WHL notebook: Portland’s Glass avoids long-term injury

The Portland Winterhawks received some encouraging news on Sunday after a massive injury scare to superstar center Cody Glass on Saturday night against Seattle, as Vince Sapienza of Fox5 in Las Vegas reported he suffered a sprained LCL, a swollen MCL and bone bruising and could return to the ice in one-to-two weeks.

Good news for Golden Knights prospect & @pdxwinterhawks Cody Glass who had to be helped off the ice last night

Per sources, he suffered a sprained LCL, has swelling on MCL & bruising on bone

The hope is he could be back on the ice in a week or two#VegasBorn

— Vince Sapienza (@VinceSapienza) January 28, 2019

The injury occurred in the third period of the Winterhawks’ 3-2 overtime win against the Thuderbirds, as Glass awkwardly fell while skated to the net and twisted his knee. He rolled on the ice in pain while clutching his left knee before being helped off the ice with a teammate on each side.

Cody Glass needed helped off the ice, favoring a knee. Didn’t look good. Portland fans may have had their playoff hopes flash before their eyes. Stay tuned… #SEAvsPOR #WHL #PDX pic.twitter.com/aQyS7ZHZeL

— Chad Balcom (@hawkeyblog) January 27, 2019

The Cody Glass injury looks pretty scary. He needed to be helped off the ice, he did not return, and the Portland Winterhawks did not offer any further updates. pic.twitter.com/WiEPQ12QnB

— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) January 27, 2019

Glass, who was selected No. 6 overall in the 2017 draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, owns 64 points (13 goals and 51 assists) in 34 games for the Winterhawks this season. Since Glass has signed a contract with the Golden Knights already, one would think the Golden Knights will have ample input in when he returns to the ice.

Portland’s injury report on the league’s weekly report listed Glass day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Franchise officially on the move

The Kootenay Ice ownership are expected to announce during a press conference scheduled for 10:30 a.m. that the franchise is officially moving from Cranbrook, British Columbia to Winnipeg, Manitoba, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. The Free Press announced in October the franchise was likely moving to Winnipeg, giving Winnipeg its first WHL franchise since 1983-1984 when the Warriors were sold to Moose Jaw.

Sources tell the Free Press an announcement is being planned for tomorrow afternoon that will confirm the relocation of the Kootenay Ice to Winnipeg for next season and expand on the broader land development project currently aimed for the south end of the city. #wfp

— Jeff Hamilton (@jeffkhamilton) January 28, 2019

Also around the U.S. Division

The Spokane Chiefs are riding a five-game losing streak and left the door right open for Tri-City to capture the third playoff spot in the U.S. Division. The two teams are now tied with 53 points after the Americans topped the Chiefs, 3-1, on Saturday.

—Goaltender Joel Hofer has a rock in net for the Winterhawks since he was acquired from Swift Current on Jan. 9. The Blues prospect boasts a 1.59 goals against average and a .946 save percentage in five games with the Winterhawks. Hofer owned a 4.02 GAA and a .904 save percentage with Swift Current.

B.C.

The Vancouver Giants had an eight-game winning streak snapped on Sunday after falling to Kelowna, 4-3, in a shootout. The Giants topped Prince Albert on Thursday, 3-1, to hand the Raiders their sixth loss of the season.

The Giants are seven games back of Everett for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed and possess three games in hand on the Silvertips.

Central

A a 1-2 start to its Western Conference road trip and back-to-back losses to Everett and Portland, Lethbridge was sent tumbling down the standings to fourth in the Central division and into the Eastern Conference’s first wild card spot. The Hurricanes entered Saturday’s tilt with Everett at first in the Central, but fell 9-1 to the Silvertips and were shutout, 3-0, to the Winterhawks the next day.

Edmonton now leads the division with 60 points, but Red Deer is right behind with 59 points and three games in hand. Medicine is in third with 58 points.

East

It’s almost certain no one will catch the Raiders in the East division, but Moose Jaw is making a run at the the No. 2 seed winning six of its last seven games and claiming at least a point in all seven.

The Warriors have three games in hand on Saskatoon, which has 65 points to MJ’s 62.