PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS
Where they stand: At 9-7-1-1 (20 points), the Winterhawks are second in the U.S. Division behind Tri-City (22 points).
This week: Portland concludes its longest road trip of the season — nine games over 17 days — with games Friday and Saturday at Kelowna. They return home for games Nov. 11 and Nov. 12 against Spokane.
Last week: Won at Lethbridge (4-1), lost at Kootenay (4-1), won at Kamloops (4-2).
Player of the week: 19-year-old center Taylor Peters had a goal and two assists and was a plus-3 in three games.
Notes and numbers: The big news of the week was Ryan Johansen sticking in the NHL. The 19-year-old center could still return to Portland this season, but that is unlikely now that the first year of his Columbus Blue Jackets contract has kicked in. Johansen’s two goals are game-winners. … Sven Bartschi had a goal and two assists on Wednesday, his first game after missing five games with a hip injury. …. The Winterhawks signed 17-year-old defenseman Ben Betker, who played in Wednesday’s game at Kamloops. Betker played 13 games for the Westside Warriors of the British Columbia Hockey League this season. … The Nov. 22 home game against Regina will be played at the Rose Garden. … In three early 2012 mock drafts on NHL.com, Portland’s Derrick Pouliot is projected as a first-round selection, listed as high as No. 9.
Winterhawks in Clark County: From 1-3 p.m. on Sunday the team is holding an audition for kids 12 and younger who want to be a junior reporter. This is one of four auditions as the team seeks a young fan to interview players for website and in-game video features. Sunday’s event is at the Orchards Fred Meyer store at 7411 N.E. 117th Avenue.
• On Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m., several Winterhawks players will be at the Les Schwab Tires store at 917 N.E. Minnehaha St., in Vancouver. Fans can meet the players and play street hockey.
VANCOUVER VICTORY
Where they stand: At 7-4, the Victory are second in the eight-team NORPAC behind 9-3 Southern Oregon.
This week: Vancouver is idle until Saturday, Nov. 12, when it hosts Yellowstone of Cody, Wyo. The team is promoting that as its grand opening event. The same teams will also play Nov. 13-14 at Mountain View Ice Arena.
Last week: Vancouver split two games at Seattle, winning in dramatic fashion on Oct. 28 when the Victory rallied from a 6-1 deficit to win 7-6 on overtime. Seattle won 4-1 on Oct. 29.
Player of the week: Kade King scored the final three goals — in a span of less than six minutes — to pull the Victory to the overtime win at Seattle.
