Canes' 0-2 to Start Season

The Lethbridge Hurricanes dropped their second straight game of the still very young WHL season, losing 7-3 to the Tigers in Medicine Hat Saturday.

It was a packed house in the Hat, as the Tigers opened their 40th season in the Western Hockey Hockey League. Their pre-game ceremonies on opening night included the announcement of the team's Honourary Captain for this season, Bob Ridley. "Rids" has been the radio Voice of the Tigers since the team started play in the league in 1970 and still is today, not to mention he drives their bus too! He was given a long standing ovation and rightly so!

The Hurricanes started off the game much better than in Kootenay on Friday. The Canes' jumped out a 2-1 lead after one, but Medicine Hat took over in the second, scoring 3 times to take a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes and then they added 3 more in the 3rd to go one to win 7-3. The shots were much more respectable, which favoured the Tigers in the end. Saturday night, the Hurricanes surrendered 2 short-handed goals, one of them on a Medicine Hat penalty shot. Ville Kolppanen played the entire game for Lethbridge between the pipes and I thought he played fairly well for his first full 60 minutes of action in the WHL. A much beter overall effort by Lethbridge, no question despite the loss.

So the first week of the season is complete now for the Hurricanes. They will get one addition to defence back with the return of Brennan Yadlowski from pro camp this week. Now with a few regular season games in the books, this will give Rich Preston and Matt Kabayama as well as the rest of the hockey staff time to evaluate going into practice this week. Preston made note during our pre-game show Saturday that a lot of these younger Hurricanes players are just getting their first taste of the WHL and are playing against, for the most part, much more experienced teams and veteran players.

The Hurricanes next action is set for Friday night when they take on the Rebels in Red Deer. The Canes' will be in Swift Current Saturday. Also, don't forget about "Hurricanes This Week" back on the air Monday at 6pm. Rich Preston will be our guest for the whole hour.

Thanks,
Pat