Played on Sep 28, 2025
Game Played in Angel of The Winds Arena
General Game Notes: The Portland Winterhawks battled back from a two goal deficit to defeat the Everett Silvertips 3–2 in overtime. Goaltender Ondrej Stebetak was the backbone of the comeback, turning aside 50 shots. After falling behind in the second period, Portland responded with goals from Nathan Brown and Alex Weiermair to force OT, where Nathan Free sealed the win just 40 seconds in.
Raiden LeGall (G, R, 5’11”, 176, Everett Silvertips, 09/16/2006)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: LeGall had a strong overall performance, though the game-tying goal was one he’d no doubt like to have back. Outside of that moment, he played a technically sound game—controlling his rebounds well and competing hard for loose pucks when necessary. Despite being slightly undersized by today’s goaltending standards, he makes up for it by aggressively challenging shooters. His ability to cut down angles and take away the top of the net is a key part of his success. He stays square to the puck, tracks it well through traffic, and maintains good positioning, making him difficult to beat cleanly when he’s dialed in.
Julius Miettinen (C, L, 6’3″, 215, Everett Silvertips, 01/20/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Miettinen is a dynamic blend of power forward and high-end skill, consistently making high-level plays with the puck. He uses his big frame to shield possession along the boards, creating separation with ease before either driving the net himself or flashing impressive vision to set up teammates. The first goal of the game was a textbook example of his style — after winning a puck battle and leaning into his defender, he slipped a perfect back-door pass from behind the net, tape-to-tape, to a teammate who buried it in tight. When Miettinen is engaged and playing with intensity, he’s a game-breaker — a true force whose puck possession and control can tilt the ice in his team’s favor.
Zackary Shantz (C, R, 5’10”, 165, Everett Silvertips, 09/09/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Shantz brought noticeable intensity to the faceoff dot, consistently showing purpose and preparation in key draws. He went 11-for-16 on faceoffs—an impressive mark, especially considering some of his fellow centers struggled in that area. Beyond the circle, Shantz had a shoot-first mentality that drove his offensive impact. He consistently generated shots on goal, creating second-chance opportunities by getting pucks through traffic. Whether off the rush or during sustained zone pressure, he was effective in getting pucks to the net with a quick release and solid shot power, making him a constant threat whenever he had the puck.
Clarke Schaefer (F, R, 5’10”, 158, Everett Silvertips, 04/17/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Schaefer scored a stunning highlight-reel goal, snagging a loose puck in the neutral zone, powering through by putting his shoulder down on the defender, and keeping the puck on his backhand the entire way before roofing it short-side past the goalie. The goal perfectly showcased his speed and tenacity to drive to the net. Throughout the game, he battled relentlessly for loose pucks in every zone, winning key battles while staying responsible and reliable defensively at both ends of the ice.
Jesse Heslop (LW, L, 5’11”, 171, Everett Silvertips, 04/18/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Heslop consistently creates opportunities, particularly off the rush, by driving play through the middle of the ice and filtering pucks into the net-front area. He displays strong vision and isn’t afraid to make the extra pass—often putting his teammates in prime scoring positions. He pushes the pace with purpose, showing off quick hands in tight areas and a willingness to make skilled plays under pressure. When given time and space, he thrives, using his hockey sense to generate quality chances and tilt the momentum in his team’s favor.
Tarin Smith (D, L, 6’1″, 201, Everett Silvertips, 03/24/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Smith does it all for the Silvertips, bringing a dynamic presence to the back end with an offensive flair that’s hard to miss. He consistently executes clean zone exits, which minimizes his time spent defending and allows him to drive play the other way. He’s not shy about joining the rush—often leading the charge as the first puck carrier into the offensive zone. From the blue line, he’s a constant threat, both at even strength and on the power play. As the quarterback on the man advantage, he distributes with poise, finding teammates in scoring areas, but he’s also confident in pulling the trigger when shooting lanes open up. A crafty puck handler, he uses subtle head fakes to freeze defenders, buying time to either fire a puck on net or set up a high-danger chance with a quick pass. His ability to manipulate space and read the play elevates him as one of the key play drivers on the ice.
Shea Busch (LW, L, 6’2″, 210, Everett Silvertips, 06/12/2007, Penn State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Busch consistently gets to the hard areas of the ice and doesn’t shy away from physical play. He embraces the ‘inside’ game, battling in tight spaces and driving the net with purpose. On his goal, he beat his defender to the net-front area and hammered home a one-timer off a feed from behind the net—making no mistake. The play highlighted his grit and determination, as well as his hockey sense and willingness to use his size and physicality to earn positioning. Throughout the game, he also maintained a strong net-front presence, tipping pucks and acting as an effective screen, creating problems for the opposing goaltender and generating second-chance opportunities.
Ondrej Stebetak (G, L, 6’2″, 172, Portland Winterhawks, 07/19/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Stebetak isn’t your typical, cookie-cutter goaltender. He plays with a unique, unorthodox style rarely seen in the modern era. Rather than relying heavily on textbook technique, he leans into his athleticism, instincts, and reads to make saves. It might not always look clean or conventional, but he gets the job done. He plays off feel—reading the play before it develops, getting square to pucks, and reacting with sharp anticipation. One of his standout traits is his compete level; he battles hard through traffic, fights through screens, and does whatever it takes to get a piece of the puck. In this game, he was nothing short of clutch—making over 50 saves and stealing points for his team with several game-saving stops.
Jordan Duguay (C, L, 5’10”, 178, Portland Winterhawks, 02/16/2008)
Game Rating
B-
1 Viewing
Comments: Duguay made several impressive plays on the power play, working the half wall effectively and smartly feeding pucks toward the net. He showcased great puck control, skillfully handling the puck at his feet before kicking it to his stick and firing quick releases on goal. While he sometimes played a bit too far out on the perimeter—limiting his time in the high-danger areas—his speed, skill set, and quick release highlight his clear potential to become a real threat.
Sam Spehar (RW, R, 5’8″, 178, Portland Winterhawks, 04/20/2007, Denver)
Game Rating
B+
Spehar showcased his overall skill set in this game, demonstrating a strong understanding of the ice. He is capable of reading plays effectively, often finding open opportunities to create scoring chances. Spehar’s speed and agility allow him to quickly accelerate toward the net, making him a threat on both offense and defense. He displays good defensive awareness, constantly moving to stay in position and create turnovers for his team. His ability to keep his options open while maintaining possession is notable. Spehar’s overall game is well-rounded, with flashes of individual brilliance that make him an asset to his team.
1 Viewing
Viewed on TV
Comments: Spehar is relentless on the puck, consistently beating defenders to loose pucks using his speed and tenacity. His active stick disrupts opposing plays, forcing turnovers and breaking up passes. What truly sets him apart, though, is his poise and vision under pressure—he rarely panics and always seems to find the best play. In the second period – he created a crucial turnover and delivered a quick no-look, tape-to-tape pass to a teammate stationed in the slot, who calmly finished with precision. Throughout the game, Spehar showcased not only his blazing speed and sharp playmaking ability but also a genuine commitment to making his teammates better whenever he’s on the ice, consistently elevating the overall pace and intensity of his team’s attack.
Carter Sotheran (D, R, 6’3″, 205, Portland Winterhawks, 06/26/2005)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Sotheran is a big, right-shot defenseman who controls the net-front area with authority, using his size to box out opponents early and give his goaltender clear sightlines. Despite his larger frame, he skates well—especially on puck retrievals—reading pressure with poise, keeping his head up, and moving pucks efficiently without panic. He defended the rush with confidence, closing gaps effectively and playing with an assertive edge, holding the line whenever possible. Offensively, he contributed modestly, getting pucks through traffic from the blue line and helping to sustain zone time.
Nathan Free (RW, R, 5’10”, 163, Portland Winterhawks, 06/23/2006, Penn State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Free netted the overtime winner in style, beating his matchup clean into the offensive zone, collecting a pass in the high slot off the rush, and ripping a quick wrister top shelf past the goaltender. The play perfectly highlighted his ability to keep his feet moving, catch pucks in stride, and release shots in motion—making him incredibly difficult to defend. Throughout the game, his most standout attribute was his skating. He consistently gained separation, beating defenders to open ice and creating scoring chances off the rush with his speed and awareness.
Alex Weiermair (C, R, 6’1″, 192, Portland Winterhawks, 05/10/2005, Denver)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Weiermair is a well-rounded forward with sharp offensive instincts and a strong commitment to defense. He consistently tracks back hard, showing active engagement as a back-checker and regularly disrupting plays off the rush. While not the fastest skater on the ice, he works with pace and urgency, using his strong motor to stay involved in all three zones. His bigger frame allows him to protect the puck effectively, and his dual-threat ability—both as a shooter and a passer—makes him difficult to defend. He scored the game tying goal with a simple but effective play: driving off the rush and releasing a quick, low-angle shot that beat the goaltender cleanly. It was a great example of his ability to make something out of little space and time.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images
Scout: Mike Garteig