PORTLAND — Keoni Texeira has played more than 160 regular-season games on defense for the Portland Winterhawks. But the 18-year-old was not completely lost when asked to fill in at the short-handed forward position.
In fact, Texeira got a taste of forward play in scrimmages at a Washington Capitals training camp in August. Still, playing forward on a regular bases in the Western Hockey League takes some getting used to.
“There’s a lot more skating and thinking compared to playing defense,” Texeira said. “When you’re playing defense you kind of quarterbacking the play and you move the puck up (the ice). You’ve got more options at forward.”
Texeira was the first option for coach Jamie Kompon when injuries to Paul Bittner and Keegan Iverson and the absence of Rodrigo Abols (on international duty with Latvia) left the Winterhawks short on the front end.
“I went to him personally and asked him: Would you be willing to play forward? He said: ‘Whatever it takes to help the team.’ That’s just the type of person he is,” Kompon said.
At 6 feet tall and more than 200 pounds, Texeira has the build of a power forward.
“He’s a powerful player. He does everything hard. He competes hard,” Kompon said. “I think with him up front it puts teams kind of on their heels. He’s a hard forechecker. He works his tail off.”
But it was more than the effort level that made Texeira the best choice to fill a forward gap, according to Kompon.
“He’s got good enough hands. He can see plays. He can make plays. He’s a good enough skater,” the coach said.
It helps, both Texeira and Kompon said, that he has been paired with team captain Dominic Turgeon on a forward line along with Evan Weinger.
“They made the transition a little easier because they know what to do and they helped me out,” Texeira said.
One of the clear differences is the amount of ice forwards are asked to cover.
“The conditioning is a lot different, so I can’t just go full speed everywhere on the ice. I’ve got to pace myself a little bit. Take short shifts and get off the ice,” Texeira said.
Texeira, who has three goals this season including one goal in six games as a fill-in forward, is enjoying the work. The Fontana, Calif., native recalled playing forward as a very young skater until a coach suggested he shift to defense — with the stipulation that Texeira could carry the puck up ice when he wanted.
“I loved it,” Texeira recalled.
One of four Winterhawks on the NHL Central Scouting watch list for the 2016 NHL draft, Texeira is loving the chance to battle in the corners from an offensive perspective, where he can use years on the other side of those possession battles to gain an edge.
“I have fun at every position I play. I love the game,” Texeira said.
