Road Hockey with the Hurricanes

It's a light weekend for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

They won't be playing on home on the ice until Sunday night at 6 when they host Moose Jaw, but Saturday the team will be playing a little street hockey. The team will be out at Bridge City Chrysler between Noon and 5pm taking part in that company's Hurricanes Street Hockey Challenge. Kids young and old are encouraged to come out and play some road hockey with the Hurricanes. Canes' mascot Twister will be there too and so will I. I'll be on location at Bridge City between 1 and 5 on Saturday promoting the event so come on down and say hi.

There'll be a Charity Bar-b-que starting at noon with all the proceeds going to Safety City Lethbridge and there will also be draws for autographed Hurricanes jerseys!

I know this sounds a bit like an advertisement, but anyone who comes down between noon and 5 Saturday and test drives a vehicle a Bridge City will get a pair of tickets to a Hurricanes game and if you actually buy a vehicle during that time, you'll get seasons tickets to the Canes'! A little incentive I suppose, but it should be a fun thing for the kids and players for sure. I'm looking forward to being down there!

Should be a good time.

Thanks,
Pat

Winterhawks Beat Canes 4-3 in O.T.

A very costly penalty for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in overtime last night as the Portland Winterhawks pulled out a 4-3 win at the Enmax Centre.

The Hurricanes had to battle from behind all night long. In fact, the Canes' tied the game three times, but couldn't find that go ahead goal. It was certainly a tough loss for a team that had just come off two road losses on the weekend. Portland scored it's first goal on a penalty shot and the game winner on a power play with less than a minute to go in O.T. The Hurricanes though did get two goals on the power play.

A frustrated sounding Austin Fyten was on our CJOC Greer Home Builders post-game show last night and said the Hurricanes lost the game in the second period, which they were outshot 16-12. He said, "We need to be better as a team and on the ice."

Portland is a pretty darn good team though. They sure didn't look like a team playing it's 5th game in 7 days. The Hawks actually looked better as the game went on. The organization I think needs to be commended for changing that entire team around. Portland is a big team too in size. Fans who've seen them play know exactly what I mean. The Winterhawks are by far the biggest team in the WHL, but they play quick and physical. They are certainly an interesting team to watch and should provide a few headaches for their opponents as this season moves on.

So now the Hurricanes have the next few days off before playing their next game on Sunday night in Lethbridge against Moose Jaw (6pm). I would guess it'll be a business-like attitude for this group during practice over the next few days. The Canes' really didn't play all that bad last night, just a few mistakes that cost them in the end. It's important though that the Canes' try and eliminate some of those small things that have factored in them being on the other side of the score at the end of the night.

Head Coach/GM Rich Preston stressed the importance of this home stand on our pre-game show last night. He said the next month of hockey at home in Lethbridge is make it or break it as far as he's concerned. Preston also noted that sometimes with a lot of games at home a team has a tendency to become stale. Not to worry though. Preston says the coaching staff has a few things planned to make sure the players stay focused.

The Canes' currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, tied with Kootenay at 10 points. Lethbridge has a record of 4-9-2 in 15 games.

Thanks,
Pat

8 Game Home Stand Starts Tonight

The Lethbridge Hurricanes begin an 8 game home stand tonight.

With this team being out of the Enmax centre for the better part of the season so far, Lethbridge can finally settle down and play some home games. There has been a lot of travel for the Hurricanes so far..... from Vancouver to Prince George and over to Brandon and back. The Canes' have put on some serious mileage the past 4 weeks and now it's time to stick around southern Alberta for a while. The only game the Hurricanes play on the road over the next 10 games will be in Medicine Hat November 14th.

Tonight the Canes' play host the Portland Winter Hawks. This team has gone from rags to riches so to speak over the last couple of seasons. They were a struggling club at the bottom of the league standings last season and the season before, but now the Hawks are making some serious noise in the West. Radim Valchar, who was traded from Portland to Lethbridge earlier this season will play against his former club for the first time. Valchar missed the Hurricanes last two games in Regina and Moose Jaw because of illness. This game will also mark the return of hometown boy Brad Ross, selected by the Hawks 5th overall in the first round of the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

Portland is also the first American-based team the Canes' will face on the season. Next Friday, Seattle will be in town, then in November Everett and Tri-City will make a visit and then Spokane will stop by when the calendar flips to January. The U.S. teams always seem to be a good draw in Lethbridge. Hopefully that'll be the case this season too.

I said on our Hurricanes Talk Show the other night that I feel this 8 game home stand will go a long way to determining whether this Canes' club can stay with the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference. I put that same question to Richie Sutter, the Assistant to the GM and Hockey Operations when he was on the show the other night. Sutter agreed and said the biggest thing is for the players to keep their focus and have some fun, but at the same time understand the importance of each and every game. Sutter preparation will be key.


Season Ticket Exchange Night

Tonight is the second of 8 Wednesday season ticket exchange nights at the Enmax Centre this season. Hurricanes Season Ticket Holders have the option of trading in any unused season ticket for a ticket to tonight's game.

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

Thanks,
Pat

Canes Lose 6-3 in Moose Jaw

The Moose Jaw Warriors looked like a well rested team as they beat the Hurricanes last night at the Crushed Can 6-3.

Lethbridge just couldn't get any offence going Sunday as the Warriors did everthing possible to shut them down. The Canes' were playing their 3rd game in 3 days and looked like a tired group, but that's one excuse you won't hear from the coaches. Moose Jaw scored 4 times in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the dressing room after 40 minutes. The Hurricanes though came out with a strong 3rd period, scoring twice. Austin Fyten and Cam Braes each had one goal and one assist while Craig Orfino notched the other Hurricanes goal. Ville Kolppanen played the first two periods, but Linden Rowat started the 3rd and finished the game between the pipes. Kolppanen in my opinion played very well in the first period, but would like to have a couple of those ones back that beat him in the second. The Canes' finished the game 2 for 2 on the power play, while the Warriors went 2 for 8.

Let's face it. The Moose Jaw Warriors are a darn good hockey team. They are no longer a struggling club near the bottom of the standings. They play hard, work hard and make it difficult for their opponents. It appears Dave Hunchak and Jeff Truit have this Warriors team all on the same page, at least in the first part of the season. I don't see Moose Jaw tailing off really. I think they will be a force in the East all year. The Warriors will be in Lethbridge Sunday night for a rematch. The Hurricanes will be looking for some revenge.

Home Sweet Home

It has literally been a long road for this Hurricanes team early this season. Because of the ongoing renovations at the Enmax Centre, the team has played 11 of it's first 14 games away from Lethbridge. Now it's time to make some hay at home. The Hurricanes now play 8 consecutive games on home-ice starting this Wednesday when they host the Portland Winter Hawks. In fact, they play 9 of their next 10 games at the Enmax Centre and for the most part, the Hurricanes will be playing the bulk of their games leading up to the Christmas break in their home arena. This stretch coming up, I think is going to go a long way in determining if Lethbridge is going to be able to keep up with the rest of the pack in the Eastern Conference. The standings are pretty clogged up right now both at the top, in the middle, and near the bottom. If the Canes can play well during this big home stand it should help put some pressure on a few of the other teams they are chasing down.

You know, this Lethbridge team is not all that bad. Yeah, they have hit a few bumps in the road here and there and still sit at the bottom of the conference at 4-9-1, but there is a lot of good things have taken place ovr the past 3 weeks and alo than can happen in the weeks ahead too. As I said last night on the broadcast I do not think Rich Preston is finished making changes with this group. The acquisitions he has made have already made a difference, but there is still a long way to go. This team is still finding its way. The team needs to find a way to score more goals, that is a key no doubt right now and trust me, the players know it. Hopefully this stretch of games at home will help turn the tide in that department.

Hurricanes This Week

Our Monday night hockey talk show hits the air again tonight. This week, Fred and I are taking the show on the road, with the program live from the Shark Club on Mayor Magrath Drive. It should be fun to take the show out of our downtown Lethbridge studios for the first time in it's 3 year history. We have a jammed packed show tonight too. Richie Sutter, the Canes' Assistant to the General Manager will be on the program along with Hurricanes forward Cam Braes. Fred and I will also talk to Andy Kemper, the play-by-play voice of the Portland Winter Hawks to set up Wednesday`s game between Portland and Lethbridge. Come on down to the Shark Club and watch the show. It begins at 6, live on CJOC! Also, if want to send us an e-mail comment or question, send it to: hurricanespttwireless.ca

Thanks,
Pat

Canes' Lose 4-1 in Regina....@ Moose Jaw Tonight

Specialty teams was clearly the difference as the Regina Pats beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-1 Saturday night at the Brandt Centre.

Eric Mestery scored the lone Canes' goal on a power play in the first period on a 5 on 3 man advantage. That would be the only offence Lethbridge would find on the night. Jordan Eberle scored twice and added one assist to lead the way for Regina. As I said off the top, specialty teams was what won the game for the Pats and lost it for the Hurricanes in my opinion. Regina went 3 for 5 with the extra man. The Hurricanes were 1 for 9 on the power play. The Canes' had numerous good chances to score, but just couldn't get the puck in the net. That's been an issue for this team over the past 4 games. The Canes' are going to need to get more production from the power play units, plain and simple.

Head Coach/GM Rich Preston stated to me in the pre-game show last night that although he's quite happy with his defence and goaltending in the past 4 or 5 games, he's concerned about the Hurricanes lack of goal production as of late. Lethbridge managed only 2 goals in Brandon, 2 versus Saskatoon last weekend, they were shutout by Chilliwack earlier this week and scored only once in Regina last night. Preston wants to see more offence from this team. Radim Valchar did not play against the Pats. He wasn't feeling well and stayed back at the hotel. Valchar is one player Preston would like to see start hitting the back of the net. He hasn't scored since his first game in a Lethbridge uniform.

Tonight the Hurricanes will play their last road game for a while. After this game in Moose Jaw, the Hurricanes will have played 14 games on the season, 11 of which have been away from the Enmax Centre. The Warriors are certainly no pushover hockey team. They are playing some of their best hockey in years in Moose Jaw right now and are going to be a tough opponent. Moose Jaw shouldbe a well rested team. They have not played since Thanksgiving Day 6 days ago. The Warriors are right up at the top of Eastern Conference at the moment too. They traded away some of their top commodities at the trade deadline last season and it looks like that is paying dividends early on this season. This will be a tough game for Lethbridge no doubt. We will see just how much gas they have left in the tank. This game marks the end of 4 games in 5 days.

Hurricanes fans will get their fair share of this Lethbridge team over the next month. The Hurricanes begin a long home stretch starting Wednesday night at home versus Portland. Moose Jaw will be in Lethbridge a week from tonight. The Canes will have next Friday and Saturday off.

Game time tonight from the Crushed Can in Moose Jaw is 7 pm. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.

Hockey and the H1-N1 Flu

It looks like the entire Hurricanes team will be rolling up their sleeves in the next few weeks. I was talking to Head Coach/GM Rich Preston before last night's game against the Pats and was curious as to how the team was going to approach the upcoming flu season, in particular the much talked about H1-N1 virus which has made a big comeback in parts of Canada. Preston told me all the players will be getting both the seasonal flu shot and then when it becomes available in the next couple of weeks, the H1-N1 vaccine. Good call I think. The last thing a hockey team needs to have to deal with is a virus spreading from player to player. Here in Saskatchewan, the H1-N1 virus has hit the SJHL's Notre Dame Hounds from what I've been told. Watching the news the other night, it seems the virus is hitting parts of B.C. pretty hard too. A smart decision I think for the coaches to recommend the players get the shots, just in case the virus comes calling.

Thanks,
Pat