KELOWNA - The Lethbridge Hurricanes hope to put the brakes to a six game slide that has not been fun to watch if you're a fan of this hockey team.The Canes' have been outscored 20-3 in two games on this B.C. swing and just came off their worst defeat in several years, dropping an 11-1 decision to the Vancouver Giants. Some fans are wondering what's going on here and why things have gone they way they have over the past couple of weeks. Like I said here the other night, what can go wrong for this team the last while has. I don't have the answers here. I think the players and coaches are trying to find that right now. These players are going to have to dig deep to stop this slide. Injuries have now become an issue too. Five players are currently sidelined on this team, the most recent casualty in (D) Daniel Johnston who suffered a deep cut to his leg from a skate in Langley on Wednesday. That means the Canes' will be playing with 5 defencemen and 10 forwards tonight in Kelowna.
I talked a bit with Head Coach/GM Rich Preston on the bus on the way up here yesterday. I asked him if he was looking at calling up a few affiliate players given the number of injuries and a depleted line-up. He says not likely until maybe next week because most of the potential call-ups like Soffilas, Bennefield, Balog, and Graham are involved in big games with their respective midget teams at the moment. I would expect to see a few call-ups next week in Red Deer and Edmonton if the Hurricanes are unable to get some bodies back in the line-up by then.
This is the first of two meetings between the Hurricanes and Rockets this season. Kelowna will make a trip into Lethbridge at the end of this month. Game time tonight is 8 o'clock (SHAW TV & CJOC). The radio pre-game show at 7:30.
Thanks,
Pat
No doubt it's going to be a tough one tonight but the boys need to dig deep and believe in themselves and their capabilities. Being short-handed on the roster will make things tough but if each of them go out hard and give 100%, they wll be fine.
ReplyDeleteGo Canes!
I don't get it? no call ups...he mentions Bennedield 94, graham 93 what happened to the 92's? Looking at the WHL draft roster I see a few on Lethbridge list that could possibly be called upon. elashuk, brossoit, romanchuk? where r they. I saw brossoit in last two camps. first camp was one of the best 92s out there as a 16 yr old. explain to the fans
ReplyDeleteFans do not get to chose they just pay. Last year GM made mistake by not calling up players and once again they will do the same. Injuries killed the team last year and no call ups caused more injuries. All the other teams do it why not this team. Are we financially in trouble or do we just keep making the same mistakes over and over. Frustrated Fan.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find those names you mentioned. I remember one of those kids. I agree.
ReplyDeleteGot names from home page bantam draft list. Glad to see I'm not alone. It boggles me when those type of decisions are made. I throw my hands up in the air. Unless they were traded away then why not call someone up. Sure they would like a chance to play. Who knows what they will do for us but use them if they already signed.
ReplyDeleteHere's another one that boggles the mind. How could the Hurricanes and the Seattle Thunderbirds swing a trade after the deadline? The Canes have apparently trades Austin Baecker to Seattle for a 6th round (conditional 2011 pick). Or was it a case of a deal being approved because the player would not be playing this year? I know at one time the Canes were very high on him but he could not come to training camp due to an injury.
ReplyDeleteAs for calling up players, I would think that if the players were available then Preston would call them up. Committments to their current teams, school, injury status and travel availability would all come into play.
Brandon Brossoit.....did the Hurricanes not move him?
There has been more than one case of a team down on their luck, with a depleted roster coming into another team's building and pulling off an upset. Should Rowat or Anderson get hot, it could happen.
RJ
Not sure who they moved from the list. I went off the names on the Lethbridge Bantam draft list on their home page that are not in WHL.
ReplyDeleteI may have missed something I don't know.