Sandy post., March 08, 1979, Image 21

Section
SANDY. OREGON. THURSDAY. MARCH 8. 1979
The SdnHy Post
Sports
and Recreation
T h e y h ave p laye d in th e shadow o f th e T r a il
B lazers f o r th e past couple o f seasons. N o w
th e y have m ade th e p la y o ffs an d a re t r y in g
to shake th e e n ig m a o f being
P o rtla n d ’s
o th e r te a m
At least one Portland team is going to make
the playoffs this season.
The chance: of the T rail Blazers are no
better than 50-50 but the Portland Winter
Hawks have already clinched their division of
the Western Hockey League.
The Hawks have basked in anonymity for
the past couple of years but this season they
have begun to carve a niche for themselves in
Oregon sports’ circles.
The boards got a beating Thursday night
but so did New Westminster The Bruins
checked and got checked in return. A couple
of calls went against New Westminster and
rattled some of its players Meanwhile, the
Hawks went about their business of skating
hard and making smooth passes and easily
buried their Candian rivals.
Portland fans come in all shapes ans sizes.
Most are quite knowledgeable about hockey;
Part of the success comes from Portland s some are fanatical. So it was to no one's
record. 43-8-12, second best in the WHL. More surprise that a few of the fans and a few of the
likely, the start of Winter Hawkmania this Bruins came within a slap shot of mixing it
season is a result of the club’s style of play — up. In fact, the referee called the game with
15 seconds remaining for fear of a full-scale
tough, aggressive and team-oriented.
flare-up.
Portland fans have gotten behind the
Hawks More than 8,000 turned out a couple of
The Hawks stayed back and watched with
weeks ago to see them take on Brandon, the bemused expressions on their faces. In this
league’s top team. Unfortunately for the season of success, they are discovering their
Hawks' fans, Portland lost to the Wheat Kings fans just as the fans are discovering them.
but that hasn’t dented their enthusiasm for
This new-found love affair between Port­
the junior hockey club
land and the Winter Hawks is well-deserved
for Portland plays some of the best hockey
Typical of the Hawks’style of play was their
this side of the NHL. And it’s a lot easier to get
7-2 victory over the New Westminster Bruins tickets.
Thursday night. The Bruins rolled into town
with a definite game plan — to check Portland
That situation may not last too long, though,
hard enough to throw it out of rhythm.
especially if Portland continues its success.
Portland’s Blake Wesley (2) and Bruin Rick Amann
mix it up (top) and goalie Bart Hunter (1) makes a
save (above left). A Winter Hawk fast break (above)
leaves Perry Turnbull (11) and Rick Slawson in awe (left).
story/photos
by Mark Floyd
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