Schmermund leaves Winter Hawks

And just like that the Portland Winter Hawks don’t have any 20-year-olds on their roster. . . . F Matt Schmermund, a smooth skater if ever there was one, has left the Winter Hawks for the AJHL’s Camrose Kodiaks. He is expected to play for them on Saturday against the visiting Calgary Royals. . . . The Winter Hawks acquired Schmermund from Kamloops a couple of seasons ago for RW Sasha Golin, who was released by the Blazers over the summer and is no longer in the WHL. . . . Schmermund, like 20-year-old D Scott Gabriel, who split with the Winter Hawks earlier in the week, is gone because Mike Johnston, the new GM and head coach, wants to give the ice time to younger players. Schmermund had three points in 16 games after totaling 20 points in 72 games last season. . . . The Winter Hawks, who have added F Sawyer Mick, 17, from the junior B Chase Chiefs, and F Jonathan Milhouse, 19, from the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies, also have released F Ryan Andersen, 18. A preseason injury limited him to six games this season. He didn’t have any points.