The Portland Winterhawks are set to open their season, the first with Kyle Gustafson as head coach and as defending Western Conference champs in the Western Hockey League.
Here’s a primer:
First three weekends: The Winterhawks play at Kamloops on Friday, Sept. 20 and Kelowna on Saturday, Sept. 21, and then visit Everett for a game Sept. 28. Then, it’s a couple games to open the home season — Friday, Oct. 4 vs. Victoria and Saturday, Oct. 5 vs. Prince George at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Tickets: winterhawks.com .
New coach: Gustafson, 43 and a native Portlander, takes over as head coach after spending 20 of the past 21 seasons as an assistant coach to various head coaches, mostly Mike Johnston. He was by Travis Green’s side as the Winterhawks made the 2013 Memorial Cup — Johnston was serving a season-long suspension for player benefit violations. Gustafson spent a season with the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks in 2021-22 (with Green for part of the season).
Johnston remains as president and general manager. Mike Fanelli, who worked in analytics for NHL's Edmonton and Tampa Bay, and Sven Bartschi, 31 and an ex-Winterhawk and NHL player, will be Gustafson’s assistants, and Travis Hoy the goaltender coach.
Overage players: The Winterhawks had four possible overage (20-year-old) players on their roster in training camp (for three spots). Forward Kyle Chyzowski and defenseman Ryder Thompson are likely to remain with the team; uncertain will be whether defenseman Tyler Jugnauth and goalie Jan Spunar return to juniors or play pro.
Player movement: Jugnauth, Spunar and Chyzowski, as well as D-man Carter Sotheran and forward Josh Zakreski, have been attending NHL camps. In all, including players not expected to return to Portland, 11 Winterhawks went to NHL camps.
While still maintaining their junior eligibility to play in Portland, Marek Alscher, Luca Cagnoni, Nate Danielson and Josh Davies have all signed NHL contracts and are expected to begin their professional careers. James Stefan signed with the Oilers last spring as a free agent and graduates from the WHL with 256 career points in 254 games. Marcus Nguyen, who was traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings earlier this summer, enters his final year of junior eligibility and the other five players Winterhawks invited to camp have yet to sign professional contracts and will likely return to the WHL for the 2024-25 season.
Young team: The Winterhawks advanced to within four wins (being swept by Moose Jaw in the WHL finals) of making the Memorial Cup last spring. They had a loaded roster, meaning the 2024-25 team will be younger and in development mode for a while.
“We understand where the expectation is. This level is about teaching and development and then see where you’re at later,” Gustafson said, of he and Johnston. “We had a great group last year, really had a good run, striving for a championship. We are young this year, but we have experience in the room. Kyle Chyzowski and Ryder Thompson, they’re studs,”
The likes of Ryan Miller, Kyle McDonough, Hudson Darby and Tyson Yaremko will be expected to step up and contribute right away.
Last year: Winterhawks were 48-15-1-3 in winning the U.S. Division. They led the WHL in goals for (330) and were fourth in goals against (204).
Another rink: The Winterhawks Sports Group, owner of the Winterhawks and the Winterhawks Skate Center in Beaverton, has become the new operator of the Sherwood Ice Arena in Sherwood.
It insures that Sherwood Ice Arena remained an ice rink for the local community to enjoy and, in conjunction with the Winterhawks Skate Center and seasonal access to ice at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum, will provide greater opportunity for residents of the region to participate in ice-based activities.
“This is a very exciting opportunity,” said Michael Kramer, managing partner of the Winterhawks Sports Group. “Since forming Winterhawks Sports Group, one of our primary goals has been to expose more people to ice-based activities such as hockey, figure skating and recreational skating. Over the years, Sherwood Ice Arena developed some outstanding programs and became an integral part of the Portland community. We look forward to working with the many talented professionals at Sherwood to continue providing a fun, safe, and exciting environment for everyone.”
As part of the agreement, Winterhawks Youth Hockey and Pacific Edge Hockey Association are collaborating to improve the collective youth hockey offering by taking advantage of the multiple ice arenas, training facilities, coaching expertise and industry contacts.
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