Historic Start has Portland Winterhawks Soaring in 2022-23 — Sport Oregon Voices

Photo: Matthew Wolfe

Quality hockey and entertainment options take center stage at Memorial Coliseum as new season continues to unfold

The beginning of the 2022-23 Western Hockey League season has been a start for the ages for the Portland Winterhawks. By winning their first seven games to start the campaign, and by stringing together another nine-game winning streak, the Winterhawks are off to their best 20-game start to a season in franchise history.

Mike Johnston – the team’s senior vice president, general manager and head coach – was confident the team would be strong this season, with a great returning group of players and quality new additions. But predicting the extent of the record-breaking start the team is off to would have been a bit of a stretch. 

“Getting out of the gate like we did this year was not expected,” said Johnston. “But it’s great, in any sport, to get out of the gate quick, because it takes some pressure off as you move through the year, as you know there are going to be some highs and lows.”

Johnston certainly likes where the team is at this point of the season, considering everything. As is the case with any junior hockey season, there are a number of new faces on the roster this season to mesh with the core group of returning players that helped the team to an impressive 47-16-0-5 record last year. The team saw four players sign NHL contracts after the 2021-22 campaign and welcomed seven new players this season. But that’s all part of the junior hockey cycle, and part of what makes each season fresh and fun.

“Every year, when you make that transition, it’s a feeling-out process over the first 20 games to see where your team is going to be,” Johnston said.

In terms of the quality of hockey being played at Memorial Coliseum each season, the Winterhawks have an exceptional track record of developing players for the next level; the team ranks among the top junior teams in North America for putting players in the NHL, with 18 former Portland players lacing up in the NHL last season. But equally so, the Winterhawks are well-known for their entertaining promotional events at Memorial Coliseum, and for their community ties in and around the Portland metro area.

For starters, it’s hard to imagine December in Portland without the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss and New Year’s Eve games.

“People in town know that those are special games every year,” Johnston said.

On Dec. 10, the team once again will be hosting the Les Schwab Teddy Bear Toss, featuring the best goal celebration around. For those not familiar, fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game. And when the Winterhawks score their first goal of the game, they are tossed onto the ice and later donated to Portland-area non-profits ahead of the holidays. Last season, the fans and Winterhawks teamed up to donate more than 7,500 stuffed animals. This year’s game will have some extra spice to it, as that night’s opponent is the rival Seattle Thunderbirds.

Come Dec. 31, the Winterhawks will be hosting their Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party at Memorial Coliseum. With an early puck drop of 5 p.m. to allow fans a night at the rink with enough time to get home to watch the clock strike midnight, the game features a number of special activities after the game, including music, a traditional postgame skate and balloon drop (some with cash prizes).

For the Winterhawks, it’s these special-event games that really showcase the overall excitement and quality of their games, and hopefully inspire fans to continue coming to support the team over the second half of the season as they make their push to the playoffs and beyond. Further, Johnston says a number of new group seating areas have provided fans with new ways to experience a Winterhawks game, with ice-level seating, a bar near the team bench and table seating now available.

Next up, the Winterhawks dig into their December schedule with a home game against Victoria on Friday. Safe to say that, despite the strong start, there’s still plenty of work to be done over the course of such a long season. For now, as Johnston indicates, the team is encouraged by its fast start and looks forward to its upcoming schedule as it continues to measure its progress, knowing there will always be ebbs and flows to any season.

If You’re Going
Single-game tickets and information on group options are available on the Winterhawks website. For more information on Winterhawks promotions and theme nights, click here.