WHL Writer's Poll #8

Winter Hawks out of the basement

WHL Writers - For 22 months, the Portland Winter Hawks were the doormat of the Western Hockey League's writers poll.

They're still far from the penthouse this week, but thanks to a newfound energy attributed to ownership and coaching changes the Hawks have at least crawled out of the outhouse.

Portland received enough votes to place 21st in the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association poll, one spot ahead of Moose Jaw and the first time they didn't finish last since Jan. 15, 2007. Since Calgary businessman Bill Gallacher bought the team last month and brought in new coach Mike Johnston, the team has gone 5-3, including two wins and a loss in the past week. The only loss in that span was to the Vancouver Giants, first in the poll this week for the sixth straight time with all 12 first-place votes.
Vancouver lost its first regulation game of the year but rebounded with three straight wins.

The big move in this week's poll was made by the Medicine Hat Tigers, up four spots to No. 7. The Tigers were 14th just two weeks ago. No other teams moved more than two spots up or down.

The WMJHWA poll, with last week's rank, first-place votes in parenthesis and total points:

1. (1) Vancouver Giants (12), 264 points
2. (2) Calgary Hitmen, 252
3. (5) Saskatoon Blades, 236
4. (3) Spokane Chiefs, 232
5. (4) Tri-City Americans, 212
6. (6) Regina Pats, 200
7. (T11) Medicine Hat Tigers, 188
8. (8) Kelowna Rockets, 172
9. (7) Swift Current Broncos, 171
10. (10) Kootenay Ice, 156
11. (9) Brandon Wheat Kings, 149
12. (T11) Everett Silvertips, 138
13. (14) Prince Albert Raiders, 116
14. (13) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 105
15. (17) Seattle Thunderbirds, 101
16. (15) Kamloops Blazers, 88
17. (18) Prince George Cougars, 67
18. (16) Edmonton Oil Kings, 60
19. (21) Chilliwack Bruins, 48
20. (19) Red Deer Rebels, 40
21. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 28
22. (20) Moose Jaw Warriors, 13

Members of the Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association award votes in weighted order (22 points for first place, 21 for second, etc.). A total of 12 ballots were cast by the Brandon Sun, Chilliwack Progress, Edmonton Sun, Kelowna Capital News, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kootenay NewsAdvertiser, Medicine Hat News, Moose Jaw Times Herald, Prairie Post, Red Deer Advocate, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Tri-City Herald.