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Portland Winterhawks
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The Mayon Event...Central division The Mayon Event...East division Guys whose Mother's don't even like 'em Team toughness...West division Team toughness...Central division Team toughness...East division P.O.W...Punch up Of the Week The FM Says 2000/2001 season Memory Lane Hockey Balboa Links to other sites Left Over Scraps Email The Fighting Major Official WHL site Sign the guestbook |
 B
The Winterhawks get an upgrade to start the year over last years grade simply because if Eric Bowen has improved his skating at all, he will be a force to reckon with this year. The big guy had a tough time last year because of poor balance and inexperience but with some work over the summer and a year under his belt, watch out for this big guy to have a solid year. The Hawks also can back up Bowen this year with a solid cast that should be a year older and wiser. The best of them should be Chad Grisdale, who although looking like a ruptured tube of Heinz ketchup on numerous occasions last year, should hold his own this year and I like the way he plays like he might have missed his medication for a few days. Throw in some big young guys like "Baby Face" Demone, Dustin Bauer in his sophomore year, Jonathan Lupul and solid middleweight Nick "You talking to me" Marach and the Winterhawks should be a feisty team to play against this year. If both Balej and Hossa return from Montreal this year, look for Hodge to possibly add another piece of "meat" to the line up for added security. |
Paul "I need a nickname" Gaustad C...6'4."...200lbs...02/03/82 Has been doing an admirable job of late. He's the only real toughness left on the Hawks after the departure of Eric Bowen to the Ice. |
D
They came out of the gate like a rabbit with a hot poker up it's
butt and looked like they were going to make a run at the divisional
title however, slowly but surely they've been dismantled. You may
not like it but it's a known fact that you can't go anywhere without
someone to look after your skilled players. You don't believe me,
just ask the 99/00 Kamloops Blazers. The Hawks started the season
with Chad Grisdale, James DeMone, Paul Gaustad and bona-fide heavyweight
in Eric Bowen. After trading Grisdale to the Cougars, they still
looked pretty good as far as toughness goes, but things only got
worse for the W/Hawks. Early in December, "Babyface" DeMone decided
he wanted out and eventually wound up with the Prince Albert Castaways.
Toughness was starting to thin out a little bit for the Hawks, leaving
the load on Bowen and Gaustad with some help coming from Bauer, Wellar
and Callaway. However the only legitimate heavyweight left being
Bowen who they turned around and traded to the Ice. The onus is now
on Paul Gaustad and his helpers, Wellar, Bauer and Callaway. It's
probably not enough when the chips start to fall. I hope for the Winterhawks
fans sake that the compensation they receive from Kootenay for the Bowen
trade is substantial or the Hawks maybe taking the ice to court for highway
robbery.
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