The Lethbridge Hurricanes rattled off a season high 5th win in a row last night with a 5-0 shutout of the Red Deer Rebels. Juha Metsola recorded his league leading 4th shutout between the pipes for the Canes'. This is also the 2nd time in the past couple of weeks he's blanked the Rebels. Lethbridge has now outscored Red Deer 8-0 in two games. The two teams will meet again in late January in Red Deer.
Garrett Taylor scored his first ever WHL goal last evening for the Canes' on Teddy Bear Toss night at the Enmax Centre. The goal sparked a deluge of 3796 stuffed animals flying onto the ice. Those animals will help out a number of local charities throughout the year to comfort needy children in the Lethbridge area. A big thank you to the community for once again stepping up and getting the job done!
Colton Sceviour scored a pair of goals last night and the red hot Carter Ashton scored once and added one assist for a Lethbridge team that is on a roll at the moment. Ashton's goal was his 15th of the year. That leads the team.
Earlier today, the entire Hurricanes team attended the funeral of former Canes' goalie Michael Maniago who passed away in a car crash a week ago in Calgary. Mourners packed a large Catholic Church in Southeast Calgary to pay their respects to "Mani", a player that played a significant roll in the Canes' success last season. Maniago's 5 shutouts last season still ties him with two other former Hurricane goaltenders with a team record 5 shutouts in one season. "Mani" and Juha Metsola set a Hurricanes team record between them last season as well with a combined 8 shutouts. As expected it was a very emotional funeral mass for Maniago today. A very classy move from the Hurricanes' organization I think to come to Calgary after last night's game to pay their respects to the Maniago family in what I'm sure is a very difficult time. All the players wore their jerseys to the service and sat in the front two rows of the church. Again, our hearts and prayers are with them.
Tonight Lethbridge plays Edmonton for the 3rd time this season, this time we're at Rexall Place. The Canes' have won the two previous meetings. Edmonton defeated Kamloops last night as they try and stay in the hunt for a playoff spot. Lethbridge has also won 7 of it's past 8 games on this current streak.
Tonight's game from Edmonton is a 7 o'clock start. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Friday, 5 December 2008
Hurricanes vs. Red Deer..Teddy Bear Toss Night
Well it appears the Hurricanes have indeed turned the corner. This team has now won 4 games in a row for the first time this season and have also won 6 of it's past 7. The latest win came in Lethbridge on Wednesday after a 3-2 victory over Edmonton. The Canes' came back from a 1-0 deficit to take the lead only to have the Oil Kings tie things up in the 3rd. Lethbridge though got a big goal with little time remaining. Carter Ashton took a pass from Colton Sceviour and slid the puck passed Edmonton goalie Torrie Jung with 44.9 seconds left to give Lethbridge the win. It was Ashton's 2nd goal of the night. It was an important win for Lethbridge, especially given the fact it was in regulation. The Canes' now leapfrog one point over the Oil Kings in the Eastern Conference standings. The two teams will play again tomorrow at Rexall Place.
Tonight the Hurricanes host Red Deer. Lethbridge blanked the Rebels 3-0 a few weeks ago in Red Deer. Again, the Rebels are a young team, but improved over last year. Tonight's game should bring out a good crowd too. It's the 13th annual teddy bear toss night. All stuffed animals thrown onto the ice this evening after the Hurricanes score their first goal will be donated to local charities and given to less fortunate kids throughout the Christmas season. It's a very popular and worthwhile promotion that seems to always bring the best out in the community. On Sunday Morning December 7th at 11:00, Hurricanes captains Ben Wright, Zach Boychuk, Carter Bancks, Dwight King and the goal scorer of tonight’s Teddy Bear Toss goal will be on hand at Chinook Regional Hospital to visit and hand deliver just a few of these stuffed toys to the children in the pediatric ward.
After tonight's game, the team will load the bus and travel to Calgary and stay the night there. The team will get up tomorrow and we will all head to the funeral for former Hurricane goaltender Michael Maniago would died suddenly last week in car crash. The team will then head up to Edmonton to play the Oil Kings tomorrow night before taking the 5 hour trip back right after.
Tonight's game against Red Deer is a 7 o'clock start. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30
Tonight the Hurricanes host Red Deer. Lethbridge blanked the Rebels 3-0 a few weeks ago in Red Deer. Again, the Rebels are a young team, but improved over last year. Tonight's game should bring out a good crowd too. It's the 13th annual teddy bear toss night. All stuffed animals thrown onto the ice this evening after the Hurricanes score their first goal will be donated to local charities and given to less fortunate kids throughout the Christmas season. It's a very popular and worthwhile promotion that seems to always bring the best out in the community. On Sunday Morning December 7th at 11:00, Hurricanes captains Ben Wright, Zach Boychuk, Carter Bancks, Dwight King and the goal scorer of tonight’s Teddy Bear Toss goal will be on hand at Chinook Regional Hospital to visit and hand deliver just a few of these stuffed toys to the children in the pediatric ward.
After tonight's game, the team will load the bus and travel to Calgary and stay the night there. The team will get up tomorrow and we will all head to the funeral for former Hurricane goaltender Michael Maniago would died suddenly last week in car crash. The team will then head up to Edmonton to play the Oil Kings tomorrow night before taking the 5 hour trip back right after.
Tonight's game against Red Deer is a 7 o'clock start. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Game Day: Canes' vs. Oil Kings......National Junior Team Selection Camp Announced
The Lethbridge Hurricanes will shoot for their 4th win in a row tonight and 6th in their last 7 games as they welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Enmax Centre. Including tonight, these two teams will play 3 times over the next week and a half. These are very important games for the Canes'. Lethbridge is battling the Oil Kings for positioning the Eastern Conference standings as the Hurricanes try to make up more ground on the rest of the teams in the East. The last time these two teams met in Lethbridge a few weeks ago, the Canes' came out with a win. It was their first victory after struggling over the month of October. Since then, Lethbridge has dropped only one game. In that game versus Edmonton, Oil Kings coach Steve Pleau blew up on the bench after the officials threw one of his players out of the game after fighting with tape on his hand.
The Hurricanes have been doing a lot of good things lately. Players are going to the net, there are more point shots from the defence, and quicker, crisper passes resulting in more scoring chances. This is what the Hurricanes will need to continue doing in order to be successful. A number of players have stepped up their game and the team has been playing more defensive hockey and with a lot more confidence. There appears to be more attention to detail with the club too. I mean doing the little things than can be the difference in winning or losing. I've also noticed Lethbridge has started to correct some of those mistakes we saw earlier on in the season.
These two teams will meet again Saturday in Edmonton and then again December 14th at Rexall Place. Tonight's game is a 7 o'clock start from the Enmax Centre. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
---------------------------------
Here's a Press Release on the Team Canada Junior Selection Camp
OTTAWA, ON – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday that 38 of Canada’s best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1989 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp from December 11-15, 2008 at the SBP Arena in Ottawa, ON and the Robert-Guertin Arena in Gatineau, QC.
Of the 38 players invited, four won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including thirteen first-round selections and eight second-round picks.
Hockey Canada may add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 11, in the event that any NHL teams loan Canada’s National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.
“On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the players named today, along with their club teams, their parents and all the minor hockey coaches and officials who helped them along with the way,” said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s senior director of men’s national teams. “I would also like to make special note of the great partnership that Hockey Canada has with the Canadian Hockey League, which is essential to the success of the Program of Excellence.”
“Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, which includes our under-17 and under-18 programs, has provided many of these players with the preparation and experience to deal with the rigors of the upcoming World Juniors and high-paced international competition,” said Al Murray, Hockey Canada’s head scout for men’s national teams. “The quality and skill of the 38 players invited to the camp next week is a testament to the hard work, commitment and development of all those involved in the Canadian minor hockey and junior hockey system.”
Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the 2008-09 hockey season assessing players in preparation for the selection camp.
Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26 versus the Czech Republic, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on The FAN Radio Network (check local listings).
Canada has medaled at ten straight IIHF World Junior Championships including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and bronze medals in 2000 and 2001.
Canada’s 2009 NJT Selection Camp Breakdown ‘By The Numbers’
Returning 2008 National Junior Team players – 4
· Zach Boychuk, Thomas Hickey, PK Subban, John Tavares
Players who took part in the ADT CHL Canada/Russia Challenge – 29
· G – Allen, Pickard, Tokarski
· D – Aulie, Cuma, Ellis, Hamonic, Hickey, Marshall, Myers, Pietrangelo, Subban, Teubert
· F – Arniel, Benn, Boychuk, Calvert, Cormier, Della Rovere, Duchene, Eberle, Ennis, Esposito, Hall, Hodsgon, Schenn, Sonne, Tavares, Tyrell
The Hurricanes have been doing a lot of good things lately. Players are going to the net, there are more point shots from the defence, and quicker, crisper passes resulting in more scoring chances. This is what the Hurricanes will need to continue doing in order to be successful. A number of players have stepped up their game and the team has been playing more defensive hockey and with a lot more confidence. There appears to be more attention to detail with the club too. I mean doing the little things than can be the difference in winning or losing. I've also noticed Lethbridge has started to correct some of those mistakes we saw earlier on in the season.
These two teams will meet again Saturday in Edmonton and then again December 14th at Rexall Place. Tonight's game is a 7 o'clock start from the Enmax Centre. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
---------------------------------
Here's a Press Release on the Team Canada Junior Selection Camp
OTTAWA, ON – Hockey Canada and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday that 38 of Canada’s best junior-aged hockey players (born in 1989 or later) have been invited to take part in Canada’s National Junior Team selection camp from December 11-15, 2008 at the SBP Arena in Ottawa, ON and the Robert-Guertin Arena in Gatineau, QC.
Of the 38 players invited, four won gold medals at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in Pardubice, Czech Republic. Thirty-one of the players named to the selection camp roster were drafted in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft, including thirteen first-round selections and eight second-round picks.
Hockey Canada may add additional players prior to the opening of the selection camp on December 11, in the event that any NHL teams loan Canada’s National Junior Team junior-aged eligible players currently playing in the NHL.
“On behalf of Hockey Canada, I would like to congratulate the players named today, along with their club teams, their parents and all the minor hockey coaches and officials who helped them along with the way,” said Brad Pascall, Hockey Canada’s senior director of men’s national teams. “I would also like to make special note of the great partnership that Hockey Canada has with the Canadian Hockey League, which is essential to the success of the Program of Excellence.”
“Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, which includes our under-17 and under-18 programs, has provided many of these players with the preparation and experience to deal with the rigors of the upcoming World Juniors and high-paced international competition,” said Al Murray, Hockey Canada’s head scout for men’s national teams. “The quality and skill of the 38 players invited to the camp next week is a testament to the hard work, commitment and development of all those involved in the Canadian minor hockey and junior hockey system.”
Murray traveled coast to coast during the first part of the 2008-09 hockey season assessing players in preparation for the selection camp.
Canada will play its first game of the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship on Boxing Day, December 26 versus the Czech Republic, a game that will be broadcast LIVE by TSN/RDS and on The FAN Radio Network (check local listings).
Canada has medaled at ten straight IIHF World Junior Championships including gold medal performances in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, silver medals in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and bronze medals in 2000 and 2001.
Canada’s 2009 NJT Selection Camp Breakdown ‘By The Numbers’
Returning 2008 National Junior Team players – 4
· Zach Boychuk, Thomas Hickey, PK Subban, John Tavares
Players who took part in the ADT CHL Canada/Russia Challenge – 29
· G – Allen, Pickard, Tokarski
· D – Aulie, Cuma, Ellis, Hamonic, Hickey, Marshall, Myers, Pietrangelo, Subban, Teubert
· F – Arniel, Benn, Boychuk, Calvert, Cormier, Della Rovere, Duchene, Eberle, Ennis, Esposito, Hall, Hodsgon, Schenn, Sonne, Tavares, Tyrell
Monday, 1 December 2008
Canes' Chalk Up Another Home-Ice Win
The Lethbridge Hurricanes have now won 5 or their past 6 games after a well played 5-2 victory last night at home against a struggling team from Moose Jaw. The Canes' outshot the Warriors 42-20 in the victory. Drew Hoff scored twice and Ben Wright chipped in with 3 assists. The Hurricanes are now 14-12-0-1 on the season and 9 games to go before their 10 day Christmas break. Back-up goalie Michael Tadjdeh won his 3rd game of the year for the Canes'.
For the second game in a row we saw more point shots and players driving to the net and again rewarded for their efforts. I think the Hurricanes have been playing more aggressive lately too and it's been paying off. It also appears the players are playing with more confidence. They went through a rough stretch a few weeks back and have since turned things around. With a handful of games to go before the break, Lethbridge will attempt to make up even more ground on the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
Before last night's game, the Hurricanes honoured the memory of former goaltender Michael Maniago would died in a car crash in Calgary over the weekend. The organization held a moment of silence for him before the puck dropped at the Enmax Centre. He was an important part of the Canes' drive to the league final last season. He will be missed by all who knew him. I can tell you he was a fun guy to be around and a good person overall. I got a chance to get to know him last year. He was well liked by all his teammates. Our hearts go out to his family.
Tonight Hurricanes This Week is back on the air on CJOC. Our guest tonight is Canes' GM Roy Stasiuk who will join us for the whole hour to take your calls and emails. The show starts at 7pm.
The next action for Lethbridge is Wednesday, when Edmonton pays a visit to Lethbridge. Friday the Hurricanes host Red Deer and Saturday the Canes' will travel to Edmonton.
For the second game in a row we saw more point shots and players driving to the net and again rewarded for their efforts. I think the Hurricanes have been playing more aggressive lately too and it's been paying off. It also appears the players are playing with more confidence. They went through a rough stretch a few weeks back and have since turned things around. With a handful of games to go before the break, Lethbridge will attempt to make up even more ground on the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference.
Before last night's game, the Hurricanes honoured the memory of former goaltender Michael Maniago would died in a car crash in Calgary over the weekend. The organization held a moment of silence for him before the puck dropped at the Enmax Centre. He was an important part of the Canes' drive to the league final last season. He will be missed by all who knew him. I can tell you he was a fun guy to be around and a good person overall. I got a chance to get to know him last year. He was well liked by all his teammates. Our hearts go out to his family.
Tonight Hurricanes This Week is back on the air on CJOC. Our guest tonight is Canes' GM Roy Stasiuk who will join us for the whole hour to take your calls and emails. The show starts at 7pm.
The next action for Lethbridge is Wednesday, when Edmonton pays a visit to Lethbridge. Friday the Hurricanes host Red Deer and Saturday the Canes' will travel to Edmonton.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Hurricanes vs. Moose Jaw...Former Hurricane Maniago Dies in Traffic Crash
Well, what a game at the Enmax Centre on Friday night. The Hurricanes tangled with the Brandon Wheat Kings for the first time this season and came away with a 4-2 win. This game had a little bit of everything I thought. Nice goals, a few doozy scraps, and a very energized crowd. The Canes' put in a spirited performance improving their record to 13-12-0-1. The 3rd period is really where all the excitement happened. A bit of line brawl broke out after Carter Bancks threw a check behind the Brandon goal. That charged up both teams, not to mention the crowd. The "Juha" chants were back, the fans got the wave going, and "Go Canes' Go" was being belted out by the Enmax faithful. I think it was the most energized crowd since the playoffs last year. I can tell you one thing. The players truly do notice it and try and feed off that energy. When they feel the crowd behind them, it gives them that little extra boost.
Lethbridge has now won 4 of it's past 5 games and this team is really playing better. Friday night they forced the Wheaties into making mistakes, coughing up the puck, and twice it turned into a Hurricanes goal. The Defencemen were shooting more from the point too. The Canes' scored 3 of their goals as the result of going to the net and finishing off on rebounds. It appears this team is starting to turn the corner after that rough run in early November.
Lethbridge also received some secondary scoring the other night with the likes of Braes and Iwanski chipping in with goals. That is crucial to the success of any team is to get contributions from across the line-up, not just simply relying on the top two lines to get all the points.
The Canes' will try to get another home-ice win when they host struggling Moose Jaw. The Warriors have the league's 2nd worst record, but that doesn't mean this is a slam dunk game for Lethbridge. On paper one would think this is maybe a mismatch, but I would disagree. Once teams start thinking they'll have an easy night, that's when the troubles begin. I know for sure that Coach Michael Dyck won't be taking the Warriors lightly. I'm sure he'll prepare his team for Moose Jaw as he would for Calgary, Vancouver, or another of the top teams in the WHL.
Tonight's game is a 6pm start from Lethbridge. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.
On a much sadder note, former Hurricane goaltender Michael Maniago passed away after being involved in a car crash in Calgary the other night. Maniago was a big part of the Canes' run to the WHL final last season. News of his sudden death I'm sure brings shock and sadness to all who knew him. Maniago died early Saturday after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle in Calgary. Rest in Peace Manny.
Here's a link to the story in the Lethbridge Herald.
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/11498/50/
Hurricanes This Week:
Monday night on CJOC tune into Hurricanes This Week. This week's guest in Canes' GM Roy Stasiuk. He'll join Dick and I for the whole hour to take your calls and answer e-mails. Monday night at 7pm on CJOC, 94.1 The Lounge!
Lethbridge has now won 4 of it's past 5 games and this team is really playing better. Friday night they forced the Wheaties into making mistakes, coughing up the puck, and twice it turned into a Hurricanes goal. The Defencemen were shooting more from the point too. The Canes' scored 3 of their goals as the result of going to the net and finishing off on rebounds. It appears this team is starting to turn the corner after that rough run in early November.
Lethbridge also received some secondary scoring the other night with the likes of Braes and Iwanski chipping in with goals. That is crucial to the success of any team is to get contributions from across the line-up, not just simply relying on the top two lines to get all the points.
The Canes' will try to get another home-ice win when they host struggling Moose Jaw. The Warriors have the league's 2nd worst record, but that doesn't mean this is a slam dunk game for Lethbridge. On paper one would think this is maybe a mismatch, but I would disagree. Once teams start thinking they'll have an easy night, that's when the troubles begin. I know for sure that Coach Michael Dyck won't be taking the Warriors lightly. I'm sure he'll prepare his team for Moose Jaw as he would for Calgary, Vancouver, or another of the top teams in the WHL.
Tonight's game is a 6pm start from Lethbridge. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.
On a much sadder note, former Hurricane goaltender Michael Maniago passed away after being involved in a car crash in Calgary the other night. Maniago was a big part of the Canes' run to the WHL final last season. News of his sudden death I'm sure brings shock and sadness to all who knew him. Maniago died early Saturday after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle in Calgary. Rest in Peace Manny.
Here's a link to the story in the Lethbridge Herald.
http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/content/view/11498/50/
Hurricanes This Week:
Monday night on CJOC tune into Hurricanes This Week. This week's guest in Canes' GM Roy Stasiuk. He'll join Dick and I for the whole hour to take your calls and answer e-mails. Monday night at 7pm on CJOC, 94.1 The Lounge!
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