Portland Winterhawks
CityPortland, Oregon
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionU.S.
Founded1950
Home arenaVeterans Memorial Coliseum
ColorsBiscuit black, buzzer red, squall gray, celly gold, ice white
         
General managerMike Johnston
Head coachMike Johnston
Websitewww.winterhawks.com
Franchise history
1950–1976Edmonton Oil Kings
1976–2009Portland Winter Hawks
2009–presentPortland Winterhawks
Championships
Regular season titles4 (1979–80, 1997–98, 2012–13, 2019–20)
Playoff championshipsEd Chynoweth Cup
3 (1982, 1998, 2013)
Conference Championships
4 (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14)
Memorial Cup
2 (1983, 1998)

The Portland Winterhawks are a junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL), one of three leagues making up the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Prior to the 2021–22 season, the Winterhawks split their home games between the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Moda Center, which they shared with the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The Winterhawks are one of the most successful junior teams in terms of producing National Hockey League (NHL) alumni, a list that includes Sven Baertschi, Joe Morrow, Seth Jarvis, Ryan Johansen, Braydon Coburn, Adam Deadmarsh, Rob Klinkhammer, Brandon Dubinsky, Tyler Wotherspoon, Andrew Ference, Paul Gaustad, Jannik Hansen, Seth Jones, Brenden Morrow, Nino Niederreiter, Glen Wesley, and Hall of Famers Mark Messier, Marian Hossa, Mike Vernon, and Cam Neely.

The Winterhawks have won the Ed Chynoweth Cup three times and the Memorial Cup twice in five appearances. The team has been in Portland since 1976–77.

History

The Winterhawks logo from 1976 to 2021

The Winterhawks were founded in 1950 as the Edmonton Oil Kings. The franchise moved to Portland on June 11, 1976. The team, owned by Brian C. Shaw, made the move citing a much cheaper stadium deal in Portland along with low attendance due to the presence of a professional team in Edmonton.[1] In their first season in Portland, the club would lose 7–2 to a travelling Russian club in an exhibition match watched by more than 5,000.[2] Following the relocation to Portland, the Winterhawks became the southernmost franchise in the Canadian Hockey League.

Sven Baertschi previously played for the Winterhawks.

On November 28, 2012, the WHL announced sanctions against the Winterhawks for a series of player benefits violations over the four previous seasons. As punishment for the violations WHL Commissioner Ron Robison suspended the team from participation in the first five rounds of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft and forfeiture of their first round picks from the 2014 to 2017 WHL Bantam Drafts and were fined $200,000. The WHL also suspended General Manager and Head Coach Mike Johnston for the remainder of the 2012–13 season, including the 2013 WHL playoffs.[3]

On May 12, 2013, the Winterhawks defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 5–1 in Game 6 to become the 2012–13 WHL champions. On April 25, 2014, the Winterhawks defeated the Kelowna Rockets 7–3 to win their fourth-consecutive Western Conference Championship.

The franchise filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon. The Winterhawks were financially stable, but owner Bill Gallacher had to sell the franchise in order to repay other debts.[4]

The WHL Board of Governors has approved Winterhawks Sports Group (WSG) as the new owners of the Portland Winterhawks franchise, effective January 1, 2021. WSG is led by Michael Kramer and Kerry Preete, who will also be the managing partners. Along with the Winterhawks franchise, WSG has also acquired the operations of the Winterhawks Skating Center in Beaverton, OR and all Winterhawks Junior Hockey programs.[5]

Prior to the start of the 2021-22 WHL season, the Winterhawks ownership announced the team would be returning to the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum full-time.[6]

Uniforms, logos and mascot

The team was known as the Winter Hawks until May 2009, when it issued a press release that "the space...announced its retirement" and that the team was renaming itself the Winterhawks.[7][8]

Prior to their 2021 rebranding, the Winterhawks wore jerseys with a logo similar to those of the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL, causing some to erroneously assume that the Winterhawks are a minor league farm team of the Blackhawks. In actuality, the jerseys originally worn by the first Winterhawks team were a used set of Chicago jerseys obtained through connections between the owners of the two teams. In early photos, the old Chicago jerseys are identifiable by the letter "C" with crossed tomahawks on the shoulder crest. The Winterhawks eventually changed the "C" to a "P".

Portland Winterhawks vs. Tri-City Americans, January 24, 2016

The team mascot of the Winterhawks is a white bird with multicolored tail and wing feathers, named Tom-A-Hawk. Tom-A-Hawk was introduced in 1999–2000. He wears jersey number 00. Tom-A-Hawk's main rival is Cool Bird of the Seattle Thunderbirds. Tom-A-Hawk announced in January 2019 that he would retire from injuries.[9] A new mascot was introduced, Tommy.

On July 14, 2021, the Winterhawks announced their new identity and that they would be moving from the similar looking Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL logo, to a "Winterhawk".[10] The Winterhawks organization partnered with local apparel company Portland Gear on the rebranding to help create the new primary logos, secondary logos, as well as the word marks.[11]

Championships

WHL Championship history

Memorial Cup finals history

  • 1983: Win, 8–3 vs Oshawa
  • 1998: Win, 4–3 OT vs Guelph
  • 2013: loss, 4–6 vs Halifax

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
1976–777236297-359294793rd WestLost semi-final
1977–7872412011-361296931st WestEliminated in West Division round robin
1978–7972491013-4322651111st WestLost final
1979–807253181-3982931071st WestEliminated in West Division round robin
1980–817256151-4432661132nd WestLost West Division final
1981–827246242-380323941st WestWon championship
1982–837250220-4953871001st WestLost final; Won Memorial Cup
1983–847233390-430449663rd WestLost West Division final
1984–857227441-365442554th WestLost West Division semi-final
1985–867247241-438348952nd WestLost West Division final; Memorial Cup host
1986–877247232-439355962nd WestLost final
1987–887224453-328449516th WestOut of playoffs
1988–897240284-408395841st WestLost final
1989–907224453-322426515th WestOut of playoffs
1990–917217532-298450365th WestOut of playoffs
1991–927231374-314342665th WestLost West Division quarter-final
1992–937245243-343275931st WestLost final
1993–947249221-392260992nd WestLost West Division final
1994–957223436-240308526th WestLost West Division semi-final
1995–967230393-283301636th WestLost West Division quarter-final
1996–977246215-300196971st WestLost West Division quarter-final
1997–987253145-3422031111st WestWon championship and Memorial Cup
1998–9972233613-215278595th WestLost West Division quarter-final
1999–0072164970173296397th WestOut of playoffs
2000–0172372753254237822nd WestLost final
2001–0272362556269243831st U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2002–0372194085192243513rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2003–0472342963199206772nd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2004–0572352755204198802nd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2005–0672323235204258723rd U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final
2006–0772175212146316375th U.S.Out of playoffs
2007–0872115821132318255th U.S.Out of playoffs
2008–0972194832176288435th U.S.Out of playoffs
SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPointsFinishPlayoffs
2009–1072442521266241914th U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final
2010–11725019033032271031st U.S.Lost final
2011–12724919313282291022nd U.S.Lost final
2012–13725712123341691171st U.S.Won championship; Lost Memorial Cup final
2013–14725413233382071131st U.S.Lost final
2014–1572432324287237922nd U.S.Lost Western Conference final
2015–1672343161228227753rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2016–1772402813278256844th U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final
2017–1872442215274214942nd U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final
2018–1968402233258210863rd U.S.Lost Western Conference quarter-final
2019–2063451134270164971st U.S.No playoffs due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2124138309672292nd U.S.No playoffs were held
2021–2268471632298192992nd U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final
2022–2368402053244218882nd U.S.Lost Western Conference semi-final

Players

Current roster

Updated January 11, 2024.[12]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Drafted
26 Czech Republic Marek Alscher D R 19 2021 Kladno, Czech Republic 2022, 93rd Overall, FLA
60 United States Nick Avakyan G L 19 2023 Glendale, California Undrafted
36 Canada Luke Brunen G L 17 2021 Warman, Saskatchewan Eligible 2024
90 Canada Diego Buttazzoni C L 17 2022 Langley, British Columbia Eligible 2024
73 Canada Luca Cagnoni D L 19 2020 Burnaby, British Columbia 2023, 123rd Overall, SJS
19 Canada Kyle Chyzowski (A) C L 19 2019 Surrey, British Columbia Undrafted
89 Canada Nate Danielson C R 19 2024 Red Deer, Alberta 2023, 9th Overall, DET
29 Canada Hudson Darby RW R 17 2021 Swift Current, Saskatchewan Eligible 2025
71 Canada Joshua Davies C L 19 2023 Airdrie, Alberta 2022, 186th Overall, FLA
27 Canada Tyson Jugnauth D L 19 2023 Toronto, Ontario 2022, 100th Overall, SEA
16 Canada Gabe Klassen (C) LW L 20 2018 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Undrafted
34 Canada Justen Maric G L 20 2023 Edmonton, Alberta Undrafted
4 Canada Cohen Massey D L 17 2021 Cloverdale, British Columbia Eligible 2024
18 Canada Kyle McDonough C L 16 2022 Langdon, Alberta Eligible 2025
23 Canada Ryan Miller RW L 16 2022 Medicine Hat, Alberta Eligible 2025
2 Canada Josh Mori D L 19 2019 Richmond, British Columbia Undrafted
72 Canada Marcus Nguyen RW R 19 2019 Calgary, Alberta Undrafted
92 United States Jack O'Brien (A) C L 20 2018 Denver, Colorado Undrafted
35 Canada Marek Schlenker G R 17 2021 Okotoks, Alberta Eligible 2024
20 Canada Aiden Sotas C R 18 2020 Birtle, Manitoba Undrafted
59 Canada Carter Sotheran D R 18 2020 Sanford, Manitoba 2023, 135th Overall, PHI
31 Czech Republic Jan Špunar G L 19 2022 Olomouc, Czech Republic Undrafted
13 United States James Stefan RW R 20 2018 Laguna Beach, California Undrafted
91 Canada Alex Thompson D R 17 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Eligible 2024
43 Canada Ryder Thompson (A) D L 19 2019 Russell, Manitoba Undrafted
39 Canada Tyson Yaremko RW L 18 2023 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Undrafted
28 Canada Josh Zakreski LW R 18 2020 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Eligible 2024

Hall of Famers

Three former Portland Winter Hawks alumni are inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame(Mark Messier, Cam Neely, Marian Hossa). This is a list of former players inducted into the Portland Winter Hawks franchise Hall of Fame.

Portland Winter Hawks franchise Hall of Fame inductees
Hall of Fame players[13]
Ken Hodge
Todd Robinson		 Dennis Holland
Cam Neely		 Brent Peterson
Glen Wesley		 Andrew Ference
Grant Sasser		 Marian Hossa
Randy Heath		 Brenden Morrow
Ken Yaremchuk

Bold = member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Retired Numbers

Portland Winter Hawks retired numbers
No. Player Position Career No. retirement
21Cam NeelyRW1982–1984March 18, 2023[14]

NHL alumni

List of Portland Winterhawks alumni who have graduated to play in the National Hockey League.

First round draft picks

Players chosen in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft:

Team records

Team records for a single season
StatisticTotalSeason
Most points1172012–13
Most wins572012–13
Fewest 1st round draft picks02015–16
Fewest goals for1462006–07
Most goals against4501990–91
Individual player records for a single season
StatisticPlayerTotalSeason
Most goalsRandy Heath; Dennis Holland821982–83; 1988–89
Most assistsJim Benning1111980–81
Most pointsDennis Holland1671988–89
Most points, rookieCam Neely1201982–83
Most points, defencemanJim Benning1391980–81
Best GAA (Goalie)Blake Grenier2.062004–05
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played
Individual player records for a career
StatisticPlayerTotalSeason
Most games playedTroy Rutkowski3512012–13
Most goalsDennis Holland179
Most assistsTodd Robinson325
Most pointsTodd Robinson470
Most points, defenceman
Best GAA (Goalie)Mac Carruth2.85
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

During the 2012–13 season, Winterhawks captain Troy Rutkowski established the new team record for most regular games played as a Winterhawk. His career total of 351 games surpassed the previous mark of 328 games set by Kevin Haupt in the 1998–99 season.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Jones, Terry; Jim Mathieson (June 11, 1976). "Oil Kings to become Portland Winter Hawks". Edmonton Journal. p. 1.
  2. ↑ UPI (December 14, 1976). "Russians win easily". The World (Coos Bay).
  3. ↑ "WHL Network". Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ Jaynes, Dwight (May 11, 2020). "New Ownership in the offing for Winterhawks – could it be Pickled?". NBC Sports Northwest.
  5. ↑ "NEW YEAR, NEW OWNERSHIP, NEW EXCITEMENT FOR DEFENDING REGULAR SEASON CHAMPION PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS – Portland Winterhawks".
  6. ↑ Winterhawks Share 2021-22 Regular Season Schedule
  7. ↑ "Winterhawks' space announces retirement". Portland Winterhawks. May 9, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Hockey team changes nickname ... cleverly". The Oregonian. May 8, 2009. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  9. ↑ "TOM Announces His Retirement – Portland Winterhawks".
  10. ↑ Cowley, Jared (July 14, 2021). "'It's time to take a step forward': Portland Winterhawks replace Native American logo and mascot". KGW.
  11. ↑ Creamer, Chris. "Portland Winterhawks Unveil New Logos, First Change in 45 Years". Sportslogos.net News.
  12. ↑ "WHL Network". Western Hockey League. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Winterhawks Hall of Fame". March 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Cam Neely honored with Winterhawks jersey retirement". March 19, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Craig Cunningham Stats".
  16. ↑ "Caleb Jones Stats, News, Bio".
  17. ↑ "Junior Hockey Report: Rutkowski to set W-hawks record".

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