Hurricanes vs. Pats

The Hurricanes host the Regiona Pats tonight at the Enmax Centre.

Some very interesting story lines to this game, given the big trade between the two teams earlier this week. Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino will play their former team tonight, just a few days after being dealt to Regina for Graham Hood, prospect Taylor Balog and a couple of high end draft picks.

It'll likely feel a bit strange when Ashton and Orfino come back into the Enmax and headto the visitors dressing room. This should be a fun game to watch and to see if Hood, Ashton, and Orfino have any impact on the result. The Pats played last night in Medicine Hat and lost 7-2. Regina has given up 16 goals in it's last 2 games.

The Hurricanes have been having problems of their own lately. The team has been having trouble find the win column. Lethbridge has just a single victory in it's last 9 games. Fans are wondering with the ongoing struggles, if a few more deals might be made in the next couple of weeks. Trading in the WHL will close down during the one week Christmas break which kicks in after next Saturday's games are complete.

It'll be interesting to see with veterans like Ashton and Orfino gone, if some of the younger players like Reners, Tot, Tarnasky, and Moser will get more ice time. These players have been used sparingly by Rich Preston this season and for the most part have fallen victim to the rookie rotation. Perhaps more ice time for these younger players will help them develop in the second half of the season as the team continues it's rebuilding process.

Rich Preston has put his stamp on this team. It looks nothing like the one that started the season in September. Gone are Ashton, Orfino, Tadjdeh, Beach, Taylor, Mestery, and Castro. Most fans I've bumped into seem to like the changes made this week by management. We'' see how things play out tonight.

Regina: 7th in Eastern Conference at 16-16-3-0
Lethrbidge: 12th in the Eastern Conference 9-17-3-1

Game time tonight is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.

Thanks,
Pat