It will be one of the lasting images from the 2015-16 Portland Winterhawks season: Forward Alex Schoenborn, after scoring the goal that prompted stuffed animals to rain down upon the Veterans Memorial Coliseum ice, calmly caught a large stuffed corn-cob as it came flying over the glass.
“I was just looking for the biggest stuffed animal to catch and it happened to be the piece of corn flying over so I snagged it,” a grinning Schoenborn said.
The goal was a thrill for the fourth-year Winterhawk as it came on his 20th birthday and in front of a near-sellout crowd of 10,095. On the night of the annual Teddy Bear Toss, The goal resulted in 10,856 stuffed animals hitting the ice to be donated to area children.
Schoenborn scored it from on a power play in the second period of the Dec. 12 game the Hawks lost 3-2 to Prince George. He skated up the right wing and scored from a sharp angle.
“I actually was thinking shot the whole way,” Schoenborn said. “We talked about it in the locker room before the game, for the power play to take it to the net. And I saw a little opening and I went for it.”
Pucks have been going in for Schoenborn lately. The San Jose Sharks prospect from North Dakota has three goals and eight assists in Portland’s last four games and has 11 goals and 14 assists in 26 games this season.
“I’ve been getting some good puck bounces the last couple of games,” Schoenborn said. “I’m trying to play the right way, the way that I need to play. I’m getting chances and I’m executing when I get the chances.”
Winterhawks
This week: At Spokane, 7:05 p.m. Friday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Saturday’s game will be televised live on WB 32 (Comcast cable Channel 3).
Last week: Beat Prince George 5-4; lost to Prince George 3-2; lost 6-4 at Tri-City.
Where they stand: At 15-16-0-0 (30 points), the Winterhawks are in fourth place in the U.S. Division, five points behind third-place Spokane, and have the eighth most points in the Western Conference.
Bittner surgery: Forward Paul Bittner underwent hip surgery last weekend and is out for an undetermined period. The injury came at an unfortunate time for the 19-year-old Minnesotan, who was one of 29 players selected to the preliminary roster for USA Hockey for the upcoming World Juniors tournament in Finland.
According to coach Jamie Kompon, Bittner experienced some pain in the groin area during a Nov. 30 practice in Prince George. Bittner then scored a goal in each of the two games at Prince George. But midway through his third shift of the Dec. 2 game he was unable to continue.
Drafted by Columbus last summer, Bittner had 10 goals and 11 assists in 25 games in this his fourth season with Portland.
Bukarts honored: Rihards Bukarts was named the WHL player of the week for the week ending Dec. 13. The Latvian in his 20-year-old junior season had six goals and one assists in three games that week.
Holiday break: After the two games in Spokane this weekend, the Winterhawks are off until Dec. 27 when they host Tri-City. That is the first of four home games at the Moda Center in a week that includes the annual New Year’s Eve game and fan skate.
Vancouver Rangers
This week: vs. Salt Lake City, 2:45 p.m. Friday in Las Vegas.
Last week: Lost 5-2, won 4-2 and lost 6-1 in three games at Southern Oregon. At WSHL Las Vegas Showcase: Beat Springfield Express 5-3; lost in a shootout 6-5 to the Wichita Junior Thunder; lost 10-1 to Casper.
Where they stand: At 19-7-0-3 (41 points), the Rangers trail the Idaho Junior Steelheads by eight points and the Missoula Maulers by six points in the Northwest Division of the Western States Hockey League.
Winter break: After Friday’s end of the Las Vegas Showcase, the Rangers are idle until Jan. 8-10 when Whitefish (Mont.) visits Mountain View Ice Arena.
