Columbian.com -

Winterhawks have substance as much as style

Unsung players could make the difference in conference finals

Statistically, the Portland Winterhawks have put together one of the most dominant seasons in the Western Hockey League.

Community notebook: Evergreen Lacrosse Club takes aim on high school playoffs

A narrow loss on Saturday sets up an important match on Tuesday for the Evergreen Lacrosse Club.

Junior Vipers end with trophy

The return of competitive youth hockey to Vancouver's Mountain View Ice Arena concluded with a tournament championship.

Timbers happy with direction

Porter pleased that Portland found way to beat Earthquakes

There were not a lot of scoring chances. But as far as Timbers coach Caleb Porter was concerned, Sunday's effort was right on target.

Timbers defeat San Jose, 1-0

Will Johnson scored on a free kick in the 78th minute and the Portland Timbers won their second straight match with a physical 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.

MatchDay: Timbers vs. Earthquakes

Earthquakes at Timbers, 7:30 p.m. today (NBCSN, cable Channel 32)

Timbers seek rare MLS winning streak

Portland has not often put together back-to-back wins

The Portland Timbers have a chance to accomplish something on Sunday that has not often happened: stringing together consecutive Major League Soccer wins.

Winterhawks eager to get going again

Playoff series with Kamloops doesn't start until Friday

The Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers probably would prefer not to wait until Friday to get their Western Hockey League Western Conference finals series started.

Thorns FC kick off new women's soccer league

Portland team opens at Kansas City

When the Portland Thorns FC and FC Kansas City Blues get together on Saturday evening in Overland Park, Kan., it will be the debut of the newest attempt to make professional women's soccer work in the United States.

Injury leaves Timbers thin at defender

Horst out for the season with broken leg

Not long ago, the central defender position looked like the deepest on the Portland Timbers roster.

Community notebook: Phillips second at Paralympics Spring Nationals swim event

Ryker Phillips of Vancouver placed second in the 50-meter backstroke, and was a finalist in four other events at the U.S. Paralympics Spring Swimming Nationals.

Winterhawks focused on challenge ahead

Despite series lead, Portland anticipates big test at Spokane

PORTLAND -- In the wake of his Winterhawks taking a 2-0 lead on Saturday in their Western Hockey League playoff series with the Spokane Chiefs, acting coach Travis Green was asked if he was concerned that his team would relax in Game 3.

Timbers lose Horst to broken leg

Central defender injured in win over Houston

Portland Timbers central defender David Horst is expected to miss the remainder of this season as a result of a broken right leg suffered early in Saturday's match.

Carruth, Winterhawks freeze Spokane, 3-0

Portland takes 2-0 series lead

Mac Carruth stopped all 27 shots the Spokane Chiefs sent his way, leading his team to a 3-0 win at the Rose Garden and a 2-0 lead in the playoff series.

Timbers MatchDay: vs. Houston

Dynamo at Timbers

Winterhawks show flash in Game 1 win

Rattie scores three goals in third period of 7-2 victory

The Winterhawks opened the second round of the WHL playoffs with a 7-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs in front of 6,172 fans at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Dynamic offense will be on display in Portland

Houston does what Timbers are working toward

If the pregame chatter is to be believed, Saturday's match between the Timbers and the Houston Dynamo at Jeld-Wen Field promises to be, well, dynamic.

Winterhawks depend on second line

Bjorkstrand, Leier, De Leo have prominent playoff role

Against the Spokane Chiefs, it was Portland Winterhawks second-liners Oliver Bjorkstrand, Chase De Leo and Taylor Leier who topped the scoring chart this season.

Bowling milestone in the making for Neth

Vancouver bowler rolls first 300 game at age 65

In four decades of bowling in the Cosmopolitan League at Husted's Hazel Dell Lanes, Doug Neth has made many memories.

Community notebook: Monda wins local duathlon event

Area participants turn in top results of bike, run race

EDITOR'S NOTE: Details of the King's Way lacrosse matches in this report have been updated/corrected. Vancouver athletes were the top two finishers on Saturday in the 29th-annual Spring Classic Duathlon.

Cheek gets deal with Colorado Avalanche

Vancouver native Trevor Cheek has agreed to a three-year entry level contract with the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League.

Winterhawks look to be road warriors

Portland tries to close out Everett in Game 6

The Winterhawks will be back at Comcast Arena tonight, trying to finally close out the lowest seeded team in the Western Conference playoffs.

Winterhawks can't close out series

Everett takes Game 5 from Portland, 3-2

The question now becomes: Can the Silvertips beat the Winterhawks in Everett?

Timbers MatchDay: vs. Rapids

Timbers at Rapids

Timbers should have leg up on Colorado

Rapids are injured, but own advantage on home field

If the Portland Timbers are going to climb to new heights in 2013, they need to win matches like Saturday's at Colorado.

Winterhawks set for Game 4 at Everett

Portland has 2-1 series lead after solid win in Game 3

If Portland wins Friday night, it will have a chance to finish off Everett on Saturday in Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Road-warrior Winterhawks undaunted by need to win

Portland heads to Everett with series tied

The venue shifts to Comcast Arena in Everett. Do not expect much else to change from the Portland Winterhawks' perspective today when they resume their Western Hockey League playoff series with the Everett Silvertips.

Skyview boys soccer team has new cast, but familiar objective

Boys soccer preview feature

Let's get this point across right away: The 2013 Skyview boys soccer team isn't defending a Class 4A state championship.

Community notebook: Union tops Camas in battle of new lacrosse teams

Ben Morasch scored the go-ahead goal with just over three minutes left in regulation on Wednesday to lift Union to a 7-6 boys lacrosse win over Camas in the first meeting between the new teams.

Winterhawks even series with Everett

Defense plays key role in 4-1 victory

The Portland Winterhawks beat the Everett Silvertips 4-1 on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 10,947 at the Rose Garden.

Everett surprises Winterhawks in Game 1

Silvertips goalie stops 55 shots to preserve 4-3 win

Austin Lotz made 55 saves on Friday to back a disciplined Silvertips' effort that produced an unexpected 4-3 win over the top-seeded Winterhawks.

Winterhawks' focus is on the Silvertips

Playoffs start Friday for Portland-Everett

A record-setting Western Hockey League regular-season behind them, the Portland Winterhawks on Friday begin pursuit of a championship.

Winterhawks taking step up for playoffs

Record-setting regular season over, Portland aims for WHL crown

For a dozen of the Portland Winterhawks, this playoff stuff is old hat.

Elite journey for young gymnast

Jordan Chiles is one of nine girls with high qualifications

Jordan Chiles, who will turn 12 next month, is one of nine girls ages 11-15 in the United States who currently holds USA Gymnastics junior international elite status.

Community notebook: Frank among state lacrosse players of week

Columbia River senior Clayton Frank was among the players recognized by U.S. Lacrosse as one of the Washington players of the week for the first week of the high school season.

Timbers MatchDay: at Sounders

Timbers at Sounders

Cascadia Cup rivalry takes another turn

Many Timbers are first time participants vs. Sounders

With Timbers vs. Sounders, history is unavoidable.

Junior hockey: Winterhawks wrap up regular season

Weekly update on the Portland Winterhawks and junior hockey

Coaches carry mutual respect into Timbers-Sounders rivalry

Timbers coach is ready for first clash against Sounders

Caleb Porter has a score to settle with Sigi Schmid, one that dates to 1997.

Pacific 8th graders work hard for unbeaten season

The Pacific Middle School eighth-grade boys basketball team capped an unbeaten season by winning the Greater St. Helens Middle School League tournament March 2 at Union High School.

Frustrated Timbers got their shots against Montreal

Portland's 19 shots on goal could only produce one goal

PORTLAND -- Frustrating? Sure, playing against the hounding defense of the Montreal Impact and losing 2-1 on Saturday was frustrating for the Portland Timbers.

Battle Ground senior is All-Region girls wrestler

Strano was lone local girls wrestling state finalist

More than she enjoys winning, Kassi Strano hates to lose. "I'm pretty naturally competitive," she said. "We can't even play Monopoly at our house without me thinking I'm going to win."

Perkins makes Impact felt in return to Portland

Ex-Timber goalkeeper helps Montreal to 2-1 win

Give the Montreal Impact three more style points. Montreal's defense frustrated the Portland Timbers for long stretches on Saturday at Jeld-Wen Field, goalkeeper Troy Perkins made sure the Timbers and their fans won't soon forget him. and the Impact earned a 2-1 win.

Evergreen senior is All-Region boys wrestler

Senior was second at state wrestling tournament

Anthony Thomas didn't go out a champion.

Timbers seek quicker start against Impact

Falling behind has been early trend under new coach

PORTLAND -- The good news for fans of the Portland Timbers early in Caleb Porter's tenure as coach is that the team has demonstrated an ability to fight back when falling behind.

Paul Danzer

Stories by Paul