September 2015

Booster Club
A 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization
HAWKEY TALK NEWSLETTER - SEPTEMBER 2015
PRE-SEASON EDITION
Presidents Message
September 2015 President's message:
Summer for Portland Winterhawks fans is often short, or
has been for the past several seasons and to be honest,
I don't see anyone wanting to end that anytime soon. It
is always very sad seeing players move from the team,
either turning pro, maxing out on age, or having to leave
the team to make room for incoming players. The Neely
Cup proved to be a great learning ground for several of
the newly signed players and a great landing point for
what will be our veteran players.
The Booster Club was very busy at the Neely Cup
promoting the Club itself, renewing and signing
members for the upcoming season, offering window
clings and information on fan trips for the year. Without a
doubt, the biggest interest came on the situation
regarding the fan trips for the year.
Realistically, the club can run three to four trips a year
depending on dates, schedule and price. For the past
several years, the club has challenged itself with
providing unique fan experiences and exciting
memories.
Since I've been involved in the fan trip business so to
speak, I've been able to pull off some fun times
crammed with a lot of memories into a short span of
time.
The longest trip was one that was done a couple years
back where we headed to Bellingham and then to
Kelowna for a pair of games before heading into
Abbotsford for an AHL game and then to Vancouver
before heading home. We've done Victoria twice and
added Vancouver to one of those trips. We hit a
Chilliwack trip the year before they moved to Victoria
and partnered it with Vancouver and then last year was
a big one; A Prince George doubleheader with a drive
day on either side was without a doubt, not only a fun
time with great visuals, but an incredible greeting from
the fans of Prince George, the team staff, the city and
more.
Continued on Page 3
Editor’s Notes
Now that Training Camp and the Toyota Family Fan Fest
have concluded we are now into the pre-season
tournaments in the U. S. Division where we will see how
our boys stack up early in the season. Frankly, after the
first weekend I feel they are doing an awesome job on
the ice; not bad for all the new Rookies and remaining
Veterans jelling so early. Although we are looking at so
many key players being away at NHL Camps very soon, I
feel our boys can hold there own.
This season the Booster Club will travel into Alberta,
Canada on the Central Swing to support our boys. We
have planned a ten (10) day six (6) game schedule with
sightseeing on the off-days. The trip information may be
obtained at the Membership Table on opening night. Or,
you can check out the Fan Bus Trip information on our
website located at www.pwhbc.com “click” on “Booster
Club Fan Trips.” We are receiving many reservations by
mail … Seats are going fast!
This season we are recommending that all Fan Bus Trip
participants look into their own personal “trip interruption
and medical evacuation” insurance. Companies can be
queried on the Internet. This is optional and outside the
scope of your booster club fan bus trip.
On Saturday, October 3, 2015 we will hold our first
Membership Meeting of the season at the Moda Center Courtside Club. Our “confirmation” of venue, date and
time has not been confirmed. If a change occurs we will
let you know through eBlast and social media. The
meeting begins at 4:30 pm.
We will have a special speaker at the meeting, and look
forward to your participation as a member of the booster
club.
Special note to those members who signed up “preseason” on or after February 1, 2015. Please come by
the Membership Table to “pick-up” your “value added”
discount card to all Office Max and Office Depot stores.
This card is available to you as a member of the Portland
Winterhawks Booster Club. (One (1) per Family)
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
http://www.pwhbc.com
Page 1
Booster Club Fan Bus Trips
(PLEASE CALENDAR THESE DATES)
CANADA CALLING - CENTRAL SWING
TEN DAYS OF HOCKEY AND SIGHTSEEING FUN!
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2016
thru
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016
Subject to Change,
please check at the Booster Club Table for updates!
2014-15
DONALD D. ICKES MEMORIAL TROPHY
MOST POPULAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Booster Club General Membership Meetings
2015-16 Hockey Season
Board Members @ 4:00 pm
General Membership @ 4:30 pm
Saturday, October 3, 2015 MC Everett
Saturday, November 7, 2015 MC Kelowna
Saturday, December 12, 2015 VMC PG
(Board: 3:00 pm Members: 3:30 pm)
Saturday, January 9, 2016 MC Kamloops
Saturday, February 6, 2016 Nominations MC Victoria
Saturday, March 12, 2016 Elections VMC Seattle
MC - Courtside Club
VMC - U S Plywood Room
ALL TIMES AND VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
HAWKEY TALK NEWSLETTER
John Fisher, Editor
Teri Kuffler, Co-Editor
Margaret “Maggie” Klein, Co-Editor
2015 - 16 Board of Directors
#27 - OLIVER BJORKSTRAND
President - Stuart Kemp
Vice President - Megan Waletich
Corporate Secretary - John Fisher
Treasurer - MaryEllen Brown
Corresponding Secretary - Cathy Kemp
Sgt at Arms - Ron Spencer
Council Member - Teri Kuffler
Council Member - Margaret “Maggie” Klein
Council Member - Marilly Wiese
Council Member - Richard Thomas
Council Member - Elke Thomas
Council Member - Marilyn Barnhart
CONTACT INFORMATION
Portland Winterhawks Booster Club (PWHBC)
Post Office Box 6768
Portland, Oregon 97228-6768
Website: www.pwhbc.com
Email: “[email protected]”
Twitter.com - “PWHBC”
Facebook.com: - “Portland Winterhawks Booster Club” and at
“PortlandWinterhawks BoosterClub”
At All Home Games Staff Are Available at the Booster Club Table
HAWKEY TALK NEWSLETTER
Email: [email protected]
FM RADIO ASSIGNMENTS IN VENUES: VMC 87.9 / MC (RG) 98.1
BOOSTER CLUB LOCATIONS: VMC “CC” / MC “A-12”
Your Portland Winterhawks Booster Club has won the
top award for “Non-Profit Transparency” and ranks
within the top 3,000 of the tens-of-thousands of NonProfits Nationwide.
Check out www.pwhbc.com and “click” on the
GuideStar Box at the top of the page for details.
Page 2
WHL moving to 3-on-3 overtime format in
effort to reduce shootouts
The NHL recently opted to change its overtime format to
allow a five-minute period of 3-on-3 hockey following a 60
-minute stalemate, and its little brother, the CHL, will be
following suit.
The CHL has been known to follow the lead of its big
league counterpart — like it did with its playoff format last
season — and 3-on-3 overtime proves to be no different.
“We kind of mirror the NHL rules as much as possible,”
said WHL vice president of hockey operations Rick
Doerksen. “Along with our counterparts in Ontario and
Quebec, the Canadian Hockey League decided that all
three leagues will play the same overtime rules the NHL
is using.”
The reason for the change is simple, to allow more
games to be decided in overtime without resorting to a
shootout, thus creating a more accurate portrayal of the
standings come post-season. While shootouts are
ultimately exciting, I’m on the side that would rather see a
real goal decide an on-ice contest. If I’m being honest, I’d
rather see a tie than a shootout — especially considering
the skills contest can play a hefty hand in determining
playoff position.
“I think for people that look at it that way, that will certainly
be advantageous,” said Doerksen.
Shootouts ultimately remove the team element from the
game, reducing the competition to a matter of individual
skill, only to take away the shootout when the postseason rolls around. While it’s unanimously agreed that
the shootout holds no place in playoff hockey, there are
still many supporters of its presence in the regular season
due to the excitement it provides.
That said, 3-on-3 hockey always provides a thrill, and it
doesn’t remove the team element from the game.
PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE (continued from Page 1)
How can you top something like that? Well...it's pretty
much at the maximum one can really do, but there is one
more trip up our sleeve.
During the return from Prince George, the conversation
headed to this upcoming season and where people
would like to go. I had been given a heads up that a
couple of things would be different in terms of where the
season would start and also where trips might work. With
this information, I asked those aboard the bus if they
would be interested in a bit longer trip. A resounding yes
was made and shortly thereafter, phone calls and emails
started. They have continued through the summer and
continue to this writing. The end result is that the Booster
Club is going to attempt its longest trip in thirty years and
comprise a six game, ten day trip as the Central Swing.
The basic itinerary is online now and the full itinerary will
be available shortly. It is a lot of work to put this together
and for this reason, we are taking just one bus. There is
going to be limited seating available and once we fill the
bus, that's it. We are looking into other localized trips this
year and will have those nailed down shortly, but the big
one is obviously "the Swing".
We are also finishing off the list of dates for Booster Club
meetings and other event dates. One thing we have
finalized is raffles. Starting this season off right, we will
offer a double jersey raffle with 2 winners each receiving
a jersey. We also are offering a beautiful crocheted
afghan which has been generously donated as a raffle
with a draw date just before Christmas. More will be
announced at the first Booster Club meeting and at all
home games.
Get ready, it's going to be an incredible season and thank
you for being a part of it.
The AHL overtime model features seven minutes of
sudden death, starting with three minutes of 4-on-4 and
extending into four minutes of 3-on-3 if necessary, and
it’s done wonders for the game, with 75 percent of
overtime games decided without resorting to a shootout
in 2014-15 — while 65 per cent of games extending past
regulation required a shootout in 2013-14. The WHL saw
64 games decided in overtime last season, while 69 went
all the way to a shootout. That's a lot of games riding on a
single breakaway chance.
“We’ve been advised that going to 3-on-3, we should
have a much higher rate of games being determined in 3on-3 as opposed to the shootout,” said Doerksen.
I’m personally on the side of doing anything possible to
remove the shootout from the equation, as I believe it has
the potential to muddle the standings and frankly I find it
far less exciting than the game itself.
On that note, I happily support the inclusion of 3-on-3
hockey at the WHL level, and I’m excited to see how
things unfold this season.
(*) HockeyNow - September 2, 2015 - Ryan
McCracken
THE BOOSTER CLUB
AT THE TOYOTA FAMILY FAN FEST
AFTER THE FINAL GAME
OF THE NEELY CUP
Page 3
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WINTERHAWKS TEAM BUS
Page 4
WINTERHAWKS TRAINING CAMP
AUGUST 2015
BORN TO
PLAY HOCKEY
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF
JIMMY BUDINSKI
Page 5
ON THE NEEY CUP: AND YOU ARE
By Samantha Meese - August 30, 2015
The math:
Neely Cup Champions: Team Dafoe. Notable names on the roster: Paul Bittner, Cody Glass, Carter Czaikowski,
Blake Heinrich, Brendan De Jong, Adam Tisdale, Alex Overhardt and Ethan Middendorf.
Second place: Team Langkow. Notable names on the roster: Dylan Burton, Alex Schoenborn, Royce
Rossignol, Jack Flaman, Adin Hill, Austin Gray, Conor MacEachern, Noah Lee and Keoni Texeira.
Third place: Team May. Notable names on the roster: Caleb Jones, Rodrigo Abols, Skyler McKenzie, Keegan
Iverson and Michael Bullion.
Honorable mention: Team LaBarbera. Notable names on the roster: Reed Morison, Dominic Turgeon, Jackson
Caller and Nick Heid. Oh, and there's that new kid, too:
The hype is real: Jack Dougherty. If you're headed to Everett this weekend, you'll see what I mean.
Kids, don't try this at home: I thought it would be a good idea to put myself on the injured reserve list with a
broken ankle and a ruptured tendon for the balance of the summer. It was the first time I realized how important good
health really is to players and how much sitting this one out really sucks. Tyler Wotherspoon confirmed this when I saw
him over the summer at the Winterhawks' charity golf tournament. He is doing well with Calgary and just happy to be
back in the game and at full strength. Speaking of which:
Do the math: Three players who definitely had better off-seasons than me are Paul Bittner, Dominic Turgeon and
Alex Schoenborn. After being drafted 38th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in June, Paul signed with the team
over the summer. Will the Blue Jackets take their cue from Portland and put him back on a line with Oliver Bjorkstrand?
Time will tell, but I don't think anyone around here will complain if they do. Dominic doubled down on his playoff
experience last spring when he joined the Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout contract while they were in the
middle of the AHL playoffs. He also signed with the Detroit Red Wings, took a much deserved vacation to Mexico,
traveled to Montreal for a family wedding and then went back home to Colorado. Alex, meanwhile, was on fire at the
Neely Cup, where he got in on way more scoring action than he usually does during a game. What's his off-season
secret? Golf, fishing, training and working out. Or, as he puts it, "the usual." Like I said...waaaaaayyyyy better than my
off-season.
Don't we know you?: If you've been wondering what Sven Bartschi has been up to since the trade to the
Vancouver Canucks, have no fear. He's coming to this NHL season ready to play. I talked to him at the summer golf
tournament and he's as excited to be a Canuck as they are to have him. Credit some of it to his time in the AHL under
Utica Comets Head Coach Travis Green, about which he said, "Travis knows me and he knows how to get the best out
of me." I'm headed to the Young Stars tournament in Penticton in a few weeks. If Sven is on the Canucks roster, look
for more choice tidbits and soundbites.
Where have you been hiding?: Jack Flaman spent most of last season on the concourse hobnobbing with
fans. If the Neely Cup is any indication, I wouldn't expect to see too much of him in the stands this year. I don't know
what he did over the summer, but I'll catch up to him later and find out. He was all business this year, which I'm not
surprised by; spending nearly a full season on the scratch list will do that to you.
Oh Captain, my Captain: With Nic Petan off to bigger and better things with the Winnipeg Jets, my early
season prediction for 2015 - 2016 Captain is Dominic. From the minute he set foot on Winterhawks ice, he has been
solid, reliable, trustworthy and mature well beyond his years. Add his hockey pedigree to the mix and he's a solid
choice for Captain. My second choice is Paul. He was also on fire at the Neely Cup, where he demonstrated a lot of
natural leadership alongside a roster that included eight players born in the year 2000. On that note:
Help! I've fallen into the generation gap and I can't get up!: When I looked down at the Neely Cup rosters, I
thought there was a typo in the DOB column, where 32 players are listed as being born in 2000. I was 32 when they
were born. I don't even remember what I was doing in 2000, let alone the eighties when I was their age. I do know that
in the big scheme of things, 47 isn't old. But spend a weekend with 15 - 20 year olds, and you will feel your age
whether you like it or not.
Continued on Page 10
Page 6
SEPTEMBER 2015
On August 26, 2015 we kicked off the Winterhawks’ annual training camp with fitness
testing at the Moda Center.
Approximately 75 players arrived from all over the western United States, Canada and as
far as Latvia for Training Camp.
We began the weekend by dividing our prospects and returning players into four teams.
This year, after Adin Hill’s selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, the teams were named in
honor of highly-drafted former Winterhawks goaltenders Byron Dafoe, Jason LaBarbera,
Scott Langkow and Darrell May, Sr.
On Thursday, returning players, prospects, scouts, and the coaching staff headed out to
the Winterhawks Skating Center to begin the Neely Cup intrasquad tournament. The
demanding tournament schedule packed full of practices and games each day
showcased the talent the Winterhawks draw each year as the four teams – with equal
parts veterans and prospects -- competed for the Neely Cup.
Sunday morning, Team Dafoe was crowned the 2015 Neely Cup champions with the help of some big performances,
led by Paul Bittner’s five goals during the tournament. Returning Winterhawks and prospects alike made an impact in
this year’s Neely Cup tournament, with balanced scoring throughout the weekend between both the veterans and the
younger players looking to earn a spot on the roster in the near future.
Between the Neely Cup and the impending preseason, it already feels like we’re in the swing of the hockey season.
Preseason play begins this weekend in Everett, where we will start to get a sense for the competition we will face from
within our division when we play Spokane, Tri-Cities and the host Silvertips for the first time this season.
Just two short days later, we will head to the Tri-Cities for the second half of our preseason schedule, where we will play
Prince George, Spokane and Everett again before we head back to Portland to host our first-ever preseason game at
the Winterhawks Skating Center. It will be an exciting opportunity for Winterhawks fans to catch some long-awaited
Hawks action in an intimate setting like the team’s practice facility.
The upcoming weeks will be packed with hard work as the players, both veterans and rookies, prepare for the long
season ahead. Many of our players will soon join their respective NHL teams when they attend development camp. For
some players, this will be another chance to solidify their reputations with their NHL club; for others, they will be
attending their first NHL preseason camp and will have the opportunity to show teams what they can do.
Another busy preseason lies ahead, and I am looking forward to getting started up again in my second season behind
the bench.
PAUL BITTNER LED
TEAM DEFOE TO
THE NEELY CUP
TITLE
PAUL BITTNER with
COACH KOMPON
Page 7
By Todd Vrooman, Radio Announcer and Broadcast Communications
Manager for the Hawks. Catch him with Andy Kemper bringing you the best
of Portland Winterhawks hockey on the radio…
Hockey is back! And in the Rose City that occasion is marked every year by
the Neely Cup, the return of the Portland Winterhawks, and the promise of a
new season. This year there’s a lot to be excited about for the Hawks, both as
a team and for the individuals on the team. For nearly half the Winterhawks’
team, this time of year is a huge opportunity to impress the NHL clubs who
either drafted them or are inviting them to their camps as free agents.
Watching Veteran WHL players play with young prospects, I became
thoughtful about the process of the WHL development schedule. For the 15
year-old players at the Neely Cup, the pace and difficulty of that camp was
higher than any level of hockey they’ve played before. They absorb everything like a sponge, and when
they go back to their midget teams this fall, they’ll bring that increased speed and improved practice
habits to their team.
For the veterans at the Neely Cup, the pace of the Neely Cup and even preseason pales in comparison
to their experiences last year in a WHL Conference Final. But the focus on their preparation that they’ve
learned previously, and the importance of making sure they’re in top shape when they head off to NHL
camps. Then they get dumped into the deep end of an NHL camp, which for those NHL veterans feels
like a slow warmup. NHL prospect camps can often throw a monkey wrench into a team’s early
campaign, with many WHL stars missing the first few games of the WHL season. But the experiences of
those players are brought back and raise the level of everyone.
For some players for the Hawks, they’ll be heading to an NHL camp for the first time. Paul Bittner will
come with high expectations, having already signed his first NHL contract with the Blue Jackets. For
Keoni Texeira on the other hand, he’s looking to impress enough to force the Washington Capitals to feel
they need to ensure that his hockey future is spent in their organization. They finished a weekend in
Everett, being the biggest fishes in the pond, before suddenly flying off to play with players who are
bigger, faster, stronger and more experienced than them.
The growth and progress that comes out of this process improves the individuals within a team and
consequently the team itself. For a WHL team, the cyclical nature of junior hockey makes it difficult to
keep this process going consistently within their organization. The fact that the Winterhawks have had
around 10 players per year head off to NHL camps consistently over the last half-dozen years allows the
entire organization to be filled with players who have significant experience playing at a level higher than
the WHL.
Combined with the players who’ve had experience at international level, the
Winterhawks have been able to create a culture of success which plays a
large part in the nearly unprecedented consistency the Hawks have had
recently. Scouting and recruiting talent is crucial, but so is the development of
that talent. So while we’ll certainly see the impact of players being absent for
the early season for the Hawks, the positive nature of the growth of those
individuals carries a positive impact for the organization for years.
Page 8
By Samantha Meese
On the 2015 – 2016 Season: Championship Preferred, Not Required
First things first: Let’s face it, the big question on everyone’s mind this season is
“can the Portland Winterhawks win another Western Conference title this year?”
This is my sixth season covering the Winterhawks for Oregonlive, and it is the first one in which the team will enter
the season without a championship to defend. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel weird. That is, until I talked to Alex
Schoenborn at training camp about whether the team will play any differently when the pressure of the “Drive for
Five” isn’t on them. The answer was decidedly no: “We will play the same. We want it just the same.” And with that,
Alex’s words are going to be my motto for the season: think like a champion. Period. End of story. No exceptions.
The rest will follow. That being said, if the Winterhawks want to act like champions and take back that U.S. Division
title from the Silvertips, I don’t think anyone around here will mind. Speaking of which:
Now playing: The pre-season officially got underway in Everett and here’s what I know already about this season:
1. Alex Overhardt is going to have a scorching second season.
2. Rodrigo Abols and Jack Dougherty are the real deal.
3. The Spokane Chiefs cannot live on Kailer Yamamoto alone.
4. Welcome back to the WHL, Ethan Price (now wearing number 8 for the Victoria Royals, and ya’ know, scoring his
team’s first goal on the power play).
5. I now see why the Detroit Red Wings signed 5’7” defenseman Joe Hicketts as a free agent.
6. If you’re not already taking the Everett Silvertips and Seattle Thunderbirds seriously, you should be.
7. Don’t mess with Paul Bittner; he bites back.
Sign here, please: First prize for warm and fuzzy kitten moment of the summer generally goes to the players
who signed their NHL deals over the summer, notably Dominic Turgeon and Paul Bittner. Adin Hill looked pretty
sharp in his Arizona Coyotes jersey too. Like most players, you may recall from his rookie profile that one of Adin’s
goals was to get drafted. Next on the list of things to do this season, if the Coyotes know what’s good for them: sign
that boy on the dotted line. You’ll thank me later.
Honorable mention for warm and fuzzy kitten moment of the off-season:
Obviously that would be Chase De Leo, who posted a Tweet/photo of Miss
Maddy, who made a state visit to see him on her summer vacation.
New and notable: The Neely Cup breaks up the players into separate rosters,
so we have yet to see how they will play as one team. What I do know is that
there was a lot of individual talent at camp this year. Alex was on fire, what a
difference a signed NHL deal makes for Paul and as I’ve already predicted on my
Oregonlive blog, Dominic is my choice for Captain this year. I knew returning
players would lather, rinse, and repeat in the “come ready to play” department.
What I really had my eye on were the incoming rookies. My personal favorite:
defenseman Conor MacEachern. He pays attention to what’s happening around
him, he’s got good natural instincts and he looks like a smart cookie.
Continued on Page 10
Page 9
ON THE NEELY CUP … AND YOU
YOU ARE
ARE (Continued
(Continuedfrom
fromPage
Page
6)6)
And you are?: I didn't recognize most of the players who reported to camp this year, either because they were
brand new or because they grew about eight inches since last year's training camp. Even Dominic acknowledged that
there were a lot of new faces out there this year. It may be a whole new hockey game this year, but it's going to be a
good one. There was a lot of talent whizzing around Winterhawks skating center this weekend. I'd keep my eye on the
following in the pre-season and beyond: Conor MacEachern, Cody Glass, Carter Czaikowski, Jack Dougherty,
Rodrigo Abols, Austin Gray, Dylan Burton and of course, Caleb Jones.
Think like a champion, you'll be a champion: There was one other significant difference at training camp this
year. It could be that there are no banners to raise this year or it could just be the realization that so many players who
were popular for so long are gone. Whatever it was, it was more subdued and businesslike than I remember in recent
years. The excitement that usually accompanies defending championships and the return of five-star players like
Oliver or Nic didn't seem to be there. But that's not going to stop the boys from playing the game like they always
have. When I asked Alex whether they will play the game any differently in a season where they are not defending a
championship, he said "No. We play the same way and we want it the same." And there you have it. This may or may
not be a championship season, but that's ok. Because the Winterhawks will always play like champions, and that's
what counts.
On the horizon: I'm off to Everett this weekend for our first real look at the U.S. Division. After that, look for
more adventures from Penticton, where I'll be attending the NHL's annual Young Stars Tournament.
__________________________________________________________________________________
The Face-Off Spot
(continued from Page 9)
If it were up to me, I’d make that a permanent arrangement. Other names to watch this season: Austin Gray, Royce Rossignol,
Carter Czaikowski, and a newly signed goalie with the absolute best Twitter “pen name” ever: Ethan Middendorf (aka Thor
Maximus). Early predictions have Michael Bullion as the primary back-up to Adin, with Ethan in reserve, so we may not see much
of him this season. But it’s early yet, and I wouldn’t let that stop you from following him on Twitter.
Truth in advertising: Cody Glass, Jack Dougherty and Rodrigo Abols. Rodrigo has been invited to the Young Stars Tournament. I
am headed to Penticton to cover all the action. Look for Tweets and dispatches from the long weekend extravaganza, which runs
from Sept. 11 – 14.
Keep the enemy closer: Something tells me that the battle for the U.S. Division this year will be waged by the Silvertips, the
Thunderbirds and the Winterhawks. But, I wouldn’t count the Spokane Chiefs out this early in the game. Notably, Spokane natives
Keanu and Kailer Yamamoto are a two-headed monster who should be taken seriously at all times.
What, no shootouts? As expected, the WHL will be adopting a 3-on-3 overtime format this season in an effort to cut down on
shootouts. Hello, my name is Samantha and I love shootouts. Some of my favorite moments in hockey involved one man, one
puck and one goalie; my favorite being Sidney Crosby’s shootout winner in the 2006 Winter Classic. If the WHL wants to spoil my
one-woman party, I guess I’ll learn to live with it. But I’ll never say in all honesty that I like it.
Championship preferred, not required: Championships are never really required of a team, but after four seasons of them, you
learn how much you really do prefer them. After a relatively business-like Neely Cup, it’s hard to say what will happen this year.
For my two cents, this season isn’t going to be about what trophy the Winterhawks can take back, whether they will stay on top of
the U.S. Division or Western Conference standings or how many goals they will score. It’s about digging deeper into my own heart
to decide what I truly believe in and how willing I really am to get behind my team no matter what. I realized this past weekend it’s
easier said than done. I was asked multiple times, “do you think we have another shot at the Western Conference title?” It had
become a habit to answer yes without question, but for the first time in a long time, I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud with total
confidence. I began to wonder what kind of fan I really am. How dare I not have faith that the Winterhawks can win another
championship? Who am I to judge or doubt them? But then I realized why I couldn’t shout “YES” from the rooftops like I usually do.
It’s not that I don’t believe they can. It’s that I don’t care whether they do or not. The Winterhawks will deliver the goods this season:
the Neely Cup was early evidence of that. Whether the goods include a trophy (or two) doesn’t concern me like it has in years past.
All I want is for the team to do exactly what Alex told me they will: play like champions. A banner can be affected by a lot of things
that are out of players’ control: fate, the hockey gods, plain old luck, the home and away schedule, the trade deadline and injury.
Playing like a champion is the one thing that they have total control over and it’s the one thing that, unlike shootouts, never goes
out of style. It’s who the Winterhawks are and it’s why they’re here. Come to think of it, it’s why we’re all here. And that’s more than
good enough for me.
Page 10
From the Dub: And They’re Back
By Samantha Meese - September 3, 2015
The new season is officially underway here in the WHL, where the Western Conference teams held training camps
over the past week. In Portland, top NHL prospects Paul Bittner, Dominic Turgeon and Jack Dougherty were on
display. North of us, Mathew Barzal, name-to-watch Nolan Volcan and Nick Merkley were getting it done at training
camps in Seattle and Kelowna. In Everett, the big news was about a player who didn't report to training camp: Auston
Matthews, who has chosen to play in Switzerland this year instead. It's just another week at the office here in the
Western Hockey League, where pre-season drama and hype are just part of the major junior hockey game.
Bye off-season. Bye bye now: Dominic, Paul and San Jose Sharks prospect Alex Schoenborn were having
the times of their lives this summer. Golf and fishing (Alex), signing NHL deals (Dominic and Paul), Mexico and
Montreal for a family wedding (Dominic); you name it, they did it this summer. But when you talk to players at training
camp, no matter what they did on their summer vacation, they will all tell you the same thing: they are glad to be back
at it and playing again. Because really, no matter how good life off the ice is, it's always better when hockey is back in
business.
Do you know the way to San Jose?: Sharks fans, take note. Alex usually spends a good chunk of his ice time
in the penalty box, but this year he was on fire at the Portland Winterhawks' annual Neely Cup. After a summer of
golf, fishing, working out and training, he looks ready to play a whole new hockey game. I'll keep you posted on his
progress. If he gets an invite to Sharks training camp, pay attention. I think you'll like the new and improved player
that you see. Fun fact: Alex used to be Oliver Bjorkstrand's billet roommate here in Portland and he is personally
responsible for taking the two of them to see "Resident Evil" one night. And that's how I know that Oliver doesn't like
zombie movies.
Columbus is the new Portland: Paul Bittner was expected to be drafted in the first round this year, but things
happen for a reason. He will join his former linemate Oliver Bjorkstrand in Columbus, along with former Winterhawks
Ryan Johansen and Brandon Dubinsky. Naturally, Portland looks forward to the day when Columbus puts them back
on a line together. I'd highly suggest Columbus at least give it a try, because Paul and Oliver are like two halves of
the same player. Whatever the Blue Jackets opt to do with our boys this season, one thing is for sure: the Columbus
Blue Jackets now have a fan base in Portland.
Fun facts:


When he was a rookie, I bought Ryan a pizza at a local meet and greet with fans, courtesy of a winning raffle
ticket. I paid for the pizza and I got to spend the evening doing what was essentially the first interview I ever did
with him. I have never won anything in my life: not a winning lottery ticket, not a raffle. Nothing. I'm like the
antichrist of contests: totally useless. But on that one night, I hit the jackpot. True story: The $12 I used to pay for
the pizza was exactly all the cash I had left in my wallet.
Friendly reminder: For the past three seasons, Oliver has scored on a hat trick on my birthday, which he has
known since he did it the first time. So if the Blue Jackets are playing on or around January 26 this season, could
a local Columbus Blue Jacket fan kindly remind him it's time once again for the annual birthday hat trick? Tell him
Samantha in Portland said hi and thank you.
City of Brotherly Love: Further East, the Spokane Chiefs look to be led once again by brothers Keanu and
Kailer Yamamoto. They are the first Spokane-born siblings to play for the team on the same roster. They were a force
to be reckoned with last year and I expect more of the same this year, especially from Kailer. Even watching from a
distance via Twitter, it looks like they tore it up at training camp. Fun fact: Last year, I sat next to them and their
teammates at breakfast at the pre-season tournament in Everett. Kailer Yamamoto loves ketchup and puts it on
everything. As for his teammates, they pretty much cleaned out the breakfast buffet, leaving the rest of us to pick
through the scraps. Pre-game strategy note to self: Steal the ketchup bottle this year. It could change the outcome of
the Chiefs' pre-season game with the Winterhawks.
Keep the enemy closer: The big letdown for the defending U.S. Division champions involved Auston
Matthews, the projected number one pick in the 2016 Entry Draft. The Everett Silvertips held his rights, but he has
signed a deal to play in Switzerland instead. Mind, that's only if you're a Silvertips fan. For the rest of us, it's one less
superstar opponent for our boys to deal with.
Continued on Page 17
Page 11
PAUL BITTNER SIGNS WITH COLUMBUS
August 20, 2015 - Portland Winterhawks
forward Paul Bittner has signed a three-year
entry level contract with the Columbus Blue
Jackets. Bittner was selected in the second
round, 38th overall, in the June National
Hockey League Draft.
Bittner set career-highs last season with 34
goals and 37 assists for 71 points in 66 games.
In three seasons with the Winterhawks, he has
68 goals and 75 assists for 143 points in 174
games.
“Paul’s overall game has really improved this
year, which was evident by where he was
drafted by Columbus,” said Portland
Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach
Jamie Kompon. “Since then, he elevated his
play while at the Blue Jackets Development
Camp as well as Team USA’s National Junior
Evaluation Camp, which made a strong
impression on the Blue Jackets staff. That
impression has now earned him his entry-level
contract with Columbus. We are extremely
excited for Paul and his family.”
Bittner attended the United States National
Junior Team Evaluation Camp earlier this
month, as he looks to earn a spot on the U.S.
National Junior Team that will take part in the
2016 International Ice Hockey Federation
World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2015 Jan. 5, 2016, in Helsinki, Finland.
SKYLER MACKENZIE Q and A
August 5, 2015 - Winterhawks center Skyler McKenzie
was one of the players at the team's annual Hockey
School last week. McKenzie is fresh off of a 65-game
rookie campaign with the Winterhawks last year and is
now looking ahead to 2015-16.
How's your summer been so far? "It’s been really good,
it feels like we left Portland a week ago and now we’re
already back. It’s been great, can’t ask for a better
summer that’s for sure."
What kind of training have you been doing in the offseason? "I've been going hard in the gym, five days a
week and on the ice about three or four times a week
too."
What’s the biggest lesson you learned in your rookie
season this past year? “Just stay patient with
everything. You’re going to get your shot and your
opportunity, but you just have to stick with the game plan
and everything falls into place."
What was the biggest positive when you look back at
your rookie season? "Learning from all of the older
guys. They taught me a lot of things on and off the ice,
pretty much everything. They taught me how to be a
leader so coming into next year it’s definitely going to be
playing that leadership role for the younger guys and the
guys who are just coming into the league."
We’re graduating a few high scoring players and veterans, do you sense an opportunity in the lineup for you
this year? "I hope so, I have my work cut out for me
definitely but hopefully I can crack one of those top
lineups. But if not, like I said, stick with the game plan
and everything falls into place."
Do you have any goals for the upcoming season? "The
team goal is to win the Memorial Cup this year, but other
than that have a good team year here and hopefully we
can live up to the expectations of the Portland
Winterhawks team."
Continued on Page 13
Page 12
Skyler MacKenzie Q and A (continued from Page
12)
How different is the mindset going into your second
year? "Having that experience under your belt really
helps out, but it’s the same. You’re going in having the
expectation that you’re going to have to work for every
bit of ice that you get but if you don’t, then you’re not
going to play. It doesn’t change very much, but having
that experience really helps out."
What was it like working with the kids at Hockey School
all last week? “It’s been great, these young kids bring
so much excitement and so much energy. It brings me
back to the days that I was that age, so it’s really
awesome."
_____________________________________
‘
What do they want to see from you at main camp?
“They want to see me work my hardest and be in the
best shape I can be when I get there. They’re really
keen on keeping your body in good shape, so I have to
make sure I keep working out this summer and be in
top shape when I show up there.”
At this time last year, could you have envisioned how
the season would go where you’d become the number
one goalie in January, lead the league in save percentage and then get drafted? “You have those goals set
in your mind. It’s one thing to think of them, but to actually do them feels a lot different. It’s a cool experience
for sure, and I’m hoping I can set some other high
goals this year and achieve those too.”
What are those goals? “I want us to get to the Memorial Cup. It’ll be a tough journey but playing in that tournament would be an honor, and hopefully winning the
championship.”
Does going into this season as the #1 goalie change
your mindset? “Not at all. You just have to work hard
on and off the ice and make sure you’re getting better
every day. You have to keep improving because your
team needs you out there and hopefully it’ll be an exciting year this year.”
ADIN HILL Q and A
August 3, 2015 - Among the players at Winterhawks
Hockey School last week was goaltender Adin Hill.
Fresh off being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes, we
caught up with him to ask about the Draft, stepping into
the #1 role last season and looking ahead to 2015-16.
What was it like to hear your name called at the Draft?
“It was a really cool experience. Sitting in the building
in Florida, there’s a little bit of shock when you finally
hear your name called but it was exciting. There are no
words to describe the feeling.”
What was that day like?
“After I got drafted I went up to the box they had in the
arena and met the staff. After that I hung out with my
family the rest of the day. I was at the rink for three
hours after I got drafted and after that I had the rest of
the day to myself.”
On another note, what’s it like getting on the ice and
working with the kids at Hockey School? “It’s a cool
experience. You remember when you’re a little kid looking up to other older players, so it’s cool to be on the
reverse side of that. Working with the kids and seeing
their improvement through the week is really cool.”
Did you go to camps with notable players when you
were a kid? “I went to one camp that was Jarome
Iginla’s Hockey School. I got to meet him there and that
was just after he won the gold medal for Team Canada.
I got a picture with his gold medal and so I can kind of
relate to what these kids feel like, except I’m obviously
not on the same level as Iginla. It was a cool experience for sure.”
Going into your 19-year-old year, do you feel like you
can take a leadership role this season? “Definitely. I’ll
have to be more of a leader this season. Last year was
my rookie season so I wasn’t in as big of a leadership
role but this year I’ll have to do that a little more.”
What did you and your family do to celebrate?
“We had a nice dinner, some good Mexican food down
in Florida. Then we went to the beach and the pool at
the hotel, so it was a nice day.”
What was summer development camp like with the
Coyotes? “That was cool, they treat you like gold
there, like you’re a superstar. It’s unreal the treatment
you get. It’s a great experience, a high pace of play, it
was fun for sure.”
Page 13
The team is graduating a few of last year’s veteran
defensemen, do you sense a big opportunity for you this
year? “I do, I just need to come in and play my game
and we’ll see what happens from there.”
You’re at Winterhawks Hockey School, what’s it like to
be on the ice and working with the kids all week? “It’s
great, I’ve never really done much like this before but it’s
a great opportunity to see the kids and all their potential
and help them work. I know they look up to us so it’s
pretty cool to be able to work with them.”
Nick Heid Q+A
Did you ever attend camps as a kid that were attended
by NHL/pro/junior/college players? “Yeah, I did tons of
camps as a kid and I did some like this before. It’s a
great experience learning from older players and older
coaches.”
July 29, 2015 - Winterhawks defenseman Nick Heid
had his rookie campaign cut short by shoulder surgery
last season, but put in months of rehab in order to be
ready for 2015-16. We caught up with him at Hockey
School this week.
When you were a kid, how did these camps help your
game? “It really drove me and it made me want to be
like them because I looked up to those players like
these players look up to us.”
Last season didn’t quite go the way you wanted it to with
your shoulder surgery, can you tell us about your
summer and what you’ve been doing to rehab? “Last
season wasn’t ideal, but this summer I really had to push
myself and work extra hard to rehab my shoulder. I’ve
been doing lots of skating and lots of exercising just so I
can be ready come time for the season.”
The team just signed Jack Dougherty, that means that
we will have five Minnesota boys on the team this year.
What will that be like? “It’s something else…It’s
definitely pretty sweet. Dougherty is a great player and
I’m excited to see him be a Winterhawk. I played with
him in Sioux Falls USHL camp so I’ve played against
him a little bit.”
How many days a week were you doing your rehab?
“Seven days a week, just constantly working on it. It’s
been six months so I’m coming in (to training camp) at
full strength.”
Is the perception of Minnesota changing about routes to
hockey? “I’ve been skating with mostly WHL guys this
summer. It’s becoming a lot bigger out there and it’s
great to see kids knowing what they can choose as their
route to the NHL.”
Had you suffered any kind of serious injury before?
“Just minor bumps and bruises. This is my first time
being through something like this, it’s a good learning
experience.”
What’s your mindset now as you enter the 2015-16
season?“ You can’t take anything for granted. Once
you’re out of the lineup you see how much you’re missing out on, so you just have to play every game like it’s
your last.”
What was that process like for you when you were
making that decision, choosing NHL or college?
“Minnesota hockey pushes college, but I wanted to keep
an open mindset and just coming to camp really made
me want to sign. I loved it out here and loved everything
about it and felt comfortable. In my heart, I knew it was
the right decision
How tough was that for you last had to watch from the
stands and not be down there on the ice? “It was
heartbreaking but I was still trying to get involved with
the team, trying to do whatever I could to be with the
team and hang out with all of the guys.”
What’s the biggest thing you learned having to be sitting
on the stands? “I just watched, I tried to learn from the
game like that and tried to soak in as much as I could so
I could still be improving while I was here.”
What are your goals for the season on the ice? “Come
in and be a regular player, I’d like to get a full season
under my belt and just work hard.”
Page 14
You’re going into your fourth season with the team, and
20-year-old year, your last year in the WHL. Do you see
yourself as taking on a bigger leadership role on the
team and what kind of responsibilities will that mean for
you?
“I see myself as a leader this year and I think Jamie
(Kompon) sees me as that, and expects that being a
fourth year member of the team and a 20-year-old. I
want to be the best role model for the younger guys just
like our 20-year-olds were when I was a first year so I’m
definitely holding myself accountable for that.”
Alex Schoenborn Q+A
Winterhawks forward Alex Schoenborn is in town
assisting at Winterhawks Hockey School. We caught up
with him to see what he’s been up to this summer and
his thoughts on the upcoming season.
What have you been up to this summer? “A lot of fishing, going to the lake, working out, skating, trying to stay
in shape for the season.”
What was your best catch when you were fishing? “I
caught a 50-pound paddlefish this year in North Dakota
on the Yellowstone River.”
Back on the ice, you went to summer development
camp with the San Jose Sharks. What was it like the
second time around? “It was really good this year. I
was a lot more comfortable knowing what to expect.
They were really happy with my performance there this
year so we will see what happens coming up.”
What kind of feedback did you get about what San Jose
wants to see from you this upcoming season? “They
want me to be confident with the puck and be a leader
on and off the ice. They thought I did a lot better job this
year. My first year (at SJ camp) I was kind of quiet, I was
taking it all in, but this year I kind of led the rookies so
they liked that. They know what to expect from me and
they know what I expect of myself so I just have to do it
now.”
What kind of goals do they want to see you set with the
Winterhawks? “San Jose wants me to be a leader and
to be a top dog. We’re losing quite a few players this
year, but to be one of the top players and to have the
team benefit from my play.”
As you look back on your last few years with the Hawks,
who are some of the players whose leadership would
you like to emulate as you become one of the older guys
on the team? “My first year, Troy Rutkowski was a very
good captain for us. Taylor Leier was another really good
captain, Nic Petan, they’re all great players. You want to
live up to that expectation and the way they treated the
players, and their attitude on and off the ice so that’s
what I’m going to try to do this year.”
Is it hard to believe that you’re in your last season in the
WHL? “It is, I feel like I started yesterday to be honest.
It’s going to go fast, I know that.”
You’re at Winterhawks Hockey School this week, what’s
it like to come work with the kids in Portland for a week?
“The kids look up to us. It’s good because this is an
important development time for them and the kids so far
are doing really well this year. I know a lot of familiar faces and they’ve improved a lot.”
“Did you go to camps a lot as a kid? Were there any
NHL/junior/college players who worked with you when
you were growing up? “I always went to University of
North Dakota Sioux Camp. TJ Oshie and Jonathan
Toews were a few of my counselors at Sioux and I really
looked up to them and I think that was a big part of me
developing as a young player.”
In your time with the Winterhawks, you’ve been to a few
championship series including when the team won it in
2013. Is there pressure on you guys now as veterans to
keep that winning tradition alive? “There’s definitely
pressure. The younger guys expect us to lead the group
since we’ve been there. The older guys we have here
are going to be good leaders to give us a chance to go
really far in the playoffs again. The second year guys are
going to be ready to go, they got a little taste of it last
year so I think it’s going to be a good year.”
What about personal goals for the upcoming season?
What do you want to improve on this season? “I want
to help the team as much as possible. I’d say also confidence with the puck is a big thing for me, and catching
and receiving passes in stride. But confidence is big for
me, when I’m playing confidently I feel like I’m harder to
stop.”
Page 15
Winterhawks Sign Jack Dougherty
July 28, 2015 - The Portland Winterhawks have signed
19-year-old defenseman Jack Dougherty, a second
round pick of the Nashville Predators in the 2014 National Hockey League Draft. The Predators signed
Dougherty to a three-year entry level contract this past
Friday.
Dougherty, 6’2”, 190 pounds, will join the Winterhawks
after playing last season with the University of Wisconsin. In 33 games as a freshman with the Badgers he had
two goals and seven assists for nine points.
Before joining the Hawks for training camp next month,
Dougherty will attend the U.S. National Junior Evaluation
Camp from August 1-8, in Lake Placid, New York. He
will be competing for a spot on the U.S. team that will
take part in the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation
World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2015 - Jan. 5,
2016, in Helsinki, Finland. Current Hawks Paul Bittner,
Dominic Turgeon and incoming defenseman Caleb
Jones will also attend the camp.
“As a second round NHL Draft pick and with a year of
NCAA experience, Jack will be an exciting addition to
the team for the upcoming season,” said Portland
Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Jamie
Kompon. “Not only does Jack make his presence known
defensively, he also provides the offensive abilities we
look for in a Portland Winterhawks defenseman. We believe he will be an impact player for us in 2015-16.”
Prior to attending the University of Wisconsin, Dougherty
played in the United States Hockey League for the U.S.
National Team Development Program in 2013-14, where
he posted 12 points in 23 games. He helped the United
States win its fifth gold medal in a six-year span at the
Under-18 World Championship in 2014, and led Team
USA to a silver medal at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka
Tournament.
WINTERHAWKS SIGN RODRIGO ABOLS and CARL
ERICSON
July 27, 2015 - The Portland Winterhawks have signed
forwards Rodrigo Abols and Carl Ericson, the two
players they selected in the 2015 Canadian Hockey
League Import Draft last month.
Abols, a Latvian who will be entering his 19-year-old
season in 2015-16, was selected by Portland in the first
round with the 50th pick. Last season with HK Riga of
the Molodezhnaya Hockey League he posted 20 goals
and 18 assists for 38 points in 35 games. He also suited
up for Dinamo Riga of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey
League, where he had a goal and four assists for five
points in 15 games.
Abols has also represented his native Latvia numerous
times in international play, including the 2015 World
Championship, where he played against NHL stars like
Sidney Crosby, Claude Giroux and Evgeni Malkin.
Ericson, a Swedish forward also entering his 19-yearold season, was taken in the second round with the
110th pick. He played for Leksand J20 of the Swedish
SuperElit League last season where he had 16 goals
and 26 assists for 42 points in 43 games. He also suited
up in 11 games for Leksand’s professional team in the
Swedish Hockey League.
“When we spoke to Rodrigo and Carl after the Import
Draft, both expressed excitement about joining the
Winterhawks,” said Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach Jamie Kompon. “We are excited to
have them join our organization. Their offensive abilities
along with a willingness to play a 200-foot game will be
a great addition to our team.
Dougherty will become the fifth Minnesota-born player
on the Winterhawks’ roster for 2015-16, joining Paul
Bittner, Nick Heid, Blake Heinrich and Keegan Iverson.
Page 16
THE FACE OFF (Continued from Page 9)
ABOVE THE GLASS (Continued from Page 11)
Championship preferred, not required: Championships are never really required of a team, but after four
seasons of them, you learn how much you really do prefer them. After a relatively business-like Neely Cup, it’s
hard to say what will happen this year.
It's not the first time they've lost the opportunity to score a
major player. Seth Jones chose Portland over Everett,
and he paid for it every time he got booed in Everett,
which was pretty much every game he played in Xfinity
Arena. Until they challenged the Winterhawks for the
U.S. Division title this year, the Everett Silvertips weren't
necessarily viewed as a top team in the WHL. Personally,
I knew the day was coming when they would hit their
stride and they have, with or without Auston Matthews.
For my two cents, this season isn’t going to be about
what trophy the Winterhawks can take back, whether
they will stay on top of the U.S. Division or Western
Conference standings or how many goals they will
score. It’s about digging deeper into my own heart to
decide what I truly believe in and how willing I really am
to get behind my team no matter what.
I realized this past weekend it’s easier said than done. I
was asked multiple times, “do you think we have another shot at the Western Conference title?” It had become
a habit to answer yes without question, but for the first
time in a long time, I couldn’t bring myself to say it out
loud with total confidence. I began to wonder what kind
of fan I really am. How dare I not have faith that the
Winterhawks can win another championship? Who am I
to judge or doubt them? But then I realized why I couldn’t shout “YES” from the rooftops like I usually do. It’s
not that I don’t believe they can. It’s that I don’t care
whether they do or not.
The Winterhawks will deliver the goods this season: the
Neely Cup was early evidence of that. Whether the
goods include a trophy (or two) doesn’t concern me like
it has in years past. All I want is for the team to do exactly what Alex told me they will: “play like champions!”
A banner can be affected by a lot of things that are out
of a players’ control: fate, the hockey gods, plain old
luck, the home and away schedule, the trade deadline
and injury. Playing like a champion is the one thing that
they have total control over and it’s the one thing that,
unlike shootouts, never goes out of style. It’s who the
Winterhawks are and it’s why they’re here. Come to
think of it, it’s why we’re all here. And that’s more than
good enough for me.
Rocket Power: All eyes will be on the Kelowna
Rockets and top prospect Nick Merkley this year as they
look to defend their Western Conference and WHL titles.
They have changed coaches yet again, as their success
ushered in the departure of Dan Lambert to bigger and
better things as an assistant coach with the Buffalo
Sabres. But I don't expect that to stop them or slow them
down; early predictions around here put them in the
"contender" category once again. Fun fact: Two years
ago, when the Portland Winterhawks traveled to Kelowna
for the opening of the Western Conference finals, my
mom and I met Matrix star Carrie Anne Moss' father while
we we were standing in line waiting for the doors to open.
That's hockey: you never know who'll you meet along the
way.
Beam me up: The best name on the Seattle
Thunderbirds roster is Nolan Volcan. He also happens to
be a pretty darn good hockey player. If you want to know
how their training camp went and who else to watch on
their roster, check out a story from local reporter Tim
Pigulski.
In other news: Former Detroit Red Wings video
coach Keith McKittrick -- now an assistant coach with the
Winterhawks -- was arrested in Beaverton two weeks ago
on charges of assault, harassment and strangulation.
He's been released on $2500 bail, pending a court
hearing on September 14. The Winterhawks have placed
him on adminstrative leave and issued a statement that
indicates they are taking the matter seriously. We'll know
more after the court hearing, so there isn't much else to
say about the incident itself. What I will tell you is that the
Winterhawks have always been a top-class organization
that has treated me like family and every roster I've
known is full of players who are also great people. I was
glad to see that the team did the right thing in taking the
matter seriously and treating it accordingly.
Long story short: It's business as usual here in the
Dub: the future is now and the future is bright. We will get
our first real look at the U.S. Division this weekend in
Everett, where I'll be reporting on the brothers
Yamamoto, host team the Silvertips and of course, the
Winterhawks. After that, it's off for the annual trip to the
Young Stars Tournament in Penticton. On that note,
here's a new Winterhawks name to make note of:
Rodrigo Abols, who has been invited to play in the
tournament. You'll thank me later.
Page 17
The art of roster building in junior hockey
By Graeme Frisque on August 27, 2015
“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the
world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”
There are perhaps no better words to describe the challenge each and every General Manager in competitive team
sports faces when putting together a roster of players than the above quote from baseball legend Babe Ruth.
In this regard, hockey is the same as any other team sport. The fate of a general manager is ultimately decided by the
performance of the roster they assemble long before any puck is dropped.
Some may argue that the overall philosophy of a good GM remains the same no matter at which level of the sport
they are employed. But is that really the case?
GMs in the world of junior hockey face unique challenges that their NHL counterparts simply don’t have to deal with.
While NHL GMs may have to wrangle with free agency, salaries and salary caps, general managers at the major
junior level have to negotiate challenges like territorial boundaries, age restrictions and the physical and emotional
wellbeing of teenagers, many of whom are away from home and their families for the first time.
Probably the biggest factor that differentiates the job in major junior and junior A compared to the NHL is the
inherently high rate of player turnover at those levels.
“We turnover about 50 per cent of our players every year,” said CCHL commissioner Kevin Abrams.
While the CCHL is a junior A league, which typically lose many of their more successful players to collegiate and
major junior programs, it does put things in perspective. Imagine if the NHL lost 50 per cent of their players every
year?
The numbers aren’t quite as high at the major junior level, but teams across the WHL, OHL and QMJHL get a
maximum of five seasons with their players, some of whom leave early after being drafted into the NHL.
This reality might be best highlighted by the OHL’s Erie Otters who will need to recover from the possible loss of their
best two players from last season in
Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome to the NHL.
So, what’s the secret to success and remaining competitive year over year in such an environment?
“Especially at our level in junior A, you have to be recruiting constantly. During the regular season I do a lot of my
recruiting between games on our schedule,” said Jason Clarke, GM and coach for the CCHL’s Carleton Place
Canadians. “Being on the road, staying active and being in the know-how and know who, as I call it, is really where
the challenge is.”
Under Clarke, who is also the team’s owner, Carleton Place has won back-to-back CCHL titles and has a good
chance of making it three in a row. No small feat in a league that loses half of its players year-over-year.
“You’ve always got to be thinking two steps ahead,” added Clarke. “The more you work the phones, the more players
you see, and the more you recruit the better off you’re going to be. If you’re active on the phones and recruiting you’re
going to be able to find good players from all over North America.
“It’s a lot of work. The hardest part of junior hockey at this level is making sure you stay in touch with all of your
contacts all the time, because you can’t get out and see every player in North America,” he said. “So being active with
your contacts and people you know, and staying on top of it on a regular basis just the easiest way to make sure that
you’re trying to get the best players all the time.”
Major junior teams are presented with different rules. Unlike junior A who can draw from a talent pool that spans the
entire continent, major junior teams have territories from which they are allowed to recruit and draft players.
Continued on Page 19
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“Obviously a GM in major junior has to have a very good scouting staff, they have to build through the draft and make
trades for guys that are in the league that you believe can help your team,” said Clarke.
Edmonton Oil Kings GM Randy Hansch, who has been at the helm for two trips to the WHL finals and saw his team
hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup and win the Memorial Cup in 2013-14, agrees with Clarke.
“Our belief and always has been, is that your foundation is the Bantam Draft. We put a lot of emphasis on drafting and
developing within,” said Hansch.
“We’re fortunate, we’ve got a good (scouting) staff and we’re all spread out. I think what’s really important is that our
guys are very passionate about it and take a lot of pride in it. We realize, and I think all teams do, that it’s very
competitive and scouting is a big part of your program,” he added.
Hansch also stressed the importance of the protected list as an integral part of building a roster in the CHL. Teams are
allowed to add a maximum of 25 undrafted players as future prospects in the organization. These players are not
allowed play or practice with other CHL teams, but have the option of playing for teams outside the CHL.
Because players are only eligible to play major junior from ages 16-20, development time for younger players, coupled
with restrictions on the number of 20 year olds a team can have on their rosters, creates a very short window for talent.
Add in the NHL poaching the best of the best each year and one can imagine that planning ahead and maintaining
consistent success is a big challenge.
“It’s definitely not easy and hopefully you can identify the players and have them in your system for a few years, said
Hansch.
Complicating things for GMs is the reality that not all drafted players will end up playing for the clubs that drafted them.
While teams can draft the rights to a player in their region, some players choose other routes. There are no guarantees
when drafting a player in major junior.
Players have multiple avenues they can take, with some electing to accept scholarships to U.S. colleges who are also
looking for top tier talent. Others, even without the prospect of a scholarship, choose to forego their major junior
eligibility to pursue an education in Canada while playing hockey in the CIS.
In a first this past summer, top-rated NHL Draft prospect Auston Matthews opened a new can of worms by electing to
play pro in Europe rather than playing for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL, who drafted Matthews and own his CHL
rights. It remains to be seen whether his decision will start a new trend of top-ranked prospects heading overseas, but
the move definitely raised some eyebrows.
Either way, losing a player of Matthews calibre can derail even the best laid plans for a major junior franchise. The
Silvertips used a third round pick in 2012 on the American standout in hopes of having him join their roster this season.
“That’s one that’s a real kick and hurts you. If you’ve been planning (on a player) and don’t get him, then you’ve got a
huge hole. It’s the same when you have a first round pick, if they choose to go somewhere else, then you’re going to
have a hole down the road because those are your elite players,” said defending WHL champion Kelowna Rockets
owner and GM Bruce Hamilton.
Hamilton said that while some GMs adjust their draft boards to account for a player they’re worried might go elsewhere,
he isn’t one of them.
“We pick the best player available. We believe we’re going to pick them and we believe we’re going to recruit them,”
said Hamilton.
“There’s lots of teams in certain markets that have a hard time getting certain players from certain areas we’re allowed
to get our players from.
Everybody’s got to do what they do, but in our case, we’ve picked players a lot of people didn’t think would come and
next thing you know they’re here,” he added.
Another pipeline for talent is the CHL Import Draft, which allows teams to draft non-North American players. However,
teams are only allowed to have two import players on their roster at any given time. While many European players
jump at the opportunity for the added exposure the CHL provides them, there are still no guarantees that a drafted
player will sign. Regardless of the other options players have, Hamilton believes the CHL is still the best option for
players with aspirations of one day making it to the NHL.
Continued on Page 20
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The art of roster building in junior hockey (Continued from Page 19)
“We’ve really come a long way with (the CHL’s) scholarship program. Our (scholarship) program guarantees four years
(of tuition) and the NCAA only guarantees one. To this day, the scholarship program is still our number one recruiting
tool,” he said. “I think the CHL is the best option, because unless you are an elite player, it’s still the fastest route to the
NHL.”
Hamilton’s strategy has worked out well for the Rockets. Since he took over the team 25 years ago, the Rockets have
been perennial contenders, making the WHL playoffs 23 of the last 24 seasons and winning four WHL titles. Kelowna
was also one win away from winning the Memorial Cup last season, losing to the OHL’s Oshawa Generals in the final.
GM of the aforementioned Oshawa Generals, Roger Hunt, who took over the team before the start of last season after
serving as a coach and assistant GM, believes continuity is a key factor in sustained success.
“I think what’s led to some of our success is the continuity here, The owner has been here for almost 20 years, the lion’s
share of the scouting staff has been here for seven or eight of his years and I’ve been here in one form or another for six
years,” said Hunt.
“Realistically, I think continuity and stability are the things that lend themselves to having success. Every year there isn’t
a new regime and philosophy. For me, I believe the success that we were able to have last year had a lot to do with the
continuity and chemistry of the staff,” he added.
____________________________________________________________________________________
...And the Winner of the 2015 Paul Gaustad Fitness
Award Goes To Colton Veloso. Pictured with Rich
Campbell, Athletic Director
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TOYOTA FAMILY FAN FEST … A REAL SIGN THAT SUMMER IS OVER
AND THE HOCKEY SEASON BEGINS
Page 21
WE NEED YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS
PROGRAM A SUCCESS EACH YEAR.
THE PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS BOOSTER
CLUB IS ACCEPTING YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS
YEAR ROUND TO BENEFIT CHILDREN IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
“SHOP-WITH-A-HAWK” INVOLVES THE PORTLAND
WINTERHAWKS hockey PLAYERS and pairs them up
“ONE-on-ONE” WITH CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY TO
SHOW THESE CHILDREN THAT PEOPLE CARE … THAT
teenagers care too!
This is a program sponsored by you the members of
the Portland Winterhawks booster club and fans
with partners from the community including
fred meyer, Portland sunshine division, volunteers
AND OF COURSE YOUR PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
HOCKEY CLUB. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS
OPPORTUNTY TODAY TO BRING SMILES, LAUGHTER AND
CHRISTMAS JOY TO SO MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS PROGRAM A GROWING
SUCCESS!
Donations are accepted at all Home Games at the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club Tables. Cash, Check or Credit Cards are
Accepted. Or Send your donations by check made payable to:
Portland Winterhawks Booster Club (PWHBC)
Attn: Charitable Giving Coordinator
P. O. Box 6768
Portland, Oregon 97228-6768
ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
TAX-DEDUCTION LETTERS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Page 22
Keoni Texeira at Toyota Family Fan Fest
Cody Glass at Toyota Family Fan Fest
CATCH ALL THE WINTERHAWKS
ACTION THIS SEASON
on KPAM 860 AM and the Winterhawks Radio Network.
All of the regular season and playoff action will be heard live this season on multiple platforms, either over-the-air on
KPAM 860 AM, the team's online radio network, and smartphone apps.
In addition, every Monday night from 6 - 7 p.m. the Hawks will have an exclusive "Hawkey Talk" show on KPAM, hosted
by Ron Callan. "Hawkey Talk" will feature weekly updates from General Manager & Head Coach Jamie Kompon, playby-play announcer Todd Vrooman, player interviews, and questions from fans. Don't miss this exclusive weekly show!
You can also tune in to all games on your smartphone or tablet by downloading the free “Live365” app from your
marketplace. Just search for "Winterhawks" in the app, then make it a preset and you can tune in anytime!
Along with the games, the Winterhawks will use the online network to broadcast team-related content 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Fans can find the station by visiting winterhawks.com and clicking the “Listen Live” link at the top of
the page. Fans can also listen to games on KPAM 860 AM.
Autographs at the Toyota Family Fan Fest
Page 23
YOU CAN HELP YOUR
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS BOOSTER CLUB
EARN DONATIONS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY GIVING
JUST BY SHOPPING WITH YOUR FRED MEYER REWARDS CARD!
Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington,
based on where their customers tell them to give. Here’s how the program works:
Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to your
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS BOOSTER CLUB at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can
search for us by our name or by our non-profit number (NPO) 81503.
Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping the PORTLAND
WINTERHAWKS BOOSTER CLUB earn a donation from Fred Meyer.
By supporting your Charitable Club you will allow them to do more community outreach with no outof-pocket-expense. A Win-Win!
You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today. Your Rewards don’t
change. But, Fred Meyer’s Gives based on your use of the Rewards Card. However, first you have to go
“online” and “link” your card to the Portland Winterhawks Booster Club.
If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer
store.
For more information, please visit www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
Thank you
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