Lethbridge @ Moose Jaw Tonight

Hello from Moose Jaw!

The Hurricanes arrived last night around 10 o'clock after practicing at home Monday afternoon before hitting the road for a couple of games here in Saskatchewan today and tomorrow. Lethbridge enters play tonight one game below .500 and in 10th spot in the WHL's Eastern Conference, two points back of Regina and three points behind Kootenay, Edmonton, and Prince Albert. The Canes' are looking to use a 3rd period comeback the other night at home versus Vancouver as a stepping stone to getting out of this mid-season slump which has saw the team loose 9 in a row (7 in regulation, 1 in O-T and 1 in a shootout). The Hurricanes have been struggling, but if they can put the same kind of effort in tonight that we saw in the final 20 minutes this past Saturday, the Hurricanes could cause the Warriors fits.

Moose Jaw won the last meeting between these two teams, but since last week's trading deadline this is a vastly different looking Warriors club. The team traded away some key assets in Joel Broda, Ian Duval, and Riley Grantham. There's a tonne of talent in those 3 players. It's pretty clear given the Warriors spot in the Eastern Standings, it only made sense for the team to trade it's commodities and build for next year. Moose Jaw sits at 14-27-1-1 so far on the season.

The Hurricanes will be without the services of Carter Ashton and Zach Boyhcuk on this quick two game trip into Saskatchewan. Ashton is off at the Top Prospects game in Ontario and Boychuk is being given a couple of more days to rest his ankle which he hurt at the World Juniors. Both players will likely return on the weekend when the Canes' host Swift Current (Friday) and Saskatoon (Saturday). Defenceman Max Ross could make his return either tonight or tomorrow. He's been out now well over a month with a knee injury. He's been practicing the past week and looks to be ready to get back into the swing of things.
Tonight's game from Moose Jaw is a 6:00 start Alberta time. The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.

Ice Chips:
Former Hurricane Mike Wuchteral is returning to Lethbridge to play for the U of L Pronghorns. He was a fan favourite wearing a Hurricanes uniform last season and a big part of the Canes' run to the WHL final. I guess it again shows just how much "Wucks" loves Lethbridge and how he again wants to be part of the community. Good luck at the U of L! Right now the Horns' are ranked 9th in the CIS Men's hockey standings.

One last note, the Philadelphia Daily News is reporting Luca Sbisa could be returned to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Because of salary cap issues and the return of some of Philly's injured defenceman, Sbisa could be sent back to the Canes'. I guess we'll have to wait and see how that all plays out!