The beginning of another National Hockey League season serves as a reminder that the Portland Winterhawks have built their success by helping highly skilled teenagers prepare to play the game at the highest level.
A total of 17 former Winterhawks are on opening day NHL rosters, and several others figure to see time in the league this season.
The list ranges from Chicago Blackhawks veteran Marian Hossa, starting his 18th season in the NHL (and seventh with the Blackhawks) to rookie Nic Petan, who made the Winnipeg Jets opening day roster.
There are others, including Penguins defenseman Derrick Pouliot and Blue Jackets forward Oliver Bjorkstrand, who start the season in the American Hockey League but might move up to the NHL at some point.
Here is the list of 17 former Winterhawks on NHL rosters: Sven Bartschi, Canucks; Braydon Coburn, Lightning; Brandon Dubinsky, Blue Jackets; Matt Dumba, Wild; Andrew Ference, Oilers; Paul Gaustad, Predators; Jannik Hanson, Canucks; Joe Morrow, Bruins; Marian Hossa, Blackhawks; Ryan Johansen, Blue Jackets; Seth Jones, Predators; Rob Klinkhammer, Oilers; Cody McLeod, Avalanche; Nino Niedereitter, Wild; Nic Petan, Jets; Luca Sbisa, Canucks; Colton Sceviour, Stars.
At least 15 other former Winterhawks are starting the season on AHL rosters.
Clark County pros: Two players from Clark County are on East Coast Hockey League rosters. Trevor Cheek is with the Fort Wayne Komets and Austin Coldwell is with the Quad City Mallards.
Cheek is beginning the third season of his three-year entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. Coldwell is beginning his first full professional season. The defenseman joined Quad City late last season after completing his college hockey career at Alaska-Fairbanks. The ECHL season starts Oct. 16.
Portland Winterhawks
This week: host Spokane, 7 p.m. Friday (Moda); host Seattle, 5 p.m. Sunday (Moda); host Prince Albert, 7 p.m. Tuesday (Moda); host Everett, 7 p.m. Oct. 16 (Moda).
Last week: Lost to Everett 3-1 in home opener.
Carl Ericson out for months: Center Carl Ericson from Sweden is expected to miss three to six months with a hockey related lower-body injury, according to Winterhawks coach Jamie Kompon. Ericson, who had a goal and an assist in his first three Winterhawks games, was scheduled to have surgery on Friday according to Kompon.
Kompon said the loss of Ericson gives young forwards Alex Overhardt (age 18), Evan Weinger (18), Cody Glass (16) and Ryan Hughes (16) a chance to take on a more significant role.
Power-play struggles: At 0-for-14, the Winterhawks are the only WHL team without a power play goal this season. Kompon said the team did a lot of work on the power play this week.
“It raises a red flag,” Kompon said. “The players have to simplify it.”
Kompon said the last two power-play chances on Saturday were a positive step. The key, the coach said, is putting more shots on goal and being better at recovering the puck.
“We’ve got to be more disciplined in how we approach out power play,” Kompon said.
Vancouver Rangers
This week: At Tahoe Icemen, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena).
Last week: Beat Southern Oregon 6-2, lost to Southern Oregon 6-5 in overtime, beat Southern Oregon 6-3.
Where they stand: The Rangers (4-0-1, 9 points) are third in the Northwest Division of the Western States Hockey League, trailing 5-0 Missoula.
Southern Oregon recap: The Rangers won two of three games against the Spartans. The loss on Saturday came after Vancouver took a 5-3 lead into the third period, only to see Southern Oregon get 25 shots on goal in the third period to rally. In the Sunday 6-3 win, the Rangers trailed 3-0 after one period, then won the second period 4-0 as Bryce Ebert scored twice. Four different Rangers had a two-goal game over the weekend.
Captains named: Spence Cowand, a 20-year-old forward from Dallas, Texas, has been named the Rangers first team captain by a vote of the players. Cowand has six goals and two assists five games into the season, including three short-handed goals. The assistant captains will be Simon Uppman from Sweden and Mathieu Gerber from Switzerland, both also 20-year-olds. Coach Dave Daniello called all three high character people. “They’re quiet, but when they talk everybody in the locker room listens,” Daniello said.
Goalies alternate: James Nanchen was credited with 36 saves on Friday and 56 saves on Sunday to earn two wins. On Saturday, Aaron Daniello was credited with 44 saves. Dave Daneillo said he plans to alternate those two goalies, at least for the near future.
