The baby blue trim on the away jerseys was unusual for those used to the old Chicago Blackhawks-themed jerseys. But it was the same old Portland Winterhawks in terms of results.
The Winterhawks, one of the most successful franchises in Western Hockey League history and the winningest over the past decade with a .676 win percentage entering this season, are at it again. Portland moved to 12-1-2 after beating the Victoria Royals 5-1 before 3,169 fans Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
The one thing Victoria head coach Dan Price said his side couldn’t get into was a “track meet” against Portland. But the Winterhawks burst out of the blocks like Andre De Grasse on a mission in taking a 2-0 lead 8-1 shots advantage just 6:19 into the game.
Living up to their Canadian Hockey League No. 6 ranking, the ‘Hawks scored through Richmond-product Robbie Fromm-Delorme at 5:20 of the first period and Burnaby-product Luca Cagnoni at 6:19. Talented blueliner Cagnoni, with his second power-play goal of the night, made it a three-goal advantage at 14:28 to show why he is ranked for the second-to-third rounds of the 2023 NHL draft. He will add to the 24 Winterhawks selected in the NHL draft over the last decade. Eighteen Winterhawks alumni played in the NHL last season.
Fromm-Delorme’s second goal of the evening, and ninth of the season, made it 4-0 at 11:23 of the second period. Jake Poole’s 10th goal of the season put Victoria (3-13-3) on the scoreboard at 5:12 of the third period on the power play. Aidan Litke, with Portland’s third power-play goal, closed out the scoring account.
A harried Tyler Palmer made 42 saves in goal for Victoria and was the only reason the Portland margin of victory wasn’t wider. Dante Giannuzzi, who shares the crease with 2023 NHL draft-ranked Czech U-18 and U-20 goaltender Jan Spunar, was called upon to make 21 stops for Portland.
The teams meet again tonight at the Memorial Centre.
