the far post. Chyzowski would score the first goal of the year for Portland and cut the Blazers lead in half.
Another six minutes of the third period would tick by before the Winterhawks found another scoring chance. With Layton Feist and Marek Chaloupka sitting in the penalty box, there was a brief moment of 4-on-4 hockey. The Winterhawks were playing defense until a point-to-point pass was intercepted by Kyle Chyzowski. Winning the footrace, Chyzowski found himself on a breakaway with a defenseman hot on his trail. Chyzowski would keep his stick out away from his body to protect the puck from the attempted back checks. Then, as he reached the top of the crease, Chyzowski shifted from forehand to backhand. The puck would lift over Ernst’s left leg and hit the back of the net. With 7:53 remaining in regulation, Chyzowski had tied the game for the Winterhawks at 2-2.
The next goal would come with just under four minutes remaining. Breaking out of their own zone, Tyson Yaremko would hit a tape-to-tape pass across the neutral zone for Portland. Kyle McDonough was alone on the attacking blue line thanks to both Blazers defenders being on the same side of the ice. McDonough skated in, and from just inside the faceoff circle, ripped a shot high on Ernst. The puck would beat Ernst over his right blocker, and stay under the crossbar, giving the Winterhawks a 3-2 lead.
The pressure was on the Blazers to make a play, and the Winterhawks could sense it. With roughly two minutes remaining, all three Kamloops forwards looked to press Portland at the blue line. However, quick passing from Kyle McDonough to Tyson Yaremko set up Portland on a mini odd-man rush. Yaremko would stop with the puck after just crossing the center ice line. From the boards, Yaremko would spot Jordan Duguay skating forward with speed. Yaremko would lead a pass for Duguay, who would enter the offensive zone. With McDonough now on the far side threatening a pass, Duguay could skate in uncontested and take an inside shot. Duguay’s shot would soar past the glove of Ernst and hit twine in the back of the net. With Duguay’s first goal of the year, Portland would take a 4-2 lead.
However, there would be one more goal before the night was done. Kamloops in desperation would pull their goalie to get an extra attacker on the ice. Unfortunately for the Blazers, it would be to no avail. With eight seconds left in the game, another pass was stolen by Kyle Chyzowski. From center ice, Chyzowski would fire the puck into the empty Kamloops net. The Winterhawks would win 5-2, and Chyzowski would earn himself a hat-trick.
The next day, Portland’s opening weekend action continued with a 5-3 victory against the Kelowna Rockets. Reed Brown and Carsyn Dyck would score their first regular season goals as Winterhawks. Diego Buttazzoni would score the eventual game-winning goal, 26 seconds into the third period. However, the first star of the game would go to Tyson Yaremko for his two-goal contribution.
Portland’s next game is Saturday, Sept. 28. The Winterhawks will be on the road once more, against the Everett Silvertips. Puck drop is at 6:05pm!
Northwest Sports Desk 