The Portland Winterhawks have owned the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference championship for four seasons. In three of those runs to the WHL finals, they disposed of the Kelowna Rockets along the way.
But the team standing between the Winterhawks and a fifth consecutive conference title is a different animal.
These Kelowna Rockets have been ranked at or near the top of Canadian junior hockey all season and have gone all-in to make 2015 a championship season.
In December and January trades, Kelowna acquired top NHL prospects Josh Morrissey and Leon Draisaitl from the Prince Albert Raiders — making an already strong Kelowna team more dynamic.
In fact, the series that begins today and Saturday in Kelowna features 15 players who have already been drafted by NHL teams and seven other draft-eligible players who are ranked by NHL Central Scouting.
Morrissey, the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft by Winnipeg, is an offensive-minded defenseman. Some believe Morrisey and Portland’s Nic Petan might both play next season for the Jets. Morrisey missed significant time with a leg injury. He had eight points while playing in only two of the five games against Victoria including two goals and three assists in the series clincher.
“He wasn’t drafted in the first round for nothing,” Winterhawks winger Paul Bittner said. “We’ve just got to take advantage of him jumping up the ice (on offense) and make our transition game work for us.”
Draisaitl, the third overall pick by Edmonton last June, has contributed four goals and 11 assists through nine playoff games as the Rockets swept Tri-City and beat Victoria in five games. The center from Germany received more help with Nashville prospect Justin Kirkland returning from injury to help finish off Victoria.
“Their offense is potent. They’ve given up the least amount of goals defensively. They’ve got a very, very dangerous power play,” Winterhawks coach Jamie Kompon said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us, but our group is up for the challenge.”
The Winterhawks have proven that by climbing back from winning just once in their first 10 games to finish with the third best record in the Western Conference.
This might not be the star-studded team that beat Kelowna in five games in the 2014 Western Conference final, but in Petan (7 goals, 12 assists) and WHL Western Conference Player of the Year Oliver Bjorkstrand (10 goals, 8 assists) Portland has two of the top three scorers this playoff season.
What the Winterhawks don’t have are the top-flight mobile defenseman Derrick Pouliot and Matt Dumba. Dumba is playing for Minnesota in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Pouliot, who is expected to return from injury for Mike Johnston’s Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of their series with the New York Rangers, had 10 assists in last season’s five-game win over Kelowna.
This time around it is the Rockets who have the more dynamic defensive core. Portland has relied more on structure and experience to get this far.
“We were maybe better in other ways last year. But this year we are better in a different way,” Winterhawks defenseman Anton Cederholm said. “We’ve got to know what our strength is.”
• Bjorkstrand honored — Portland’s Oliver Bjorkstrand was named on Thursday as the WHL Western Conference Player of the Year. The 19-year-old Columbus prospect from Denmark led the league in goals (63) and points (118) while playing only 59 regular-season games. Either Bjorkstrand or Eastern Conference nominee Tim McGauley of the Brandon Wheat Kings will be honored as WHL player of the year during the league’s May 6 awards event in Calgary.
• Viewing parties — Fans 21 and older can watch all Winterhawks playoff games at The Spot Bar and Grill, 7225 N.E. Fourth Plain in Vancouver. … All ages are welcome at the Winterhawks Booster Club viewing party at Kenton Station, 8303 N. Denver Ave., in Portland.
NHL drafted players
Winterhawks — RW Oliver Bjorkstrand (Columbus), D Anton Cederholm (Vancouver), C Chase De Leo (Winnipeg), D Blake Heinrich (Washington), C-W Keegan Iverson (N.Y. Rangers), C Nic Petan (Winnipeg), RW Alex Schoenborn (San Jose), C Dominic Turgeon (Detroit).
Rockets — D Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg), LW Justin Kirkland (Nashville), C Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton), Madison Bowey (Washington), D Mitchell Wheaton (Detroit), C Rourke Chartier (San Jose), LW Tyrell Goulbourne (Philadelphia).
