WEDNESDAY SPORTS NEWS/Portland begins Western Hockey League exhibition play with three games at Everett, then plays three in Kennewick

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The Portland Winterhawks' preseason schedule is out.

The Hawks will play six games in the first nine games of September before the start of the Western Hockey League regular season.

Portland's first three exhibition games will be in Everett, Washington.

The final three will be in Kennewick.

The WHL preseason starts Aug. 29 and ends Sept. 10, with 62 games, including those in five tournaments.

The regular-season scheduled will be released later this month.

Here's the Winterhawks' exhibition lineup:

Sept. 1 — vs. Spokane, at Everett, 3 p.m.

Sept. 2 — vs. Tri-City, at Everett, 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 3 — at Everett, 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 — vs. Spokane, at Kennewick, Wash., 3 p.m.

Sept. 8 — vs. Kootenay, at Kennewick, Wash., 11 a.m.

Sept. 9 — vs. Red Deer, at Kennewick, Wash., 3 p.m.