The Portland Winterhawks wrapped up their first month of hockey this season The Winterhawks are currently 6-5-2 through 13 games, and would be the seventh seed in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today. Here are storylines to follow as Portland enters November.
First, Kyle McDonough’s return to the lineup has substantially elevated Portland’s offense. In just nine games this year, McDonough has six points. That’s half of what McDonough totaled back in his first full season, where he earned 12 points in 47 games. McDonough is also at a +3 plus/minus, which is currently fifth best on the team.
After Portland’s win against the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday, Jordin St. Louis said McDonaugh is someone he can learn from with his experience in the league.
“Going in, he’ll talk to me,” St. Louis said. “He’ll tell me what to do. I’ll tell him what to do. It kinda goes both ways. You learn from him, and you see what he does. It helps a lot.”
Although it is early in the season, Portland’s goaltending looks like it’s taken a big leap forward. Cruz Chase through five starts has a Goals Against Average of 2.41 and a Save Percentage of .924. Last season, Chase was averaging just over four goals against and a save percentage of .880. The 7th round pick in 2022 by Regina also earned his second career WHL shutout, saving all 29 shots against from Penticton on October 14th. Chase then outdueled Kelowna’s Linden Sobocan on the road to earn a 3-2 shootout win on October 21st. Ondřej Štěbeták has also shown massive improvement statistically. Through nine games this year, Štěbeták has increased his Save Percentage from .897 to .926. Štěbeták has also nearly cut his Goals Against Average down by one whole goal. It may be a small sample size, but Portland is building a dangerous duo in net this season.
Lastly, in the absence of Max Pšenička, Portland’s young defensemen have shown high potential. Five of the seven other Winterhawks defensemen already have at least one point this season. Rookies like Easton Dozark have stepped up by playing in all of Portland’s 13 regular season games thus far. Dozark also earned his first ever WHL point with an assist on Jordan Duguay’s second goal of the season against Kelowna. Rookie Liam Reed also saw significant ice time on Portland’s October road trip, and came out with a positive plus/minus. On top of the rookies seeing time, new defensemen to the Winterhawks lineup have had their moments as well. Avery Laliberte had the first goal of the season for the Winterhawks, and Stevie Grumley scored his first WHL goal in Portland’s 3-1 win over Vancouver.
Winterhawks coach Kyle Gustafson said the defense competes hard no matter the role.
“I just like their willingness to buy in,” Gustafson said.
Portland starts its November slate with a showdown against the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
