Ashton Invited to CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes are very proud to congratulate standout forward Carter Ashton on his invitation to the 2009 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Oshawa, Ontario. The event will showcase 40 of the top CHL players eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft beginning with a thrilling skills competition on Tuesday January 13, 2009, with the game taking place Wednesday January 14, 2009.
The rosters, which are selected by the 30 NHL General Managers and NHL Central Scouting, include a total of 15 WHL prospects.

Ashton, a 91-born forward and the Hurricanes 1st round pick (7th overall) in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft was ranked 6th among WHL skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Service’s Western Hockey League Fall Preliminary rankings. Ashton has had a breakout 2008-2009 season after an injury shortened 07-08 season held him to nine points (5G, 4A) in 40 WHL games. Thus far in 08-09, Ashton has a team leading 20 goals in 36 games for a total of 32 points (20G, 12A) and a plus minus rating of plus-18. Ashton also leads the Canes with four power play goals and five game winners in 08-09.

Last season, the Hurricanes had a pair of invitees to the 2008 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Edmonton; with Zach Boychuk and Luca Sbisa taking part. Boychuk placed second in the Fastest Skater competition and was named the Team White Player of the Game. Both Boychuk (Carolina – 14th overall) and Sbisa (Philadelphia – 19th overall) were then picked in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft – It was the first time in club history that two Hurricanes were selected in the first round with Boychuk tying Brent Seabrook (14th in 2003) as the highest drafted Hurricanes player of all time. Both have now signed NHL entry level contracts with Boychuk returning to Lethbridge and Sbisa continuing to play a top four role in Philadelphia.

Canes' Move Up in East...@ Brandon Tonight

Hello for Brandon!

Well you know it's too cold when a short two block walk from the hotel to Tim Horton's seems like a serious task! It's bright and sunny here in Southwest Manitoba, but the windchill this morning makes it feel like it's around 46 below. We arrived here just after 2 this morning after a 3 hour bus ride for Regina.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes made up ground on a few teams in the Eastern Conference after a 3-2 win on the road in Regina last night. In the past few weeks, we've seen the Canes' spread the scoring around and that was the case again Tuesday. Cody Castro scored his first ever WHL goal, Garrett Taylor chipped in with a pair of assists, Cam Braes scored on the power play, and Dan Iwanski added an assist. Top that off with the game winner early in the 2nd by Dwight King and some solid goaltending from Juha Metsola and Lethbridge has now was 9 of its past 11 games and the team is currently 6 games over the .500 mark with a record of 20-14-0-1. Secondary scoring again was a factor as was special teams. Lethbridge has been getting contributions from right across the line-up as of late and that is one reason why things have changed in the past month in a good way for the Canes'.

Tonight marks the exact half-way point in the WHL season for Lethbridge. The Hurricanes, with the win last night puts the team in a 3-way tie for 4th spot with Regina and Swift Current and now one point ahead of tonight's opponent....the Brandon Wheat Kings. Like last night, this game this evening is another so-called "four pointer" as Lethbridge has a chance to go up 3-points on the Wheaties heading into the Christmas break. A win tonight would vault the Hurricanes into sole possession of 4th place in the East. That, I think is a huge accomplishment given the fact the Hurricanes had a rough ride during October when the team managed only one victory in 9 games. What a difference a few weeks can make. I think the Canes' have shown they are a talented young team. It just took things a lot longer to get going this season that most of us expected.

This is the second meeting of the season between these two teams. Lethbridge won the previous match-up back at the Enmax Centre a few weeks ago. Brandon will play in Lethbridge again on December 30th.

After this game in Brandon, the Hurricanes with head straight back to Lethbridge and tomorrow most players will be heading out for the Christmas break and return for practice on Boxing Day as they don't play another game until the 27th when they host the Kootenay Ice.

Tonight's game from Brandon is a 6 o'clock start Alberta time. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.

Lethbridge @ Regina Tonight

The Lethbridge Hurricanes will meet up with the Pats tonight for the second time this season. This is a big game for both clubs, given the fact they are separated by just 2 points in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pats enter this game with 41 points while the Canes' have 39. Lethbridge has a great chance here to make another dent in the standings. A win in Regina would move the team into a temporary tie for 4th with both the Pats and Swift Current. The battle for positioning is already underway and were only getting to the mid-way point in the season.

Lethbridge will be without the services of Carter Bancks for a few games. He has a lower body injury after blocking a number of shots in the Hurricanes overtime win in Edmonton the other day. I guess with the upcoming Christmas break, it'll give Bancks some time to recoup. The Canes' have called up Pincher Creek product Mark Reners who will suit up tonight and tomorrow in Brandon as well. It'll be our first chance to see the forward in a Lethbridge uniform this season. Reners was selected by the Hurricanes 18th overall in the 2007 WHL Bantam draft.

The Hurricanes practiced here in Regina last yesterday afternoon and had a good evening of relaxing and resting up for these final two games before the Christmas break. After the game in Regina, the team with head straight to Brandon to get ready for tomorrow's game versus the Wheat Kings. So to say the least the Hurricanes have a great opportunity in these next two games to leapfrog over a few of the teams they're chasing.

Tonight's game from the Brandt Centre in Regina is 6pm Alberta time. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.

Canes' Win in Edmonton in OT...Hurricanes This Week Tonight

Hi from Regina.

We arrived here around 3am after a long bus ride from Edmonton last night. The Hurricanes pulled out a 3-2 overtime victory at Rexall Place, their 4th win against the Oil Kings this season. Lethbridge held a 1-0 lead going into the 3rd when Carter Ashton scored his team leading 19th goal of the year to make it 2-0 early in the final frame. Edmonton stormed back though, scoring half-way through the 3rd to make it 2-1 Canes' and then with just over 2 minutes to go in regulation Edmonton tied it up sending the game into overtime. Lethbridge Captain Ben Wright took a double minor for high sticking with just over a minute to go and then Eric Mestery put the puck over the glass seconds later and the Hurricanes found themselves down two men in a tied game heading into overtime. Lethbridge managed to kill off both penalties and right out of the penalty box Wright gave the puck to Colton Sceviour who scored the winner and the Canes' would walk out with a 3-2 win. Canes' backup goaltender Michael Tadjdeh was outstanding in goal and was awarded the game's first star.

The team has a day off here in Regina today. They'll practice late this afternoon at the Brandt Centre and then go out for a team meal tonight. The Hurricanes play the Pats here tomorrow at 6pm Alberta time. After that, it's on the bus and off to Brandon.

Hurricanes forward Zach Boychuk was named to Team Canada's roster for the World Juniors. Congratulations to him and really no big surprise. He is one of only 4 returning players to playfor that team. The final roster was announced today.

Tonight on Hurricanes This Week, hosted by Dick Gibson will be the President of the Hurricanes Brian McNaughton, along with Canes' Director of Business Operations Doug Campbell, and an interview with Assistant GM and Director of Scouting Brad Robson. The show starts at 7 tonight on CJOC.

Hurricanes @ Oil Kings 2pm Today

Hello from Chilly Edmonton!

This afternoon the Hurricanes will try and get back into the win column again the Edmonton Oil Kings. The team travelled here late yesterday after a Saturday afternoon practice at the Enmax Centre. This will be the 4th meeting between these two teams, with Lethbridge winning all 3 games in the season series so far. Game time today is 2pm and the pre-game show on CJOC at 1:30.

After today's game, the Canes’ will hop back on the bus and travel all the way to Regina and arrive there in the early hours of Monday morning. The Hurricanes play the Pats there Tuesday and then in Brandon Wednesday. The start times for those two games is 6pm Alberta time. That will mark the official half-way point in the season for Lethbridge. The players will then head off to visit family and friends for the Christmas holidays before returning back to Lethbridge to begin the second half of the season on the 27th against Kootenay.

Heading into today’s game Lethbridge sits with a record of 18-14-0-1. The Canes’ have dropped their last two games both by 4-3 scores to Kamloops and most recently Moose Jaw Friday night at home. The difference in that game was clearly turnovers. The Warriors managed to capitalize on Hurricane give-aways. As I’ve said before it’s nearly impossible to eliminate turnovers all together, but limiting those give-aways is important. That game also saw a lengthy delay. The puck dropped an hour and a half after the scheduled 7pm start time. A bad winter storm that blew into Lethbridge Friday into Saturday delayed the arrival of the referees. The game finally got going around 8:30. I tip my hat to the Hurricanes fans though who waited out the delay and braved the terrible weather to stick around and watch the game.

The Hurricanes still have some work to take care of before the Christmas break. Once play resumes in the second half, that’s when things for every team start to get interesting. The trade deadline is just around the corner, the stretch run to the playoffs begins, and if this season turns out to be anything like the last one, there’ll be a fierce battle for playoff positioning too. The Hurricanes will be one of those teams hoping to move up in the Eastern Conference. It should be a lot of fun to watch I’m sure!

The last Hurricanes This Week talk show for 2008 will be held Monday night at 7 on CJOC. As I’m away on the road with the team this week, Dick Gibson will host the show from Lethbridge. Our guests include Hurricanes President Brian McNaughton, Canes’ Director of Business Operations Doug Campbell, and Hurricanes Assistant GM and Director of Scouting Brad Robson. Our first show of 2009 is scheduled for January 5th.