Hurricanes This Week Tonight...More Bodies in the Line-up This Weekend

Good Monday!

The Lethbridge Hurricanes now have a few days off after what has been a long week for the team. Lethbridge is coming a 6-0 loss Saturday night in Swift Current. The Canes' have dropped 7 in a row and have been outscored 31-8 since play resumed after the Christmas break. It was some early mistakes that led to the Hurricanes troubles against the Broncos. Swift Current managed 3 goals in a span of 1:40 in the first period. For the second straight game, goalie Michael Tadjdeh was replaced by Brandon Anderson who played well in relief. Lethbridge is no doubt having a rough go with so many players out of the line-up with injuries or at world junior action. Like Head Coach Michael Dyck told me during the pre-game show in Swift Current the other night, fatigue has likely been factor, but it's not an excuse. Lethbridge has fallen in the Eastern Conference standings with the likes of Prince Albert and Edmonton trying to take that 8th spot away.

The Canes' aren't out of this yet, but they need to turn things around quickly. The WHL's trade deadline is fast approaching this Saturday January 10th. We'll see this week if Hurricanes GM Roy Stasiuk will make any moves to improve his team going down the stretch. It's pretty clear Lethrbidge will be one of about 7 teams battling for the final 5 spots in the East.

The Canes' next game is this Friday at home when they host PA. Saturday Vancouver pays a visit then it's off on the road for games next week in Moose Jaw on the 13th and Prince Albert again on the 14th before returning home to play Swift Current and Saskatoon on the 16th and 17th.

Tonight, Hurricanes This Week resumes on CJOC at 7pm. Our guests include former Canes' defenceman Luca Sbisa, Dave Sheldon the radio voice of the Vancouver Giants, and your calls.

Here's an update for you on some of the walking wounded for the Canes' as well as the return of some of the world junior players. Thanks to Ryan Ohashi at the Hurricanes office for the info!

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will have some reinforcements as they look break a 7 game losing streak this week when they play host to the Prince Albert Raiders on January 9th and the Vancouver Giants on January 10th. The “Finnish Phenom” Juha Metsola will make his return to the ENMAX Centre after representing his country at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships held in Ottawa. Defensemen Max Ross and Alex Theriau (U17 World Hockey Challenge – Team Pacific) as well as forwards Austin Fyten (from injury) and Garrett Taylor (from injury) are expected to make their return this week. A revitalized Canes bench will look to bounce back this Friday; and improve on their overall record of 20-20-0-2 in the 08-09 campaign.