What: Portland takes on Spokane in Western Hockey League preseason action.
When: Saturday, September 6, 2pm PDT
Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, Washington.
Watch/Listen: No audio or video, generally, for preseason games.
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Portland begins preparation for their 50th season in the same way they finished their 49th, with a game against Spokane, who swept them in the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference Final.
And season 50 shapes up to be one of the most chaotic in league history, both in terms of who finishes on top and where the league’s place in the hockey world evolves. The NCAA’s move last year to allow junior players to keep their college eligibility, along with the ability for college hockey to pay its players, has ramped up the player movement. And who knows where it will stop.
Portland loses their top four scorers, two of whom graduated out and two of whom moved to college where they previously would have expected to stick around for another year. They have a decent amount of experience, and felt well enough about that and their newcomers to trade 151-game player Hudson Darby to Swift Current for a prospect.
After sweeping Portland in the conference final, Spokane dropped all 3 home games to lose to Medicine Hat in 5 games in the league final.
At least initially, their season will be defined by whether star forward Berkly Catton sticks with the Seattle Kraken, who made him the 8th overall pick in the 2024 draft. Even without him, they look to be pretty strong. The only place they don’t have experience is in goal, but even then they have a 1st-round import draft pick and a 1st-round bantam draft pick.
They beat Seattle 9-3 in their exhibition opener at the Everett tournament, outscoring them 7-1 in the last 2 periods. Gavin Burcar had 2 goals and an assist in his first game, Mathis Preston had 2 goals, Ossie McIntyre had 4 points and Chase Harrington 3.
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