Week two of the WHL season is in the books, and the Portland Winterhawks still have a ways to go in their hopes of defending their Western Conference crown despite being in first place in the U.S. Division. They split their two-game home series against Kelowna, winning 1-0 on Friday and dropping a 4-3 decision on Saturday. No one really expected Nic Petan to keep up the 8 point first weekend momentum going, and it showed. Brendan Leipsic scored twice in the loss, and Derrick Pouliot scored the lone goal in the win. Defensively, this is still a work in progress, but after two weekends, Cam Lanigan looks like the clubhouse leader to get the permanent starting goaltender spot ahead of Brendan Burke. Lanigan is the overager who came over from Kamloops in the offseason, and it looks like he's making the most of his opportunity in Portland. Burke, widely expected to be taken in next year's NHL Draft, is having a few struggles, but game experience will help him improve. The Winterhawks are on the road until October 20, with games at Brandon on the 5th, Moose Jaw on the 6th, Regina on the 9th, Saskatoon on the 10th, Prince Albert on the 12th, and Swift Current on the 13th.
I will also be on the road starting tomorrow, so don't expect a lot of updates on here. I will be back on the 9th to give a wrap-up of the games played and a preview of the ones yet to be played on the Manitoba/Saskatchewan road trip.
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