Winterhawks Weekly: Turn it Up to 11

The Portland Winterhawks are picking up exactly where they left off from last season, as they are now halfway to matching the number of double-digit winning streaks.  Wednesday, the Winterhawks welcomed the Brandon Wheat Kings, and things got off to a great start for the Winterhawks, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period on goals from Taylor Leier, Chase De Leo, and Nic Petan.  A Keegan Iverson goal made it 4-0 after two periods, and the Winterhawks had the game in hand, despite Rihard Burkarts and Ryley Lindgren scoring for Brandon in the third period, with Brendan Leipsic scoring in between the Wheat Kings goals.  A 5-2 decision for the Winterhawks made a winner of Brendan Burke.

Friday, the Winterhawks traveled to Seattle with first place on the line, and right away, the Winterhawks established their superiorty, with Leipsic scoring twice and Garrett Haar adding a goal to give the Winterhawks a 3-0 lead.  Leier would put the Winterhawks up 4-0 before a Jaimen Yakubowski goal would get Seattle within three after two periods.  Justin Hickman would make it 4-2, but a Leier goal in the closing seconds made it 5-2 for the Winterhawks and another win for Burke.

It was only a week ago that the Winterhawks stole first place from Spokane, and their rematch on Saturday was the Winterhawks' chance to pad their lead early in the season.  Oliver Bjorkstrand opened the scoring for the Winterhawks in the first period, with Alex Schoenborn adding a goal in the second period.  Paul Bittner added a goal in the third period, but Cole Wedman would keep Burke from getting a shutout.  Still, the Winterhawks came away with a 3-1 win and a better grip on first place heading into next week, as well as a chance to add to the 11-game winning streak.

The Winterhawks are home this week, as they take on Tri-City on Wednesday, Victoria on Saturday, and Regina on Sunday.