Winterhawks Dethrone Oil Kings, Improve to 6-0-0

October 12, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Portland Winterhawks News Release

Portland, Ore. -The Portland Winterhawks struck three times in the first period and never looked back, riding multi-point performances from Luca Cagnoni (can-YO-knee) and Diego Buttazzoni (buh-tuh-ZOE-knee) to a 5-2 win over the defending WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings.

With the victory, Portland moves to 6-0-0 on the year. Dante Giannuzzi stopped 16 of 18 shots against to boost his personal record to 4-0-0.

A back-and-forth first period kicked off with Aidan Litke’s first of the year to put Portland ahead. After Cagnoni hit Buttazzoni with a stretch pass at the far blue line, the 16-year-old picked up first assist of the night with a drop pass to Litke, who wired a wrist shot top-shelf from the top of the circles. Josh Zakreski soon doubled Portland’s lead with a spectacular individual effort, carrying the puck from out wide and fending off defenders before chipping the puck past Kolby Hay’s left shoulder.

Carson Golder managed a response for Edmonton, but Marcus Nguyen (NEW-win) soon restored the Hawks’ two-goal lead as he finished off a seeing-eye pass from Buttazzoni. Still, the Oil Kings pressed and earned a second tally with 30 seconds left in the frame as Marshall Finnie found twine.

Both teams began to settle into a defensive rhythm in the second period, but Cagnoni still lit the lamp with a one-timed laser midway through the frame, set up by James Stefan. Portland continued to control play in the final frame as Luke Schelter bagged his third of the year with a quick shot off the rush.

The Hawks are back in the Glass Palace this Saturday, Oct. 15, to take on the Kamloops Blazers during Hawktoberfest at 6:00 P.M.

— WINTERHAWKS.COM —

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