WHL Power Rankings – Week 11: Winterhawks on Fire

OH MY! The Winterhawks are on fire. They have won five straight and nine of the last twelve. At the start of the year, they dug themselves a huge hole because of their defense. In the last month, though, this team has locked down on the defensive side and is turning that into offense. In the last nine games, Portland has only given up 17 goals while scoring 35. That is not only a recipe for success but also a recipe for championship success.

I think the entire Winterhawks community was starting to panic when they were in last place, including me. Well, we can all breathe a heavy sigh of relief this week because we now know this team is capable of winning five straight titles.

I said last week I expect them to not lose again for some time, so not to toot my own horn but they still haven’t lost. With three of the next four against worthy opponents, I am a little more hesitant to make such a bold claim, but I have optimism. This team is not only clicking right now but also getting great goaltending from Hill. If I had any money to bet on the WHL, if people do that, I would put it on the Winterhawks and the Wheat Kings in the finals.

The Teddy Bear toss is this Saturday and if you aren’t sure what that means, just search it on YouTube. Once you finish watching the videos, buy a ticket to the game and toss some bears. Until next week hockey fans, go Winterhawks!

Checkout where the Winterhawks fell in Week 11’s WHL Power Rankings:

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RANK,TEAM,REC,TREND,PREV,COMMENTS

1,,21-5-2,—,1,”Brandon Wheat Kings~~It looks like a bad loss to the Blades to start the week doesn’t look so bad because it occurred in overtime. They followed up that point with two straight wins to claim five out of a possible six points over the holiday week. This team has no tough matchups until 2015, so they should be able to hold the top spot with ease. ”
2,,19-6-2,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,4,”Medicine Hat Tigers~~The holiday week couldn’t have gone any better for the Tigers. They never had to leave home and won all three games they played in. Yeah, all these games were against inferior opponents, but they took care of business. A four game road trip awaits them including a trip to Portland.”
3,,22-3-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,2,”Kelowna Rockets~~Two weeks ago, I didn’t think the Rockets would ever drop out of the top spot. They have now lost three of four and seem to be in a rut. What seemed to be easily winnable games have now turned into battles. With three road games this week, I think they only win two of them.”
4,,16-5-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,3,”Everett Silvertips~~It was a rough week for the Silvertips. They lost two of three, all of which were on home ice. I would chalk this up to a fluke but if they continue this slide, I might remove them from the top 5. They have a big game against the Winterhawks on Saturday. ”
5,,14-12-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +3,8,”Portland Winterhawks~~The Winterhawks are so hot right now; some people (me) have been calling them the Summerhawks. Winners of five straight including three against top tier teams. With two games on the road before the teddy bear toss game, I would expect them to be at seven straight heading into that big matchup with Everett. ”
6,,15-13-2,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,5,”Victoria Royals~~The Royals went 1-2 last week on a mini three game road trip. That is why I don’t have them dipping further. I saw this team play on Tuesday and liked what I saw; they just couldn’t put the puck in the net. The Royals should be a mainstay in the top ten. ”
7,,15-12,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,6,”Tri-City Americans~~The Americans also had a mediocre week going 1-2. This team had been winning on home ice until last week, which makes me wonder if it was also a fluke. They competed very well with a red hot Winterhawk team on Saturday and should carry that momentum into Seattle this week. ”
8,,14-10-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,10,”Red Deer Rebels~~Only two games on the schedule last week for the Rebels. They managed to beat the Broncos on home ice and even claimed a point on the road against Medicine Hat. That OT loss should have been a win too, and that shows this team can compete with the best.”
9,,14-10-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +3,12,”Edmonton Oil Kings~~It was a good week for the Oil Kings, who had a busy schedule. They played four games and were able to win two and secure a point in one more. This team has not been consistently good this year, but seems to win more than they lose which will get them to the playoffs where they have been consistently good. ”
10,,16-10-1,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +3,13,”Regina Pats~~A great week for the Pats has them in the top ten. Winners of three straight and eight of the last nine, this team could be the hottest team in the league behind the Winterhawks. With back-to-back games against Brandon, this team will get a true test to see if they belong in the top ten. ”
11,,14-11-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -2,9,”Calgary Hitmen~~Calgary has been struggling to put any sort of win streak together lately. Every win seems to be followed up with a loss. The Hitmen will never climb the standings if they keep doing that. With seven out of the next nine on home ice, I expect this trend to change. ”
12,,14-8-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,11,”Spokane Chiefs~~The Chiefs were on a five game winning streak before taking a thumping to Seattle on Sunday. The biggest thing holding this team back is the lack of offensive production. They haven’t scored more than four goals in a month now and that could be a problem going forward.”
13,,14-12-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -6,7,”Swift Current Broncos~~Two weeks ago the Broncos shut out the Wheat Kings and looked like giant killers. Since then they have gone 1-4 giving up 29 goals in those five games. Losers of three straight, this team needs a win quickly or could be watching their hot start disappear. ”
14,,13-15,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,16,”Kootenay Ice~~This team was once the bottom dweller of the WHL. Since I declared the season lost for the Ice, they have won ten out of the last twelve and have a lot of momentum. With a home and home against a struggling Chiefs team this week, it is very possible that the once 3-13 Ice will be back to .500.”
15,,12-12-3,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +2,17,”Moose Jaw Warriors~~It was a good week for the Warriors winning both games they played in. Granted they were both against the Blades who lose to everyone, but they won the games they should win. This team has scratched their way back to .500 just before a three game road trip this week. ”
16,,13-14,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,15,”Prince George Cougars~~On a holiday week where the Cougars played five games, they were only able to win two of those games. This team is a “middle of the pack” team and it will stay that way the rest of the year. ”
17,,11-13-5,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -3,14,”Kamloops Blazers~~The Blazers have lost four straight and thirteen of the last fifteen. This team is ice cold and doesn’t seem to be turning it around. There is not much else I can say about this team right now other than if they continue this trend, they wont be in the top 20. ”
18,,11-12-4,[icon name=icon-arrow-up] +1,19,”Seattle Thunderbirds~~It was a semi-successful week for the Thunderbirds. They ended their four game skid with a win against the Silvertips. The glory didn’t last long though as they got spanked by Kootenay the next night. This team is mediocre and will continue to be mediocre all year. ”
19,,13-14,[icon name=icon-arrow-down] -1,18,”Prince Albert Raiders~~The Raiders showed a little promise last week until facing the Wheat Kings. Coming into that game, they were on a five game winning streak before being out matched by Brandon. This proves what we all were thinking; the Raiders just can’t compete with the top teams in the WHL. ”
20,,10-18,—,20,”Vancouver Giants~~This team avoided having a total nightmare of a week by beating Calgary on Saturday. That was following a horrendous three game skid that saw the Giants lose 13-1 combined. Ouch.”
21,,6-17-4,—,21,”Lethbridge Hurricanes~~This team stinks, and that is the nice way to put it. They do not score enough goals, they give up too many goals, and that leads to losing. Winning six out of the first 27 is actually surprising to me. ”
22,,7-18-2,—,22,”Saskatoon Blades~~When I thought it couldn’t get any worse than the Hurricanes, it does. Yeah, the Blades have one more win than the Hurricanes but are just as bad, if not worse than Lethbridge. These two teams will be jockeying all year for the bottom spot. ”

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