Consistent Winterhawks Enter Postseason with Momentum On Their Side – Sport Oregon Voices

Portland to host first two games of first-round series at Veterans Memorial Coliseum Friday and Saturday

Buoyed by another terrific regular season that concluded over the weekend, the Portland Winterhawks now turn their attention to the 2024 Western Hockey League (WHL) Playoffs. First up, the Winterhawks face the Victoria Royals in a best-of-seven series that begins Friday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, starting at 7 p.m.

Winterhawks playoff tickets are on sale now, including tickets to Game 1 on Friday and Game 2 of their series with the Royals on Saturday. The team also is offering a “Chase The Dream” 2024 Playoff Pass, which secures seats for every home playoff game the Winterhawks play this postseason.

Portland finished the regular season with a record of 48-15-4-1, marking the seventh straight season and the 13th out of the last 14 that it has won 40 or more games in a season. Winning 40-plus games during the regular season is generally considered a measure of success in the Western Hockey League. As such, Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston is pleased with the results to date, but he knows there’s much more work ahead.

“I thought our guys played really well as a whole this season,” Johnston said. “We had quite a few injuries just after Christmas, but we were able to weather the storm and again get another 40-plus win season.”

Portland won the WHL’s U.S. Division title this season, marking the 15th time in the team’s history that it won a division title.

The Winterhawks, who are the second seed from the Western Conference entering the postseason, face the seventh-seeded Royals, who were 29-30-5-4 this season. Portland, which was one of three teams in the WHL to tally 100 or more points this year, swept the season series with Victoria, winning each of the four meetings between the two teams, including one in overtime and one in a shootout.   

Portland will host the first two games of the first-round playoff series at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, hosting Game 1 Friday at 7 p.m. and Game 2 Saturday at 6 p.m. The series then shifts to Victoria for Game 3, Game 4 and Game 5 (if necessary), before heading back to Portland for Game 6 and Game 7 if required.

The energy is sure to be high at the Rose Quarter this weekend. In addition to the Winterhawks playoff games at the Coliseum, Moda Center will be hosting the NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional starting Friday. Portland is hosting Sweet 16 games Friday and Saturday, and Elite 8 games Sunday and Monday.   

“The campus is going to be alive with NCAA basketball and our games,” Johnston said. 

To add to the festivities, the Winterhawks will be hosting a free Toyota Fan Fest on Saturday from 3-5 p.m. The family-friendly event will be held outside on the Rose Quarter Commons. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to welcome the Winterhawks players as they enter the arena at 3 p.m. for their Game 2 matchup with Victoria that night. Other activities include live music, ball hockey, food trucks, beer garden, performances from the Rosebuds Dance Team and prizes.

Now in his 14th season as head coach with the Winterhawks, the experienced Johnston, who also serves as the team’s general manager, knows the keys to making a run in the playoffs. He guided the team to four straight WHL Championship series during one stretch and has led the Winterhawks to the playoffs every year since the 2009-10 season. Heading into this year’s postseason, he likes where the team is but says there are other key factors at play.

“First, you need some momentum going into the playoffs,” he said.

The Winterhawks can check that box, as they logged points in each of their last 11 games to end the regular season.  

“We’re healthy, that’s the second important thing,” he continued. “And then I think you just need to get off to a good start. Playoffs are a different season really, so you really need to get off to a good start.”

Earlier this year, Johnston won his 500th WHL game as the Winterhawks defeated the Everett Silvertips in early October. In doing so, he became just the 11th coach in league history to achieve that milestone. Johnston says that while markers like that can be exciting, especially for the fans, what matters most are team accomplishments.

“Wins for the organization mean a lot to me,” he said. “Having 40-win seasons for 13 of the last 14 years, I think, is an incredible accomplishment.

“It’s hard to have that type of continuity in sports today, where teams win a couple years and then go down to the bottom for a couple years,” he added. “We’ve been able to keep our program up there, and every year we’re challenging for the championship, or in the hunt every single season. So, that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Starting this weekend at the Coliseum, the Winterhawks will take their shot in the postseason, with hopes of returning to the WHL Championship once again.

But they can’t do it alone.

As consistent as they have been on the ice, the Winterhawks have been equally impressive in the stands, once again drawing well at the gates this season. The Winterhawks passionate fan base has always been a boost for the team, and Johnston adds the fan support as another important key to playoff success.

“We need our fans in the building to give us that extra momentum, because the playoffs are more challenging than the regular season.”