Busy Week for Hurricanes...."Hurricanes This Week" Tonight

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are coming off a 5-3 loss in Red Deer Saturday.

The game was won for the Rebels and lost for the Hurricanes in the 2nd period. After a 1-1 tie following 20 minutes, Red Deer came out a determined bunch, outshooting Lethbridge 19-5 in that middle frame, not to mention scoring 3 goals to take a 4-1 lead in the 3rd. The Hurricanes would get two more, but that would be as close as they would get. Kudos to the Rebels for a great 2nd period. The Hurricanes had a very good outing from Carter Bancks and Kyle Beach despite the loss. Bancks had a 3 point night (2G, 1A) and Beach two points (2A). The Canes' also played with a short defensive corps. They rotated 4-defencemen all game. Eric Mestery and Mitch Verstegg have been scratched the past couple of games with injury. Zach Boychuk (ankle) is still day-to-day and could return this week. Craig Orfino and Dwight King are serving suspensions.

Going into this week, the Canes' sit in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, one point back of Swift Current, 6 back of Medicine Hat and one point up on Kootenay. This is another busy week for the Canes with 3 games in 4 nights again. Wednesday, the Hurricanes have a big game versus Regina at the Enmax Centre. Friday, the high flying Calgary Hitmen pay a visit and then Saturday it's back on the road to Red Deer. Next week, the Hurricanes will head out on their U.S. swing which will take them to Portland, Seattle, Everett, and Tri-City.

There's been a lot of talk about the possible return of Luca Sbisa to the Canes' line-up. I can tell you at the moment I'm writing this that I have not received any official release from the Hurricanes nor have I read anything from the Philadelphia Flyers about Sbisa's return. Until then, it's the status quo. Luca's name has been on the Hurricanes roster all season, but he has yet to make an official return to the team amid all the speculation. There's always been the chance he could return right from the day one and that remains the same, but right now he's not in Lethbridge. His name was not on the game sheets given to the media in the Canes' past two games against PG and Red Deer.

Tonight, "Hurricanes This Week" is back on. Canes' GM Roy Stasiuk will join me at 7pm tonight on CJOC to take your clls and emails.

I've also had a number of calls and emails regarding Dick Gibson not being on the Canes' broadcast any longer. Any questions and comments regarding this can be directed to radio station management. I would like to thank Dick and wish all the best in the future.