Winterhawks get ready for conference finals

There is no shortage of enmity between the Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers as they prepare to face off at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Friday. Last year, Kamloops pushed the Winterhawks to seven games in their second-round playoff series; they’ll meet again this weekend, this time with a spot in the championchip up for grabs.

Upcoming Games

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 Track and Field Oregon Relays Eugene, Ore., 5 p.m. Forecast: high of 56 degrees, few showers Softball Vikings @ Idaho State Miller Ranch Stadium Noon and 2…

A Ram Choi on the attack for PSU

A Ram Choi grew up playing soccer, but her transition into golf during high school has served her well. Choi, who played at the University of Washington prior to transferring to Portland State in 2012, has welcomed the independence of the sport while also embracing the team component of what she calls her new family.

Season ends early for Kobe

This could be the perfect way for the final chapter of Kobe Bryant’s career to unfold. In light of the Achilles injury that will sideline Bryant for the next six to nine months, I’m sure he and most of his die-hard fans would disagree. They likely view it as a tragedy, a final insult at the end of a long, bitter season, and a yanking of the rug out from underneath one of the greatest careers in sports history.

Vikings to host Ducks this afternoon

The Portland State softball team will break away from conference competition today for a doubleheader against the University of Oregon Ducks at Erv Lind Stadium. Oregon is currently ranked seventh in the nation and sits atop the Pac-12 Conference standings. The Vikings have been on a tear as of late, winning their last seven games in a row, including sweeps against Weber State University and the University of Northern Colorado. The streak has put PSU in firm command in the Big Sky.

Basement Notes: Robbie Rogers

Feb. 12, 2013, very nearly became a historic day for this generation of sports fans, on par with some of the most important moments on the long road toward acceptance for athletes both on the field of play and in the locker room.

Thorns hit the pitch in franchise debut

The inaugural season of the newly formed National Women’s Soccer League is finally underway, as the Portland Thorns FC played its first regular-season game in a road matchup with FC Kansas City at Shawnee Mission District Stadium on April 13.

Clean sweep

Getting through the second round of the WHL playoffs proved to be a much smoother ride for the Portland Winterhawks than it was in their opening series against Everett. Much of the thanks is owed to the elder statesman of the club, goaltender Mac Carruth, who stopped 30 shots on Wednesday for his fifth career playoff shutout, extending his franchise record as Portland won 5-0 over the Spokane Chiefs to wrap up the sweep in the Western Conference semifinals.

Recent Results

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 Track and Field Mondo Invitational Sacramento, Calif. Women’s team placed fifth overall Men’s team placed eighth overall Top performers Camelia Mayfield: first place in the 5,000-meter, 17:12.61…