Friday Night Hockey features a rematch of the 2014 WHL Western Conference final. It’s the front end of back-to-back games between Portland and Kelowna. The Winterhawks have played for a WHL title in each of the past four seasons, winning just once, in 2013. With Mike Johnston having left for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Portland is transitioning to a new coach/GM in the form of two-time Stanley Cup-winner Jamie Kompon.
The transition hasn’t been easy. Kompon is adjusting to running his own junior program. The start of the year saw several players off to NHL camps, others injured and some graduated (mostly on defence). Add in sub-par goaltending and all of these factors culminated in a 1-7-0-2 start.
But Portland is still a dangerous team, boasting the Nos. 2 and 3 scorers in the league from 2013-14 in Nic Petan and Oliver Bjorkstrand. A turnaround looks to be imminent with the Hawks having picked up points in seven of their past ten.
Kelowna is also transitioning to a new coach, with Ryan Huska having taken an AHL job in Adirondack with the Flames. As has been the case in Kelowna over the years, the transition to a new coach has been seamless. Dan Lambert spent the past two seasons and another back in 2009-10 as an assistant. He has enabled the Rockets to remain a league powerhouse, boasting the best record in the CHL including a perfect nine-for-nine on home ice.
Jackson Whistle has been more than capable in taking over the starting job in goal from 2013-14 CHL Goalie of the Year Jordon Cooke. Kelowna has always had a reputation of producing top-notch defencemen and this year’s group includes the high-flying Madison Bowey. Several players from last year’s team have taken huge strides, none bigger than Nick Merkley and Rourke Chartier who remain the top two scorers in the league.
This matchup also features two of the WHL’s top prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft. After being named WHL Rookie of the Year last season, the fast-rising Merkley is now 11th in Sportnet’s Top 30 NHL Prospects, while Portland’s prototypical power forward Paul Bittner is No. 22.
Portland Winterhawks 9-12-0-3 (5-6-0-1 Road), L1 (5th U.S. Division, 9th Western Conference)
Individual Stats
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Nic Petan (Winnipeg, 43rd in 2013)
Olivier Bjorkstrand (Columbus, 89th in ’13)
Dominic Turgeon (Detroit, 63rd in ’14)
Alex Schoenborn (San Jose, 72nd in ’14)
Keegan Iverson (New York Rangers, 85th in ’14)
Chase De Leo (Winnipeg, 99th in ’14)
Blake Heinrich (Washington, 144th in ’13)
Anton Cedearholm (Vancouver, 145th in ’13)
Brendan Burke (Arizona, 163rd in ’13)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
Paul Bittner
PTW C
Nicholas Heid
Keoni Texeira
Evan Weinger
Under The Radar
Layne Viveiros, D
The 19-year-old has come into his own, adding an offensive flair to his game this season. One point away from his career high of 20.
Kelowna Rockets 21-1-2-0 (9-0-0-0 Home) points in 13 straight (1st B.C. Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st WHL, 1st BMO Top 10 Rankings)
Individual Stats
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Madison Bowey (Washington, 53rd in 2013)
Justin Kirkland (Nashville, 62nd in ’14)
Tyrell Goulbourne (Philadelphia, 72nd in ’13)
Mitchell Wheaton (Detroit, 139th in ’13)
Rourke Chartier (San Jose, 149th in ’14)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
Nick Merkley
PTW C
Joe Gatenby
Tomas Soustal
Under the Radar
Joe Gatenby, D
Off to a slow start but skates well and is very coachable with a high hockey IQ.
