If ever there was a good player on a bad team, it's Portland Winterhawks goalie Kurtis Mucha.
I got a chance to talk to Kurtis for a weekend preview Thursday. I've talked to Kurtis many times over the years, but for the first time, I noticed a sense of excitement in his voice. It's about time.
The native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, has toiled away in Portland his entire WHL career. The Winterhawks won 47 games total the last three years and just 19 last year, with Kurtis picking up 13 of those wins.
This year, he leads the league in GAA at 1.64 and has a sparkling .930 save percentage, and the Winterhawks are 6-1-0-0.
"It does get hard, especially mentally," Mucha said of all the losses. "You get pressure from the fans. They have to have someone to blame. It's good to see the team back on the right track. It sounds simple, but it's such a relief. It's such a good feeling to get on the bus after a win and to be able to share it with your teammates. It's better than sitting in the dark for three hours."
Despite Portland's record the last couple of years, Mucha has caught the eye of a scout or two and has been invited to NHL camps. Last year he went to the Phoenix camp, and this year he was one of the last four goalies in the Edmonton Oilers camp.
Mucha had a chance to sign and vie for a job with the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, but instead he opted to return to Portland.
"I think in the past with the losses, I don't think any scouts wanted to come watch us play," Mucha said. "Now, with some wins and young talent, I expect the scouts to come. They offered me a low offer, so I decided to come back and keep my scholarship money. Hopefully next year I can get the same or more."
During the down years, he never asked for a trade, nor did he fail to report to camp. His loyalty should be commended.
"Teams go through cycles and we got caught in a bad one," Mucha said. "So many goalies would give an arm or a leg to just be in the WHL in my position. I've battled as hard as I could. I didn't want to give up on them."
And through it all, Mucha noticed the Tri-City fans kept their "You Suck!" chant to a minimum when he was in goal.
"I appreciate that," he said.
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Ams-Winterhawks battle for division lead
Ams-Winterhawks battle for division lead
The 2011-12 Western Hockey League season is barely one-quarter of the way through, but teams already are jockeying for the top spots in their respective divisions.
Tonight, the Portland Winterhawks are at Toyota Center to take on the Tri-City Americans in a battle of the top two teams in the U.S. Division.
An Americans' win will keep them at the top, where they have been all season. A Portland victory would give the defending division champions their first taste of the top this season.
No Ams reach Canadian Jr. National team camp
No Ams reach Canadian Jr. National team camp
KENNEWICK -- Invitations to Canada's National Junior team camp were handed out Monday, but none were extended to Tri-City Americans players.
Forwards Patrick Holland and Justin Feser, along with defenseman Zach Yuen, were invited to play in the Subway Super Series earlier this month. The two-game series against Team Russia was the final opportunity for players to impress Canada coach Don Hay and Kevin Prendergast, Hockey Canada's head scout.
"It was a good opportunity and I gave it my best shot," Feser said of the Super Series. "That's all I can ask of myself. Staying here, I get stay with the team. We have jelled as a team and our team bonding is great and that shows on the ice and with the wins."
Ams win again behind Rimmer
Ams win again behind Rimmer
KENNEWICK -- Before this season, Ty Rimmer had never beaten Portland.
In fact, he'd been on the losing end of three nasty losses while minding the net for Prince George.
Sunday night, Rimmer had 29 saves for his third shutout of the season to lead the Tri-City Americans to a 3-0 victory over the Portland Winterhawks before a crowd of 4,313 at Toyota Center.
Game Day: Winterhawks at Americans
Game Day: Winterhawks at Americans
It’s Thanksgiving Day hockey this weekend with the Tri-City Americans.
Tonight, the Portland Winterhawks are in town, while Swift Current is here Friday and Regina on Saturday. So, if your family starts to get on your nerves, sneak out to a game. Or better yet, get tickets for everyone and put the annoying people two sections away.
Since the Americans started their holiday feast of three games five years ago, they are 8-4.
Ams face Portland, Spokane this weekend
Ams face Portland, Spokane this weekend
The Portland Winterhawks are climbing the Western Hockey League standings, and just three points separate them from the Tri-City Americans, who have led the U.S. Division pretty much since the start of the season.
The Americans (37-13-1-1, 76 points), second in the Western Conference behind Kamloops (80 points), will look for points when they host Portland (35-15-2-1, 73 points) tonight and play at Spokane on Saturday.
"We are ready for a big win against a top team, and Portland is just that," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team is 5-1 against the Winter-hawks this season.
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