Keith Dwiggins/The Mossy Log
On Oct. 25, the Portland Winterhawks kicked off their home schedule with a game against the Saskatoon Blades. This season marks the Winterhawks’ 50th anniversary, a milestone that not only celebrates decades of junior hockey in Portland, but also brings renewed focus on their home base — the revitalized Veterans Memorial Coliseum (VMC).
Heading into the home opener, the Winterhawks were already riding high on the momentum of a road win, where they defeated the Vancouver Giants by a 6-5 margin in a back-and-forth affair. In the spirited home opener, the Hawks gained an early lead and held strong to secure a 6-3 victory over the Saskatoon Blades. Forward Carsyn Dyck fired in two goals in the first period to ignite the offense, and goaltender Ondřej Štěbeták stood tall in goal with 29 saves as the Blades pressured throughout, making 32 shots on goal. After the quick start and three-goal cushion, the Hawks extended their lead with a power-play goal from Nathan Brown and a slick finish by Reed Brown before the second period ended. The Blades managed to chip away with goals in the second and third periods, but a shot at an empty net by Ryan Miller sealed the outcome and lifted Portland in front at home.
What made the evening even more special was the club officially rolling out its “Top 50 Winterhawks of All Time” tribute, highlighting the NHL talent the Hawks have produced, with names such as the Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis, the Florida Panthers’ Seth Jones, the San Jose Sharks’ Luca Cagnoni and the New Jersey Devils’ Cody Glass.
Since their arrival in Portland in 1976, the Winterhawks have become entrenched in the city’s sports fabric. This 2025-26 campaign is framed not only as in their next season, but a celebration of a half-century of growth, community engagement and hockey culture in the Rose City. The “50 Years of Hawkey” moniker exhibits more than an anniversary, it signals a moment of reflection, looking back on the alumni, the rivalries, the buzzer-beaters and the fans that have called the VMC home.
It is impossible to talk about the Winterhawks’ home opener without paying attention to their home venue, coincidentally the same venue where Lewis & Clark holds its graduation service. The VMC — often affectionately known as the “Glass Palace” — has been the team’s anchor, and has undergone what has been called the most significant renovation in its history, started in 2024 and projected to be completed in 2026. Opened in 1960, the VMC has hosted countless memorable moments: from being home base for the Portland Trailblazers from 1970 to 1995, to concerts, entertainment and decades of hockey.
But age has caught up to the building. In response, some major investments were made to modernize the building: improving seating, adding LED boards to the rink, renovating locker rooms, new signage, redesigned restrooms, additional accessibility features, revamped electrical systems and many more updates. For this home opener, fans stepped into a venue that retains the charm and character of the VMC, but with a fresher, more comfortable experience. The Winterhawks’ 50th season and the VMC’s renovation both speak to renewal — honoring history while investing in the future.
The home opener was a reminder for the Winterhawks and their fans that every night at the Coliseum is more than just a game, it is a piece of Portland hockey history in the making.
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