Don Hay and the Portland Winterhawks visit the Sandman Centre on Wednesday night (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

FIRST U.S. VISITORS

Blazers set to host Portland as first U.S. WHL team to cross border

Nov 2, 2021 | 4:10 PM

KAMLOOPS —It’s been 603 days since the Blazers have played a team outside the B.C. Division when Portland visits the Sandman Centre on Wednesday night.

The last game was Mar. 10, 2020 — a 3-0 loss in Spokane before COVID-19 shut down the season.

They’re looking forward to playing a team not in Kelowna, Vancouver, Victoria or Prince George.

“I think it’s going to be really cool,” said Blazers’ co-captain Logan Stankoven. “Another good experience for a lot of us guys. Some of the younger guys — the new guys and the ’04s and the rookies from last season — obviously didn’t get that opportunity to play any teams outside the B.C. Division.”

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Blazers head coach Shaun Clouston added, “It’s exciting for everyone involved. I think it’s exciting for both teams. I know with Portland, they’re going to have some parents in the building — some Canadian parents that are excited to see their kids play in person. For our players, it’s been a long time. We’ve played the same teams over and over forever, so there’s a different feel. The guys are excited.”

With the Winterhawks in Kamloops, there’s also a feeling of normalcy. They’re the first American team to cross the border this WHL season.

“It gets a little old playing the same teams every night, but now that we’re in B.C. we get to play Kamloops, we go to Kelowna after, and Vancouver,” said Winterhawks captain Clay Hanus. “That’ll be a lot of fun. Nice to see different players.”

The Winterhawks, being the first U.S. team to come to B.C., were a little anxious about crossing the border, but had no issues.

The last time Portland was in Kamloops was Nov. 30, 2019.

Last season, the Winterhawks had it better than the Blazers, visiting all the U.S. Division buildings. Kamloops and Kelowna were the only two buildings for the B.C. Division hub.

Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston says playing different teams, especially top contenders like the Blazers, is good for player development.

“They hear about players in the league like Stankoven here in Kamloops, and Kamloops has several top players, and they heard about them, they read about them, they watch them on social media, but everybody wants to play against the best,” he said. “Our guys would like to play against the best players in the league as much as they can.”

Portland assistant Don Hay, who has been visiting his kids and grandkids in Kamloops during the trip, says playing in different places will be good for the players.

“You have to play in different buildings, against different opposition and different players, and there’s always new challenges along the way,” said Hay. “Part of your development is regular season, part of your development is playoffs, which we’ve missed the last two years, so that’s a huge part of a player’s development.”

Clouston says playing different teams that have varying styles of play challenges the players.

“There’s a balance as a coaching staff as to how much you focus on the other team. Do they do some different things?” said Clouston. “We’ve played PG and Victoria and Vancouver and Kelowna so many times, there are not a lot of surprises. Portland, they’re a different team. They play with lots of speed and skill, and it’s going to be a different type of game for us.”

Stankoven added, “Every team has their own style of play and Portland plays fast. They have some key players we’re going to have to watch, so it’s going to be a good test for us.”