Portland Winterhawks defenseman Brett Ponich is being credited with an assist, and it doesn’t have anything to do with what he’s doing on the ice.
Ponich organized a silent auction during Portland’s home games last Friday and Saturday to benefit his friend and former youth hockey teammate Tanner Hubbs, who was the victim of an offseason accident that left him a quadriplegic.
“Tanner and his family have given me so much over the years,” Portland’s 18-year-old captain told the Oregonian. “If I can give anything back, that’s what I want to do.”
Ponich grew up playing hockey with Hubbs in the small Alberta town of Beaumont. On May 29 Hubbs was attending a high school graduation party in their hometown when a swimming-pool accident left Hubbs with neck and spinal injuries.
Hubbs’ injuries hit Ponich hard.
“You never think things like this can happen to you,” Ponich said. “It doesn’t seem right for it to happen to Tanner. With all of the things my friends or I have done, to have him just jump in a pool and have this happen, it just hit home how vulnerable we are and how life can change in a second.”
During the summer Ponich began thinking of ways to help, with the Portland organization suggesting a silent auction. Among the items donated by the team were signed memorabilia and tickets to future games. Ponich, who was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Blues in this year’s NHL draft, also arranged for a personalized Blues jersey to be made for the auction. Ponich and teammates Chris Francis and Luke Walker also auctioned off date nights.
All proceeds are going to the Hubbs family, which may need to move into a new house to accommodate Tanner’s needs.
Around the WHL
Seattle beefed up its blue line by acquiring 18-year-old defenseman Scott Ramsay from Chilliwack via Swift Current. Swift Current traded a seventh-round pick in the 2010 bantam draft to Chilliwack for Ramsay, then turned around and dealt Ramsay to Seattle in exchange for 16-year-old prospect Robbie Newton. … Saskatoon added toughness by picking up 19-year-old winger Randy McNaught from Chilliwack in exchange for 17-year-old forward Jamie Crooks and a conditional draft pick. … Chilliwack acquired overage forward Colton Grant from Medicine Hat in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2010. The Bruins then released forward Andy Smith to reach the overage limit of three. … Red Deer also firmed up its overager situation, releasing forward Cody Esposito to get down to three. … Medicine Hat and Kamloops swapped forwards, with 19-year-old John Stampohar going to the Blazers and 18-year-old Cole Grbavac joining the Tigers. … Kelowna picked up a reserve goaltender by landing 18-year-old Chad Ketting from Swift Current for a conditional seventh rounder in 2011. … Moose Jaw’s Jason Bast was named the WHL Player of the Week. The 20-year-old forward had seven goals and five assists as the Warriors went 3-1.
League leaders
Points — Jason Bast (Moose Jaw) 19; goals — Bast 13; assists — Brandon Kozun (Calgary) 12; penalty minutes — Randy McNaught (Saskatoon) 44; wins — Adam Brown (Kelowna) 6; goals against average — Michael Snider (Calgary) 1.98; save percentage — Justin Leclerc (Kamloops) .938.
Nick Patterson’s Silvertips blog: http://www.heraldnet.com/silvertipsblog
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