“It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
Many people have said this quote in different ways. In my words, the meaning is that no matter how good or bad someone starts something, people will only look at how you finished.
Although hockey season is not at the finish line quite yet, one player has certainly improved from the beginning.
Gabe Klassen started his major junior hockey career by being drafted in the 2018 Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Bantam Draft. He was selected in the first round by the Portland Winterhawks with the 19th overall selection. Klassen would start playing for the Winterhawks during the 2019-2020 season. As just a 16-year-old, Klassen would finish the season with a respectable 15 points, seven of which were goals, in 30 games played. Portland would win the U.S. Division and have the most points in the WHL with 97 points as a team, just edging out the Everett Silvertips.
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Slap Shots
Name: Gabe Klassen Position: Forward Career Games: 47
Points: 32 Favorite Dog Breed: Golden Doodle
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Unfortunately for Portland, the playoffs would be canceled due to the COVID-19 virus.
The 2020-2021 season was unusual for many in the WHL. Klassen played in 19 games, scoring eight goals and 11 points, finishing eighth in scoring for Portland. The COVID-19 virus also disrupted this season. The WHL and Winterhawks’ seasons were cut short yet again, leaving there no playoffs.
The 2021-2022 season saw things return to normal in the hockey world and the WHL. For Gabe Klassen, however, he would have a breakout season. Klassen would suit up in every one of the Winterhawks games while also having 64 points. He would finish with almost an even split of goals and assists with 33 goals and 31 assists. Klassen was also named an Alternate Captain. Portland would finish second in the U.S. Division with 99 team points.
The Winterhawks would go on to make the WHL playoffs. After a first-round sweep of the Prince George Cougars in four games, Portland would be eliminated in the second round in seven games.
That series, unfortunately, saw the Winterhawks leading the series at three games to one. Klassen played all 11 games in the playoffs, finishing with nine points.
The next season, Klassen changed the “A” on his jersey to a “C” as he was named team captain for the Winterhawks, but that did not change his play. He would only improve upon his season stats for the year before. Klassen would play in 64 games, scoring 35 goals and having 34 assists. That would be good enough for him to lead Portland in total points and goals.
The Winterhawks would finish second in the U.S. Division for the second straight season and make the playoffs. Portland would win their first-round series in five games against the Everett Silvertips before getting swept in the second round by the Kamloops Blazers.
Klassen would finish the playoffs with six points in nine games.
The 2023-2024 season would be Klassen’s fifth and final season as a Portland Winterhawk. It would also be the best in his major junior hockey career. Klassen played in 67 games, scoring 35 goals and 71 assists for 106 points. He was the Winterhawks’ leading scorer. Klassen was the WHL’s seventh-leading scorer and tied for fourth in assists.
Portland would win the U.S. Division for the second time while Klassen was there, making the playoffs again. The Winterhawks would sweep their way through the first two rounds of the playoffs by defeating the Victoria Royals and then the Everett Silvertips. The third round was a slightly tougher challenge for Portland, but they would defeat Prince George in six games to lock up a spot in the WHL finals.
Unfortunately, the magic ran out for the Winterhawks as they were defeated by the Moose Jaw Warriors in four games. On that team for Moose Jaw was current teammate Atley Calvert. Klassen would finish the playoffs in 18 games, racking six goals and ten assists.
Klassen finished his major junior career, playing in 248 games over five seasons and scoring 118 goals and 147 assists. In the summer of 2024, he signed a two-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins.
He was then invited to the Pittsburgh Penguins Development camp.
“It was cool. I’ve never been to Pittsburgh, so to go downtown and go to a Pirates game and stuff was always cool to see a new city like that. The actual development camp is awesome. It was like five or six days there, and I got to skate and see Sidney Crosby in the building, so it was cool. Just to be able to spend time there and get my feet wet,” Klassen mentioned about his time at Penguins Development camp.
At the start of the 2024-2025 season, Klassen was sent here to Wheeling where he made his professional debut. Just minutes into that first game, Klassen netted his first professional goal.
“It was perfect. I think it was a power play early in the first period, a couple of shifts in, so Calvy (Atley Calvert) was on the one to pass it to me, so I think for both of us to kind of get one early was pretty cool for us,” Klassen said about his first pro goal.
After that, Klassen would have a slow start to the season. He would eventually find his stride after the beginning of the new year. Since the Wheeling Nailer’s first game of the 2025 calendar year, Klassen has 20 points in just the 18 games played by the team. He is tied for fifth in scoring on the team with 32 points, 12 goals, and 20 assists.
Klassen and the Wheeling Nailers are back in action for three games in three days this weekend. The games also kick off six straight home games for Wheeling.
Friday against the Tulsa Oilers is a “Frosty Friday” with two-dollar select beers for those 21 years old and older for a 7:10 p.m. puck drop. Saturday is the annual “Pups and Pucks” game. Bring your dog to the game and have them walk across the ice during the first intermission for the puppy parade. There will be no goal horn, plus an appearance from The Cat in the Hat courtesy of PBS.
There will also be plenty of fun for all the K-9s in attendance. Following the game, postgame autographs will be signed too. 7:10 p.m. puck drop against the Tulsa Oilers. Then, to finish the weekend off, on Sunday, at 4:10 p.m. against the Reading Royals, there will be a postgame skate with the players wearing even-numbered jerseys.
For more information about the games or to purchase tickets, call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.
The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.
