Three Takeaways: September 9 Preseason Game vs. Seattle
September 9, 2022 – Western Hockey League (WHL) – Portland Winterhawks News Release
Everett, Wash. – The Portland Winterhawks opened preseason play on Friday against the Seattle Thunderbirds, falling on the wrong side of a 5-0 final in the game played in Everett, Wash.
Despite the score, there were still positives to take away from the afternoon tilt.
FIRST DUB GAME FOR THE GOALIES
Donavan Bodnar drew his first start as a Winterhawk and made a handful of sharp saves to give him a solid stat line of 18 saves on 22 shots against. Two of the goals allowed came on Seattle’s power play, quarterbacked by a first-round NHL Draft pick and flanked on the wing by a former 39-goal scorer in the Western League.
“I felt pretty good out there. The goals that went in were some good plays from good guys. I thought a lot of the chances that came against me today were actually pretty similar to (what I saw at) the Neely Cup,” Bodnar said.
There were some small adjustments made because today was the first time Bodnar played in a game without hybrid icing and one where the ice had a trapezoid. In total, he saw 40 minutes of work in his debut.
Luke Brunen, 16, saw the net for the final period, making seven saves in his Winterhawks debut. With four more preseason tilts ahead, it will be enjoyable to watch Bodnar and Brunen between the pipes.
WELCOME ’07s
Fifteen year olds Kyle McDonough and Ryan Miller saw their first preseason action with the Winterhawks days after signing Standard Player Agreements with Portland.
McDonough centered the Hawks second line and saw time on the team’s power play, registering one shot on goal.
“It’s a huge change. Some of these guys that I grew up watching and getting autographs and pictures and now I’m playing against them. It was a great experience and these guys have a lot of speed and power so it’s really good for me to get a chance to play with and against them,” McDonough said.
Similarly, Miller had some scoring looks this afternoon and his first WHL experience. Both Miller and McDonough will be available for the Winterhawks to call up as affiliate players this season.
EXPERIENCE GAINED
The Winterhawks sported a younger lineup that skated away from the first contest with some real-game experience against a U.S. Division rival. Of the 18 dressed skaters and two goaltenders, Portland only had six players in its lineup who were full-time WHLers a season ago.
The Hawks drew seven power plays and took 17 shots in the final two periods. A handful of the same players from today’s lineup will continue to see preseason action with the Hawks over the next 10 days while some veteran players are away at NHL camps, but some like McDonough and Miller will report to their bantam teams for the 2022-23 season.
“I thought that (my time in Portland this month) was a success,” McDonough said, who heads home tomorrow to begin play with the Okotoks Oilers U18 AAA team. “A lot of the guys helped me through this and made me feel comfortable right away so I could feel at home and play the way I do. Obviously, today we didn’t get the outcome we were looking for, but it was a learning experience for me and the team and we move forward from here.”
The Hawks continue preseason play against Everett on Sunday for a 4:00 p.m. puck drop and fans can follow along on the Winterhawks Audio Network.
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