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Portland battles Houston to a 0-0 draw on the road May 15, 2012 Troy Perkins made seven saves during Tuesday's game. Getty Images.

The drought continues for the Portland Timbers, but at least it didn't turn into a loss Tuesday night in Houston.

Despite failing to score for the fourth-straight game, the Timbers held Houston without a goal and drew 0-0 in MLS action, a result that earned the team a point in the league standings.

Goalkeeper Troy Perkins made a pair of dramatic saves in Houston's first night game at BBVA Compass Stadium, which opened for play Saturday.

Portland improved to 2-5-3, 9 points, while Houston improved to3-3-3, 12 points.

The draw was impressive not only because it came on the road, but because so many statistics were slanted toward the Dynamo. Houston fired off 18 shots, nine more than the Timbers, and seven required a save by Perkins. Houston had 486 passes in the game, 160 more than Portland, and 82 percent were completed against 67 percent for the Timbers.

The point pulled the Timbers within three points of Dallas, which has played to more games.

Portland next plays host to Chicago, Sunday at 4 p.m. at Jeld-Wen Field.

Players throughout the Northwest keep the game going May 12, 2012 / By Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com

With all the publicity surrounding head injuries, it might be hard to believe football is played by men, and even women, who pay to play, but it happens.

It's all part of the passion the game ignites, from those who played in high school or college, and even some who find their way to an indoor team.

Football is alive and well in the Northwest as a contact sport thanks for minor league teams that play in a variety of leagues.

At oregonsports.com, we've focused on the Pacific Football League with its teams in Oregon and Washington, through the live webcast Pacific Football Weekly, which airs for the first time in 2012 on Wednesday night.

Viewers can follow the show on this page, and log into the UStream chat room to correspond with show hosts, Cliff Pfenning, Charlie Latt and Jaileene Eubanks, who will be recording the show from the Bulldog Tavern in downtown Portland.

It's all available beginning at 8:30 p.m.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pacific-football-weekly

Free live streaming by Ustream

Edmonton wins the Ed Chenowyth Cup with Game 7 victory May 13, 2012

Another stirring run to the Memorial Cup came to an end for the Portland Winterhawks Sunday night amidst a flurry of efficient shots by the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Edmonton scored four goals on 32 shots and beat the Hawks 4-1 in the decisive game of the Western Hockey League championship series before a crowd of 12,514 in Edmonton, Alb.

The win sends the Oil Kings to the Memorial Cup. the annual end to the Canadian Hockey League season, while the Hawks head home after reaching the WHL Finals for the second straight year.

Portland lost to Kootenay in five games in the WHL Finals last season.

 

PORTLAND'S TRIP TO MEMORIAL CUP RUNS THROUGH EDMONTON

Portland's first trip to the Memorial Cup outside of the Northwest is just four wins away, at least one of which must be in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference champion Edmonton Oil Kings have the home ice advantage for the league championship series, which begins Thursday in Edmonton.

Portland won the Western Conference title for the second year in a row, and will be aiming for its fourth WHL title, the other ones coming in 1979, 1982 and 1998. The Hawks have played in the WHL Finals eight times.

The Winterhawks have twice won the Memorial Cup, one in Portland and one in Spokane, Wash. Portland won at the Memorial Coliseum in 1983, the first year the Cup included a home team along with the three Canadian Hockey League champions, and again in 1998.

Portland also played host to the 1986 Memorial Cup when New Westminster of the WHL withdrew at the last minute.

The Memorial Cup features the champions of Canada's minor leagues and has been played since 1919. Since 1983, it's featured the champions of the WHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and a host team, which rotates between the three leagues.

This year, it'll be held in Shawinigan, Quebec, home of the Cataractes of the QMJHL.

The WHL Finals schedule features games in Edmonton Thursday and Friday, with games in Portland Sunday and next Tuesday. If needed, the series will be return to Edmonton, May 12.

Portland lost last year's finals to Kootenay, Alberta, 4-1.

The Winterhawks are 12-3 in playoff games this season, having swept their first-round series with Kelowna and the conference finals against Tri-City.

 

WINTERHAWKS FINALS HISTORY

1979 Beat Brandon 4-2

1982 Beat Regina 4-1

1987 Lost to Medicine Hat 4-0

1989 Lost to Swift Current 4-0

1993 Lost to Swift Current 4-3

1998 Beat Brandon 4-0

2001 Lost to Red Deer 4-1

2011 Lost to Kootenay 4-1

 

MEMORIAL CUP HISTORY

1983 Won Memorial Cup at Memorial Coliseum as host team

1986 Played in Memorial Cup as host team

1998 Won Memorial Cup in Spokane, Wash.