Hawkey is back...

The trip yesterday up to Kent and back was made so much better by a good game played by the Portland Winter Hawks. I say good because although the team won the game, they were not great. This team has some real potential, and last night they showed what that potential can do... Only one comment about the rink, nice seating area, but the concourse is going to be packed if they actually fill the place in Kent. Why didn't they give the fans more room to walk around?

Again, they played a good game, and for the most part controlled the puck, did a good job of keeping it in the zone while on offense and had a really good penalty kill going.

A couple of things that will get better has to be the power play. The team scored short handed, and at full strength, but didn't have a good power play. Portland also has to do a better job of getting their shots on net. Good things happen when the puck is on net... and many times they had a clear lane and the shot was wide, or high... I know that you are not going to get everything on net, but the Hawks did miss a couple of gimme goals because they were not on net.

Now a couple of predictions...

This is a 80 point team. I can see them winning 40 games this year... and they will be competitive night in and night out. They have the chance to win more, but 40 - 32 will be a really nice turn around.

Mike Johnston will be the WHL coach of the year. I just look at what he has done with a full camp and off season... now many of the players were drafted before he got here, but he has done wonders with them to this point in the season.

Troy Rutkowski will flirt with a 100 point season. This is a stretch, but I think he has a really good shot at it when the power play gets going, as he will QB it most of the time, and has a nice shot from the point.

Brett Ponich will be a good team Captain, and have the job for the next couple of years...

The team has some time off to get ready for three in three nights next weekend, and very well should be 2-0 to open the season at home with Seattle and PG at home next weekend. Let's fill the MC.