It wasn't a pretty night for the Hurricanes Friday at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge.
Things didn't start out too well for the home team either. The game was barely 13 minutes old and the Kootenay Ice had jumped out a to 3-0 lead on just 7 shots. That ended the night for Canes' goaltender Ville Kolppanen who did not have a good start between the pipes. Shortly after the goaltending change, the Canes' would get their first of the night when Marc Reners ripped a shot off the crossbar for his second goal of the year. Kootenay got that one back with less than a minute to go to take a 4-1 lead into the dressing room after one. Ice forward Joe Antilla had a heck of an opening 20 minutes, scoring three goals to lead the way for the visitors. There was also a fight in the first, as Brennan Yadlowski dropped the gloves with Kootenay's Matt Fraser. The shots were 13-12 Canes'.
Things didn't get much better for Lethbridge in the 2nd. The Ice notched three more to take a commanding 7-2 lead after 40 minutes. One of those goals was a strange one when Jesse Ismond shot the puck from the far corner behind the goal line and banked one off the back of goalie Brandon Anderson. The Hurricanes got a late goal, when Graham Hood scored with 2 seconds to go to cut the lead to 5. There was scrap in the second period too when Mike Reddington fought with Brendan Hurley.
In the final period, the Ice would add insult to injury scoring once more late in the 3rd to win the game easily 8-2. It wasn't like the Hurricanes didn't have their chances in this one. The shots were fairly close 38-27 Kootenay. The problem for Lethbridge had to do with too many giveaways. That cost them a few times last night and then there were the penalties. The Kootenay power play was very good going 3 for 8 on the night. The Canes' were 0 for 4. Antilla was the game's first star with a hatrick on the night. Overall, it just wasn't the Hurricanes evening. They got behind the eight ball early and couldn't find their way back. Plain and simple. Kudos to the Ice. They smelled blood and kept coming at the Hurricanes all night long. They certainly didn't dominate the game, but they sure did take advantage of their chances, especially on the power play.
I talked with Captain Carter Bancks before the game last night. Bancks says despite the team's record, this is "without a doubt the tightest group he's ever been with". He admits it's been frustrating at times, given some of the very close losses, but no one is packing things in. Bancks says everyone is motivated, now they have to start putting together some victories. He says the players are determined and committed to start climbing up in the standings.
Head Coach/GM Rich Preston told us on our CJOC pre-game show last night that Linden Rowat will be back after the Christmas break. Rowat has been given the green light now to practice when the team gets back together on Boxing Day. He's been off since October with torn ligaments in his foot. It's an injury that's kept Rowat out of the Hurricanes line-up for a lot longer than he or the team had hoped. Once he's back though, it should make for an interesting goaltending situation with Rowat, Anderson, and Kolppanen. Decisions, decisions, decisions!
The Hurricanes play the Ice again tonight, this time in Cranbrook. Game time is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Thanks,
Pat
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Saturday, 19 December 2009
Friday, 18 December 2009
Canes' vs. Kootenay Ice
The Lethbridge Hurricanes take on the Kootenay Ice tonight at the Enmax Centre in what is the second last home game for the Canes' in 2009.
The Hurricanes lost their last game 5-4 to the Medicine Hat Tigers and have only two wins in their last 11 games. The Ice on the other hand have been one of the hottest teams in the WHL since the last time these two central division opponents met about a month ago. Kootenay has gone from a virtual tie with the Hurricanes at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings all the way into 7th place. The Ice have 6 wins in their past 10 games and are arguably playing their best hockey of the season right now heading into the WHL's Christmas break.
These two teams will play again tomorrow, this time in Cranbrook. Hurricanes defenceman Luca Sbisa will leave after tonight's game to join the Swiss World Junior Team in Prince Albert. We won't see him again until some time in early January. After the one week break, the Hurricanes will play in Red Deer and up in Edmonton. That will mark the official half-way point for the Canes' on the season. They close out 2009 with a home game against the Tigers December 30th. The Hurricanes will have New Year's Eve and New Year's Day off this year. They open the 2010 portion of their schedule January 2nd versus Regina in Lethbridge.
Game time tonight from the Enmax Centre is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Hurricanes Half Season Ticket Offer
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are very proud to announce yet another option for taking in Hurricanes Hockey; this time with an added bonus! The hockey club will be offering a special half season ticket beginning with the Canes 19th home game on the 30th of December. By taking advantage of these half season ticket prices you will also receive a special bonus – a Hurricanes Shop Gift Certificate! See below for pricing and special offers:
(From Ryan Ohashi)
The Hurricanes lost their last game 5-4 to the Medicine Hat Tigers and have only two wins in their last 11 games. The Ice on the other hand have been one of the hottest teams in the WHL since the last time these two central division opponents met about a month ago. Kootenay has gone from a virtual tie with the Hurricanes at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings all the way into 7th place. The Ice have 6 wins in their past 10 games and are arguably playing their best hockey of the season right now heading into the WHL's Christmas break.
These two teams will play again tomorrow, this time in Cranbrook. Hurricanes defenceman Luca Sbisa will leave after tonight's game to join the Swiss World Junior Team in Prince Albert. We won't see him again until some time in early January. After the one week break, the Hurricanes will play in Red Deer and up in Edmonton. That will mark the official half-way point for the Canes' on the season. They close out 2009 with a home game against the Tigers December 30th. The Hurricanes will have New Year's Eve and New Year's Day off this year. They open the 2010 portion of their schedule January 2nd versus Regina in Lethbridge.
Game time tonight from the Enmax Centre is 7 o'clock. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
Hurricanes Half Season Ticket Offer
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are very proud to announce yet another option for taking in Hurricanes Hockey; this time with an added bonus! The hockey club will be offering a special half season ticket beginning with the Canes 19th home game on the 30th of December. By taking advantage of these half season ticket prices you will also receive a special bonus – a Hurricanes Shop Gift Certificate! See below for pricing and special offers:
PRICES:
Adult Half Season Tickets $250 - includes a $50 Hurricanes’ Shop gift certificate
Senior Half Season Tickets $213 - includes a $50 Hurricanes’ Shop gift certificate
Student Half Season Tickets $190 - includes a $25 Hurricanes’ Shop gift certificate
Youth Half Season Tickets $110
Pricing and bonus offer valid until December 29, 2009 @ 4:30pm contact the Ticket Centre at (403) 329-SEAT or the Hurricanes office at (403) 328 1986 for details.
(From Ryan Ohashi)
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Close, But Yet So Far
I did a little digging this week to see just how many one-goal games the Lethbridge Hurricanes have been involved in this season. A lot actually.
Out of 32 games played this season for the Canes', almost half, 15 in fact have been decided by just one goal. The Hurricanes have lost 10 and won 5 of those one goal games. It shows just how close Lethbridge has been to being in the mix in terms of a playoff spot, but yet how much ground they still have to make up. Coulda, shoulda, woulda I suppose. Those two 6 game losing streaks this team went on really put the Hurricanes behind the eight ball this year. I think maybe that's the most frustrating thing for the players and coaches to except is just how close things have been when you put things into perspective.
One thing is for sure, this Lethbridge team despite it's record has been competitive. Sure, they've been on the wrong end of a few lop-sided scores, but most of those games took place in the first couple weeks of the season.
So close, but yet so far!
Thanks,
Pat
Out of 32 games played this season for the Canes', almost half, 15 in fact have been decided by just one goal. The Hurricanes have lost 10 and won 5 of those one goal games. It shows just how close Lethbridge has been to being in the mix in terms of a playoff spot, but yet how much ground they still have to make up. Coulda, shoulda, woulda I suppose. Those two 6 game losing streaks this team went on really put the Hurricanes behind the eight ball this year. I think maybe that's the most frustrating thing for the players and coaches to except is just how close things have been when you put things into perspective.
One thing is for sure, this Lethbridge team despite it's record has been competitive. Sure, they've been on the wrong end of a few lop-sided scores, but most of those games took place in the first couple weeks of the season.
So close, but yet so far!
Thanks,
Pat
Monday, 14 December 2009
Tigers 5 Hurricanes 4
The Medicine Hat Tigers came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Hurricanes 5-4 last night.
A pretty good opening frame for the home town Canes' Sunday. Lethbridge opened the scoring 1:30 in when Cam Braes scored his 10th of the season. For the second game in a row, the Hurricanes scored on their first shot of the night. Medicine Hat would get that one back moments later to even the score 1-1 when Wacey Hamilton slipped one by goalie Brandon Anderson. Lethbridge would regain the one goal lead when Carter Bancks banged home a lose puck for his 10th on the season. It was a fairly chippy first period too with a number of penalties and fight between Mitch Maxwell and Bretton Cameron.
The second period started out very good for the Canes', as Austin Fyten scored on a 5 on 3 power play to give Lethbridge a 3-1 lead, but cue the comeback by the Tigers. Three unanswered goals by Thomas Carr, Taylor Gal, and Emerson Etem stunned the crowd and the Hurricanes quickly went from a 2 goal lead to a one goal deficit. It's the second night in a row that Medicine Hat battled back from a sizeable deficit to take the lead in a hockey game. It seems the Tigers play some of their best hockey when their backs are up against the wall. Medicine Hat really turned things around when Lethbridge went up by a pair early in the second.
In the third, the Tigers would get a big insurance goal when Joey Frazer scored to put the Tigers up 5-3. The Canes' tried a late rally when Carter Bancks scored his second of the night to make it a 5-4 game, but that would be as close as the Hurricanes would get in this one. The Hurricanes out shot the Tigers 23-21. Give the Tigers some credit. For the second game in a row they came from behind to win a hockey game. The Tigers are 9-1-0-1 in their last 11. Lethbridge is 2-7-1-1 in their last 11. Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Anderson was given an interference penalty on a rather strange incident late in the game. Anderson left the net for the extra attacker with less than a minute to go and left his goal stick laid out across the goal line to prevent a slow moving puck from crossing the goal line. The referees caught it and called the rookie netminder for interference. I'll admit, I've never seen that before. That penalty had the Hurricanes finish the game on the penalty kill. Associate Coach Matt Kabayama chuckled on our post game show about it and said it was a rookie mistake on Anderson's part and that it would never happen again.
Sbisa Heading to World Juniors
I talked with Canes' Defenceman Luca Sbisa before last night's game. He'll be heading off at the end of this week to take part in the Swiss National Team's World Junior camp being held in Prince Albert. He's pretty excited. This will be his second World Juniors with Switzerland. He played back in 2007. As for the 2010 Swiss Olympic team, Sbisa feels he and another defenceman are likely the only two players that would be shoe-ins to make the team. Sbisa did tell me that those running the Olympic Men's hockey team for his country have told him how he plays in the World Juniors will go a long way to determining if he gets a spot on the Swiss Olympic team. Like I said earlier, Sbisa did say however, he feels he's got a very good chance of making that team. Really, I can't see why he wouldn't!
Hurricanes This Week
Our last Hurricanes This Week talk show of 2009 goes tonight on CJOC at 6pm. Fred and I will once again be LIVE from the Sharkclub on Mayor Magrath Drive. Brian McNaughton, the President of the Hurricanes Board of Directors will join us to give us a mid-season report. We'll also get a bit of a mid-season run down with Paul Kingsmith from Global TV. He'll stop by in the last half of the show. After tonight's program we'll take a two week Christmas break and resume the talk show January 4, 2010. Any questions can be e-mailed to hurricanes@pttwireless.ca.
Thanks,
Pat
A pretty good opening frame for the home town Canes' Sunday. Lethbridge opened the scoring 1:30 in when Cam Braes scored his 10th of the season. For the second game in a row, the Hurricanes scored on their first shot of the night. Medicine Hat would get that one back moments later to even the score 1-1 when Wacey Hamilton slipped one by goalie Brandon Anderson. Lethbridge would regain the one goal lead when Carter Bancks banged home a lose puck for his 10th on the season. It was a fairly chippy first period too with a number of penalties and fight between Mitch Maxwell and Bretton Cameron.
The second period started out very good for the Canes', as Austin Fyten scored on a 5 on 3 power play to give Lethbridge a 3-1 lead, but cue the comeback by the Tigers. Three unanswered goals by Thomas Carr, Taylor Gal, and Emerson Etem stunned the crowd and the Hurricanes quickly went from a 2 goal lead to a one goal deficit. It's the second night in a row that Medicine Hat battled back from a sizeable deficit to take the lead in a hockey game. It seems the Tigers play some of their best hockey when their backs are up against the wall. Medicine Hat really turned things around when Lethbridge went up by a pair early in the second.
In the third, the Tigers would get a big insurance goal when Joey Frazer scored to put the Tigers up 5-3. The Canes' tried a late rally when Carter Bancks scored his second of the night to make it a 5-4 game, but that would be as close as the Hurricanes would get in this one. The Hurricanes out shot the Tigers 23-21. Give the Tigers some credit. For the second game in a row they came from behind to win a hockey game. The Tigers are 9-1-0-1 in their last 11. Lethbridge is 2-7-1-1 in their last 11. Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Anderson was given an interference penalty on a rather strange incident late in the game. Anderson left the net for the extra attacker with less than a minute to go and left his goal stick laid out across the goal line to prevent a slow moving puck from crossing the goal line. The referees caught it and called the rookie netminder for interference. I'll admit, I've never seen that before. That penalty had the Hurricanes finish the game on the penalty kill. Associate Coach Matt Kabayama chuckled on our post game show about it and said it was a rookie mistake on Anderson's part and that it would never happen again.
Sbisa Heading to World Juniors
I talked with Canes' Defenceman Luca Sbisa before last night's game. He'll be heading off at the end of this week to take part in the Swiss National Team's World Junior camp being held in Prince Albert. He's pretty excited. This will be his second World Juniors with Switzerland. He played back in 2007. As for the 2010 Swiss Olympic team, Sbisa feels he and another defenceman are likely the only two players that would be shoe-ins to make the team. Sbisa did tell me that those running the Olympic Men's hockey team for his country have told him how he plays in the World Juniors will go a long way to determining if he gets a spot on the Swiss Olympic team. Like I said earlier, Sbisa did say however, he feels he's got a very good chance of making that team. Really, I can't see why he wouldn't!
Hurricanes This Week
Our last Hurricanes This Week talk show of 2009 goes tonight on CJOC at 6pm. Fred and I will once again be LIVE from the Sharkclub on Mayor Magrath Drive. Brian McNaughton, the President of the Hurricanes Board of Directors will join us to give us a mid-season report. We'll also get a bit of a mid-season run down with Paul Kingsmith from Global TV. He'll stop by in the last half of the show. After tonight's program we'll take a two week Christmas break and resume the talk show January 4, 2010. Any questions can be e-mailed to hurricanes@pttwireless.ca.
Thanks,
Pat
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Canes' Beat Pats 5-1
It was a decisive victory by the Lethbridge Hurricanes last night as they rolled over the Regina Pats 5-1.
Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino made their much anticipated return to the Enmax Centre with Regina after being traded to the Pats earlier this week. The Canes' played a solid first period and really carried the play from start to finish. Landon Oslanski opened the scoring early on a power play when Ashton was assessed a hooking penalty. About a minute later though, the Pats would get that one back on a man advantage of their own. Ashton assisted on the goal by Jordan Weal. Lethbridge out shot Regina 14-5 after 20 minutes of play.
In the second, the Canes' went up 2-1 on their second power play goal of the night as Max Ross tipped a point shot by Regina goalie Dawson Guhle. Both Ross and Brennan Yadlowski were involved on the Hurricanes first two goals of the game. Lethbridge was all over Regina in the second as they were in the first. The shot totals after two favoured Lethbridge 30-7 which really indicated which team was carrying the play. It was no doubt the best two periods of hockey the Hurricanes have played this season. The Canes' went up 3-1 with yet another goal on the power play as Graham Hood scored his first goal as a Hurricane against his former team to give the home team a 3-1 lead after 2.
In the 3rd, the Hurricanes kept it coming. Mitch Maxwell would put the home side up 4-1 with a great second effort sliding the puck through the legs of Guhle. That would take any wind out of the sales of the Pats. Not too long after, Austin Fyten notched a short-handed goal to give the Canes' a 5-1 victory. The final shots on goal in this one would be 40-16 Hurricanes. In my opinion, the best effort start to finish for the Hurricanes all season. There was no quit, no let up, and stop. The Hurricanes coaching staff rolled 4 lines all night long and every player got a piece of ice time in this one. The Hurricanes power play was dynamite for the first game in a long while finishing the night 3 for 7. Brennan Yadlowski had a great game for the Canes'. He had 3 assists and one fight and was the game's first star. Landon Oslanski was the second star and Luca Sibsa the 3rd. The first time this year all three stars were Lethbridge defencemen.
I had a chance to speak with Carter Ashton before the game. He admitted he was nervous to be playing against the organization he spent 3 seasons playing for. Ashton says it felt really strange walking into the opposition dressing room at the Enmax Centre. He told me he and Craig Orfino had been talking about the return ever since the trade took place a couple of days.
Two players for Lethbridge I really liked last night were newcomers Cason Machecek and Graham Hood. Machecek was solid on the blue line, played conservative and Rich Preston gave him a steady and regular shift. He also got into a fight against the Pats Andrew Sparrow and fared pretty well. As for Hood, he had some decent minutes too and scored against his former team. That was a big goal for Lethbridge as it put the Hurricanes up by a pair. He'll be a very good player for the Canes' I think. I'm sure as this season moves on those two guys will get a fair shake when it comes to ice time. We saw a lot more of Reners, Tot, and Moser last night too. I think those players will get more of a regular shift now as this season moves on.
Head Coach/GM Rich Preston talked extensively in our pre-game show last night about the big trade with the Pats this week. Actually, that pretty much dominated our pre-game conversation. He certainly didn't lean one way or the other as to whether more trades are in store before the deadline. You have to assume though that teams are calling about players like Luca Sbisa and Carter Bancks. Preston said earlier this week that it was no secret Sbisa is getting a lot of chat. Sbisa will not be returning to the WHL next season and neither will Bancks for that matter who graduates as a 20 year old after season. Many fans and a lot of media around the league are wondering if and when the Canes' will make another move in the next few weeks.
The Hurricanes next action is tonight when they take on Medicine Hat at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 6 pm (MT). This will be the 3rd meeting of this month between the two highway 3 rivals.
Thanks,
Pat
Carter Ashton and Craig Orfino made their much anticipated return to the Enmax Centre with Regina after being traded to the Pats earlier this week. The Canes' played a solid first period and really carried the play from start to finish. Landon Oslanski opened the scoring early on a power play when Ashton was assessed a hooking penalty. About a minute later though, the Pats would get that one back on a man advantage of their own. Ashton assisted on the goal by Jordan Weal. Lethbridge out shot Regina 14-5 after 20 minutes of play.
In the second, the Canes' went up 2-1 on their second power play goal of the night as Max Ross tipped a point shot by Regina goalie Dawson Guhle. Both Ross and Brennan Yadlowski were involved on the Hurricanes first two goals of the game. Lethbridge was all over Regina in the second as they were in the first. The shot totals after two favoured Lethbridge 30-7 which really indicated which team was carrying the play. It was no doubt the best two periods of hockey the Hurricanes have played this season. The Canes' went up 3-1 with yet another goal on the power play as Graham Hood scored his first goal as a Hurricane against his former team to give the home team a 3-1 lead after 2.
In the 3rd, the Hurricanes kept it coming. Mitch Maxwell would put the home side up 4-1 with a great second effort sliding the puck through the legs of Guhle. That would take any wind out of the sales of the Pats. Not too long after, Austin Fyten notched a short-handed goal to give the Canes' a 5-1 victory. The final shots on goal in this one would be 40-16 Hurricanes. In my opinion, the best effort start to finish for the Hurricanes all season. There was no quit, no let up, and stop. The Hurricanes coaching staff rolled 4 lines all night long and every player got a piece of ice time in this one. The Hurricanes power play was dynamite for the first game in a long while finishing the night 3 for 7. Brennan Yadlowski had a great game for the Canes'. He had 3 assists and one fight and was the game's first star. Landon Oslanski was the second star and Luca Sibsa the 3rd. The first time this year all three stars were Lethbridge defencemen.
I had a chance to speak with Carter Ashton before the game. He admitted he was nervous to be playing against the organization he spent 3 seasons playing for. Ashton says it felt really strange walking into the opposition dressing room at the Enmax Centre. He told me he and Craig Orfino had been talking about the return ever since the trade took place a couple of days.
Two players for Lethbridge I really liked last night were newcomers Cason Machecek and Graham Hood. Machecek was solid on the blue line, played conservative and Rich Preston gave him a steady and regular shift. He also got into a fight against the Pats Andrew Sparrow and fared pretty well. As for Hood, he had some decent minutes too and scored against his former team. That was a big goal for Lethbridge as it put the Hurricanes up by a pair. He'll be a very good player for the Canes' I think. I'm sure as this season moves on those two guys will get a fair shake when it comes to ice time. We saw a lot more of Reners, Tot, and Moser last night too. I think those players will get more of a regular shift now as this season moves on.
Head Coach/GM Rich Preston talked extensively in our pre-game show last night about the big trade with the Pats this week. Actually, that pretty much dominated our pre-game conversation. He certainly didn't lean one way or the other as to whether more trades are in store before the deadline. You have to assume though that teams are calling about players like Luca Sbisa and Carter Bancks. Preston said earlier this week that it was no secret Sbisa is getting a lot of chat. Sbisa will not be returning to the WHL next season and neither will Bancks for that matter who graduates as a 20 year old after season. Many fans and a lot of media around the league are wondering if and when the Canes' will make another move in the next few weeks.
The Hurricanes next action is tonight when they take on Medicine Hat at the Enmax Centre. Game time is 6 pm (MT). This will be the 3rd meeting of this month between the two highway 3 rivals.
Thanks,
Pat
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