When the Portland Winterhawks lose these days, it’s news.
But perhaps the loss to Spokane on Sunday was predictable.
The rivalry between the Chiefs and Winterhawks has taken on a strange personality. The road team owns the series.
It was the third game between teams this season, and the road team is 3-0.
That continues a trend from last season. Portland was 7-0 at Spokane last season, including winning all four road games in the teams’ first-round playoff series. Spokane went 5-1 at Portland last season, including three wins in the playoffs.
The Winterhawks (21-4-0-1, 43 points) remain atop the Western Hockey League. They have a 15-point lead on second-place Tri-City in the U.S. Division, and a 14-point lead over the Vancouver Giants in the Western Conference.
Portland’s 21 wins are four more than Saskatoon, which at 17-5-0-1 is the second best team in the league. Portland’s 107 goals is 16 more than any other team. Medicine Hat, which visits Portland on Sunday, is the second highest scoring team in the league with 91 goals through 22 games (four fewer games than Portland).
The Winterhawks have 19 more goals than Tri-City, and 43 more than third-place Seattle.
• The Winterhawks introduced all-black third jerseys in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over Everett at the Rose Garden. The uniforms feature the hawk eye logo the team introduced this season.
• Two Winterhawks were suspended for their roles in a fracas in the Nov. 20 home game against Kamloops. Seth Swenson was suspended four games and can return on Sunday against Medicine Hat. Joe Morrow was suspended three games and can return on Saturday at Tri-City.
Three Kamloops players drew suspensions, and both teams were fined $3,000.
• All but one of the Winterhawks’ December games will be carried live on AM 970. The Dec. 3 home game against Tri-City will air on FM 95.5.
• The Winterhawks report that more than 8,000 tickets have been sold for their annual teddy bear toss game, a Dec. 11 game at the Rose Garden against Prince George.
Jags look to climb
The River City Jaguars visit last-place Puget Sound for Northern Pacific Hockey League games Sunday and Monday.
In December, the Jags can try to climb up the Pacific Division standings. Five of their six December games are against third-place Eugene and second-place Southern Oregon, the teams they figure to battle all season for second place. And four of their six December games are at Mountain View Ice Arena.
• The league website reported a 0-0 tie Thursday for the Jaguars against Eugene at Mountain View Ice Arena.
