Hurricanes Cut Ties With Associate Coach Kabayama

The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced today Associate Coach Matt Kabayama will not return next season.

The announcement of Kabayama is the most recent in a number of off-season changes that have taken place. In March, the team announced General Manager/Head Coach Rich Preston was relieved of his duties as the team decided to move in a different direction.

Kabayama was an Assistant Coach with the Hurricanes for three seasons before being promoted to the position of Associate Coach in the summer of 2009. The product of Foremost, AB played his junior hockey with the Medicine Hat Tigers and spent nearly 11 years in the Japanese Pro League as a player/coach before signing with the Hurricanes as an Assistant Coach in 2006. In 2008-09, he won his first WHL games as a Head Coach notching a 2-2-1-0 record while stepping in due to a coach’s suspension.

Lethbridge Hurricanes General Manager Brad Robson thanks Kabayama for his tireless work and commitment to the Hurricanes both on and off the ice and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.

There is no immediate word on the future of Assistant/Goalie Coach Chris Chisamore.

(Esther Madziya, Hurricanes Media Relations)

Thanks,

Pat

Five Hurricanes Prospects at U-17 Selection Camp

Five of the Lethbridge Hurricanes draft prospects are among 80 players from across the province who are in Calgary this weekend for the 2013 Team Alberta Under 17 Selection Camp which gets underway Friday (May 10).

The five draft picks are all showcasing their talents in the hopes of earning a spot on the U17 team after camp wraps up on Sunday.

The Hurricanes named to the Spring Camp roster are:

• F – Giorgio Estephan – 2012, 1^st round pick (4^th overall)
• F – Josh Hayward – 2012, 7^th round pick (138^th overall)
• F – Tyler Rohl – 2012, 9^th round pick (182^nd overall)
• D – Kade Jensen – 2012, 5^th round pick (103^rd overall)
• G – Eric Szudor – 2012, 6^th round pick (121^st overall)

Last year, the Hurricanes had six players invited to the Selection Camp including Reid Duke, Tyler Wong, Jonny Hogue and Reid Nemeth.

Team Alberta U17 is the final stage of the Team Alberta Male Program which gives athlete’s exposure to International Competition and opens the door for a chance to participate in Hockey Canada’s National Programs. The World U17 Hockey Challenge is the pinnacle event for an athlete in the provincial Team Alberta Program and is the first state of Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence which in turn leads to the National Team Canada U18 and U20 Programs. 

(From Esther Madziya, Hurricanes Media Relations)

Thanks,

Pat 

Hurricanes Wrap Up Draft With 9 Picks

The Lethbridge Hurricanes made 9 selections and acquired a veteran goalie in a trade at Thursday's 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Canes traded their first round pick, 6th overall to Brandon for veteran goalie Corbin Boes. I spoke after it was all over with Hurricanes GM Brad Robson after it was all said and done.

Click here to listen:   Brad Robson Final Draft Chat

Hurricanes 2013 Draft Selections:

1st Round:    (G) Stuart Skinner 17th Overall
2nd Round:   (F) Tak Anholt 30th Overall
3rd Round:    (D) Cody Allen 45th Overall
4th Round:    (F) Jaeger White 72nd Overall
4th Round:    (D) Connor Rokosh 74th Overall
6th Round:    (F) Jordan Porter 132nd Overall
7th Round:    (D) Jeese Sheen 140th Overall
8th Round:    (F) Jacob Ashton 162nd Overall
9th Round:    (D) Matthew O'Brien 184th Overall

Thanks,
Pat

Hurricanes Go Back to Texas With Final Draft Selection

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have made their final selection in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft in Calgary.

The Canes picked up defenceman Matthew O'Brien from Texas.  O'Brien is 6 feet tall and 165 pounds.

In round 8, the Canes selected Jacob Ashton from the Calgary Bisons. Ashton is a 5 foot 9, 151 pound defenceman.

Prior to that, Lethbridge picked defenceman Jesse Sheen with their 7th round selection. Sheen is 5 foot 11, 165 pounds and plays with the Calgary Bisons.

With the final pick in round 6, the Hurricanes selected forward Jordan Porter from Texas with the 132nd pick. He's a 5 foot 10, 179 pound right winger from Colleyville, Texas.

In round 4, the Canes chose forward Jaeger White from Medicine Hat.  He's 5 foot 8, 162 pounds. He was picked 72nd overall.  Two picks later the Hurricanes grabbed defenceman Connor Rokosh from Edmonton with the 74th overall pick.  Rokosh is 6 foot 2, 174 pounds.

In the 3rd round, the Canes selected defenceman Cody Allen Kamloops with their third round pick. Allen was chosen 45th overall. He's 6 feet tall, 165 pounds.

Earlier in the draft, Lethbridge selected forward Tak Anholt from the North Shore Winter Club with their second round pick. Anholt was chosen 30th overall. He's 5 foot 11, 155 pounds.

The Canes traded their first round pick, 6th overall to Brandon for veteran goalie Corbin Boes. You can hear GM Brad Robson talk about the first round happenings in a lower post on the blog.

Hurricanes 2013 Draft Selection:

1st Round:    (G) Stuart Skinner 17th Overall
2nd Round:   (F) Tak Anholt 30th Overall
3rd Round:    (D) Cody Allen 45th Overall
4th Round:    (F) Jaeger White 72nd Overall
4th Round:    (D) Connor Rokosh 74th Overall
6th Round:    (F) Jordan Porter 132nd Overall
7th Round:    (D) Jeese Sheen 140th Overall
8th Round:    (F) Jacob Ashton 162nd Overall
9th Round:    (D) Matthew O'Brien 184th Overall

Thanks,
Pat

Hurricanes Select Jacob Ashton in Round 8

The Lethbridge Hurricanes selected Jacob Ashton from the Calgary Bisons with their 8th round pick in the 2013 WHL Draft.

Ashton is a 5 foot 9, 151 pound defenceman.

Prior to that, Lethbridge picked defenceman Jesse Sheen with their 7th round selection. Sheen is 5 foot 11, 165 pounds and plays with the Calgary Bisons.

With the final pick in round 6, the Hurricanes selected forward Jordan Porter from Texas with the 132nd pick. He's a 5 foot 10, 179 pound right winger from Colleyville, Texas.

In round 4, the Canes chose forward Jaeger White from Medicine Hat.  He's 5 foot 8, 162 pounds. He was picked 72nd overall.  Two picks later the Hurricanes grabbed defenceman Connor Rokosh from Edmonton with the 74th overall pick.  Rokosh is 6 foot 2, 174 pounds.

In the 3rd round, the Canes selected defenceman Cody Allen Kamloops with their third round pick. Allen was chosen 45th overall. He's 6 feet tall, 165 pounds.

Earlier in the draft, Lethbridge selected forward Tak Anholt from the North Shore Winter Club with their second round pick. Anholt was chosen 30th overall. He's 5 foot 11, 155 pounds.

The Canes traded their first round pick, 6th overall to Brandon for veteran goalie Corbin Boes. You can hear GM Brad Robson talk about the first round happenings in a lower post on the blog.

Hurricanes 2013 Draft Selection:

1st Round:    (G) Stuart Skinner 17th Overall
2nd Round:   (F) Tak Anholt 30th Overall
3rd Round:    (D) Cody Allen 45th Overall
4th Round:    (F) Jaeger White 72nd Overall
4th Round:    (D) Connor Rokosh 74th Overall
6th Round:    (F) Jordan Porter 132nd Overall
7th Round:    (D) Jeese Sheen 140th Overall
8th Round:    (F) Jacob Ashton 162nd Overall

More to come.

Thanks,
Pat

Hurricanes Pick Jeese Sheen of Calgary in Round 7

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have picked defenceman Jesse Sheen with their 7th round selection in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

Sheen is 5 foot 11, 165 pounds and plays with the Calgary Bisons.

With the final pick in round 6, the Hurricanes selected forward Jordan Porter from Texas with the 132nd pick. He's a 5 foot 10, 179 pound right winger from Colleyville, Texas.

In round 4, the Canes chose forward Jaeger White from Medicine Hat.  He's 5 foot 8, 162 pounds. He was picked 72nd overall.  Two picks later the Hurricanes grabbed defenceman Connor Rokosh from Edmonton with the 74th overall pick.  Rokosh is 6 foot 2, 174 pounds.

In the 3rd round, the Canes selected defenceman Cody Allen Kamloops with their third round pick. Allen was chosen 45th overall. He's 6 feet tall, 165 pounds.

Earlier in the draft, Lethbridge selected forward Tak Anholt from the North Shore Winter Club with their second round pick. Anholt was chosen 30th overall. He's 5 foot 11, 155 pounds.

The Canes traded their first round pick, 6th overall to Brandon for veteran goalie Corbin Boes. You can hear GM Brad Robson talk about the first round happenings in a lower post on the blog.

Hurricanes 2013 Draft Selection:

1st Round:    (G) Stuart Skinner 17th Overall
2nd Round:   (F) Tak Anholt 30th Overall
3rd Round:    (D) Cody Allen 45th Overall
4th Round:    (F) Jaeger White 72nd Overall
4th Round:    (D) Connor Rokosh 74th Overall
6th Round:    (F) Jordan Porter 132nd Overall
7th Round:    (D) Jeese Sheen 140th Overall

More to come.

Thanks,
Pat

Hurricanes Take Jordan Porter From Texas in Round 6

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have selected a forward from Texas with the 132nd pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Canes picked Jordan Porter in the 6th round. He's a 5 foot 10, 179 pound right winger from Colleyville, Texas.

In round 4, the Canes chose forward Jaeger White from Medicine Hat.  He's 5 foot 8, 162 pounds. He was picked 72nd overall.  Two picks later the Hurricanes grabbed defenceman Connor Rokosh from Edmonton with the 74th overall pick.  Rokosh is 6 foot 2, 174 pounds.

In the 3rd round, the Canes selected defenceman Cody Allen Kamloops with their third round pick. Allen was chosen 45th overall. He's 6 feet tall, 165 pounds.

Earlier in the draft, Lethbridge selected forward Tak Anholt from the North Shore Winter Club with their second round pick. Anholt was chosen 30th overall. He's 5 foot 11, 155 pounds.

The Canes traded their first round pick, 6th overall to Brandon for veteran goalie Corbin Boes. You can hear GM Brad Robson talk about the first round happenings in a lower post on the blog.

Hurricanes 2013 Draft Selection:

1st Round:    (G) Stuart Skinner 17th Overall
2nd Round:   (F) Tak Anholt 30th Overall
3rd Round:    (D) Cody Allen 45th Overall
4th Round:    (F) Jaeger White 72nd Overall
4th Round:    (D) Connor Rokosh 74th Overall
6th Round:    (F) Jordan Porter (132nd Overall

More to come.

Thanks,
Pat