(left) William Wrenn has seen his playing time increase in Portland in the WHL after leaving DU in midseasonFrom: Portland Tribune
by Jason Vondersmith
Management of the Portland Winterhawks has done well in rebuilding the roster in the past two years, and a move that general manager/coach Mike Johnston pulled off in November appears to be greatly benefiting the team.
The Winterhawks welcomed William Wrenn (12 games, 2g, 4a, +18) to the team when the 6-1, 210-pound Anchorage, Alaska, native left the University of Denver to play junior hockey. It wasn’t until recently that the Winterhawks saw the value in the addition.
Captain and big defenseman Brett Ponich suffered a knee injury Jan. 18, and he could miss the rest of the season after planning to undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wrenn has been inserted into the regular defensemen rotation.
“He’s been great,” Johnston says. Wrenn is similar to the 6-7, 225 Ponich in playing style, just not as big.
“He’s sort of that defensive-first type of guy. He’s a big, mobile defenseman who plays with an edge,” Johnston adds.
The 19-year-old Wrenn wants to enhance his chances of signing with the San Jose Sharks, who made him their second-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
The Winterhawks welcomed William Wrenn (12 games, 2g, 4a, +18) to the team when the 6-1, 210-pound Anchorage, Alaska, native left the University of Denver to play junior hockey. It wasn’t until recently that the Winterhawks saw the value in the addition.
Captain and big defenseman Brett Ponich suffered a knee injury Jan. 18, and he could miss the rest of the season after planning to undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wrenn has been inserted into the regular defensemen rotation.
“He’s been great,” Johnston says. Wrenn is similar to the 6-7, 225 Ponich in playing style, just not as big.
“He’s sort of that defensive-first type of guy. He’s a big, mobile defenseman who plays with an edge,” Johnston adds.
The 19-year-old Wrenn wants to enhance his chances of signing with the San Jose Sharks, who made him their second-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
4 comments:
I'm glad to hear that Wrenn is doing well. He clearly was struggling at DU. I wish him all the best!
Change of scenery seems to have worked for him.Good for him.
Easier to play against WHL teenagers than college men, and his points should go up quite a bit as a result.
Wish him well.
Did that seriously play +18?
Damn thats pretty impressive even against teenagers, considering he's a teenager himself.
You don't get drafted in the 2nd round without some kind of skill. Wrenn and DU just weren't a fit
Post a Comment