Canes' Losing Streak Hits Seven

KELOWNA - The Lethbridge Hurricanes put out a solid effort and Linden Rowat was great in goal, but it wasn't enough as the Kelowna Rocket beat the Canes' 3-2 last night at Prospera Centre.

A much better start for the Hurricanes last night. In a complete reversal of the past three games, the Canes' found themselves up 1-0 early. Landon Oslanski point shot went in 1:02 into the game to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The Rockets came back strong trying to get that equalizer, but Linden Rowat had a stellar first period in goal and turned away all 19 shots he faced to keep the visitors in a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. This was huge for Lethbridge given the recent struggles early in games. They managed to get through the opening period without allowing a goal against and with the lead too. Goaltending was huge for Canes' in the first. The shots after one favoured Kelowna 19-9.

In the second, the Rockets kept on coming. They tied the game early on a 5 on 3 power play and not too long after grabbed 2-1 lead on goals by Tyson Barrie and Shane McColgan. Linden Rowat was able to shut the door after that and before the end of the period the Hurricanes dug a little deeper and evened the score once again. Mitch Maxwell notched his team leading 24th goal of the year to tie the game 2-2 after two. The Hurricanes were being out shot 30-17 following 40 minutes of play.

In the third, it turned out to be the last team to score would win. The Hurricanes and Rockets battled down right to the late stages when Geordie Wudrick banked the puck off Canes' defencemen Mike Reddington to give the home team a 3-2 lead. The Hurricanes would press to tie, but they would fall short,losing by that 3-2 score. Linden Rowat had a great rebound game and was named the first start in a losing cause. The Hurricanes were out shot 46-24.

I don't think the Hurricanes can hold their heads low about this one. They battled hard and played well. They just came up short. It was the team's best effort in a couple of weeks. When you look at it, Lethbridge played well for a team that had only 15 skaters and 2 goalies dressed.

Injuries Mounting

Here's another update on the team's injury situation. Phil Tot was unable to play last night. He suffered a concussion when he hit his head on the ice during a fight against Vancouver. Austin Fyten did play in Kelowna last night despite injuring his ribs in Chilliwack. He was a factor and played a regular shift all night long. Tot joins Ryckman, Johnston, Ross, and Hood all out with injury. The Canes' played last night with 10 forwards and 5 defencemen.

Preston On The Recent Struggles

I asked Rich Preston before last night's game in Kelowna about the troubles scoring and keeping the put out as of late. He says, "Well we haven't been very good right from the goaltender out. We get early goals scored against us and then I think we try to do too much. We had a good talk today with the guys and sometimes you have to get back to square one. They have to see how we lost and why we lost like we did. We showed them video of the games and it's pretty simple things." I would assume Preston is much happier after last night's effort.

Next Up

The Hurricanes will close out this B.C road trip tonight when they travel to Kamloops to take on the Blazers. Game time is 8 o'clock (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30. The Blazers beat the Canes' back in late September. Kamloops will also pay a visit to Lethbridge at the end of this month.

Thanks,
Pat

Canes' @ Rockets Tonight

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

Hurricanes Lose 11-1

LANGLEY - Another rough game for the Hurricanes. After losing 9-2 in Chilliwack on Tuesday and things didn't get any better last night with an 11-1 loss to the Vancouver Giants at the new Langley Events Centre.

Another slow start for the Hurricanes for the 3rd game in a row. The Vancouver Giants scored two goals on their first four shots to take a 2-0 lead 4:11 into the game. The Giants continued to put on the pressure and scored once more to make it 3-0 before the end of the first. The Canes' had a few chances, but couldn't find the twine. Dustin Donanghy had a bee in his bonnet in that first period. He got involved in two fights one with Kevin Connauton and one with Dillon Scholten. The Canes' were out shot 13-5 in the opening frame. Brandon Anderson started the game while Ville Kolppanan was the back-up.

In the second, the Canes' scored early when a Daniel Johnston shot went off the skate of Carter Bancks and in to get the Hurricanes on the board and cut the lead to 3-1 Giants. Vancouver though would get that back shortly after on a short-handed goal to go up 4-1. The home team would add four more before the period would end to take a commanding 8-1 lead on the struggling Hurricanes. The Giants scored two of those 5 second period goals in the final minute. The shots were 34-11 Vancouver after two. Everything that can go wrong for this team is right now.

In the third, Ville Kolppanen replaced Brandon Anderson in goal, but it didn't help. The Giants beat Kolppanen on the first shot directed at the young Finn and just like that it was 9-1 Giants. They weren't done there. Vancouver would score twice more and finish off the Hurricanes 11-1. It was team's worst loss in 4 seasons. Lethbridge was out shot 50-17. The Hurricanes were also fighting history last night. They haven't beaten Vancouver is six seasons. The last time the Canes' beat the Giants was in December of 2004. It's been a long time. Also this is the 3rd-six game losing streak for Lethbridge this season.

Injury Update

The Hurricanes have been bitten again by the injury bug. The played last night's game without Austin Fyten (Ribs) and Graham Hood (Shoulder). They join Max Ross (Broken Foot) and Derek Ryckman (Shoulder) who've both been out since the Christmas break. The Canes' lost another player last night. (D) Daniel Johnston left the game in the 2nd period after getting cut with a skate. He received a deep cut to one of his legs and had to get stitches. Linden Rowat didn't play either, but he was a healthy scratch. Ville Kolppanen backed-up Brandon Anderson in goal.

Captain Carter on Hurricanes Struggles

I talked with Carter Bancks before last night's game against Vancouver and asked him about the 9-2 loss in Chilliwack on Tuesday. Bancks was very upset after the game so I asked him, as Captain what he talked to his teammates about after. "I wanted to get across (to the guys) that the 9-2 loss was unacceptable. Even if we're out of the race, I guess you could say, you can never have an effort like that. I was very embarrassed leaving the ice in Chilliwack and I know a number of other guys were too. This is my last season in the WHL. I want these last games to be fun for me. Tuesday night was NOT fun! That's something you never want to feel in hockey." I assume Bancks wasn't happy after last night either.

Next Up

The Hurricanes travel today to the B.C. Okanagan where they play the Kelowna Rockets tomorrow (8pm on SHAW TV and 7:30 pre-game on CJOC). It's the first meeting of the season between these two teams. The Rockets and Hurricanes will play again at the end of this month in Lethbridge.

Thanks,

Pat

Canes' Hammered In Chilliwack

CHILLIWACK - For the Lethbridge Hurricanes, this is one game this team would rather forget. Three quick goals by Chilliwack helped the Bruins to a 9-2 drubbing of the Hurricanes Tuesday night at Prospera Centre.

Another rough first period for Linden Rowat to start the game. It was almost a carbon copy of the first period against Prince Albert this passed weekend. Linden Rowat was pulled for the second game in a row after giving up 3 goals in a span of 6:08 to start the hockey game in Chilliwack. Two of those were scored on the power play. Brandon Anderson replaced him between the pipes again. Anderson allowed one goal late in that period to put the Bruins up 4-0. Ryan Howse scored twice for Chilliwack. Rowat allowed 3 goals on 8 shots before he got pulled. The Bruins out shot the Canes' 14-10 after 20 minutes. There was a fight in the first as Mike Reddington dropped the gloves with Tim Traber.

In the second, the Hurricanes scored an early goal when Jacob Berglund put one off the post and in to put the Canes' on the board. The Bruins though would get that one back a while later to make the score 5-1 for the home side. The Canes' had a better second period, but still trailed by a bunch. The shots after two periods favoured Chilliwack 30-13.

In the third, things didn't get any better. The Bruins scored three more times before the 10 minutes mark to make it 8-1. The Hurricanes got one more off a power play goal from Reid Jackson, but with 30 seconds left in the game, Mitch Topping would score his second of the night to make it a 9-2 final score. That was the most goals the Hurricanes have given up in any game this season. Chilliwack out shot the Hurricanes 46-23 on the night. Cam Braes and Blair Wentworth scrapped near the end of the game at centre ice. Austin Fyten left the game after getting checked in the second period. He went to the local hospital to checked over. It appears he may have injured his ribs. The loss is the Hurricanes 5th in a row.

Some fans seem to be putting the blame on the goaltenders for the Hurricanes woes as of late. I disagree to a certain extent. There's no question Linden Rowat has struggled over his last two outings, but really can Rowat and Anderson be solely faulted for the team's struggles? Absolutely not. There is an onus on every player to carry their weight as far as I'm concerned and you can't depend on your goalies to constantly win games. Yes, that needs to happen from time to time, but every game? I don't think so. This is a team game. No one person can be blamed for the slumps this team has gone through this season.

Preston On Final Regular Season Games

I asked Rich Preston before last night's game about the importance of the remaining regular season games for his Hurricanes. Preston said, "You don't prepare to play, you prepare to win. You've got to compete and play hard for your teammates and that's what it's a ll about." Do you see this (the final regular season games) as an audition of sorts given the number of players returning next year. Do the players eligible to come back have to prove and earn a spot on this team next season?. "Well, that goes without saying. No matter what your record. You put the Lethbridge Hurricanes sweater on, you better go out there to play to win. It's all black and white. If you don't play hard and complete then you won't play here next year. I don't care what our record is, the players know that. I wouldn't say this is an audition, but if you don't compete consistently then you won't play here."

Mayor Tarleck Puts Out Fundraising Challenge

This should be worth a photo op or two! Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck has challenged a fellow municipal leader to a fundraising competition. Tarleck will drop the puck at the February 14th Hurricanes game wearing a red dress and Medicine Hat Mayor Norm Boucher will do the same at the February 12th Tigers game. Each mayor wants to raise $5000.00 for the Heart and Stroke foundation of Alberta. If Mayor Tarleck raises the most money of the two, Mayor Boucher will have to don a Hurricanes jersey at the next Medicine Hat City Council meeting and vice versa if Boucher raises the most money. I think the two should also wear some red lipstick, high heels, and wigs! It just might add to the whole thing don't you think!

Next Up

The Hurricanes next game is set for tonight against the Vancouver Giants. This game will actually be played at the Langley Events Centre, home of the BCHL's Junior "A" Chiefs. This game is sold out already. The Giants have to play a few home games in Langley because of the Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver and Pacific Coliseum being used for the games. This will be the second and final meeting of the season between the Canes' and Giants. Vancouver won the first outing 5-1 back in late September. Game time tonight is 8 o'clock (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30.

Thanks,
Pat

Hurricanes @ Chilliwack

CHILLIWACK, B.C.- The Lethbridge Hurricanes begin a stretch of six straight games on the road with a meeting tonight with the Bruins in Chilliwack.

The team travelled all day yesterday from Lethbridge and arrived here about 7 o'clock last night. The players seemed to be a bit more relaxed and perhaps getting away for a week will do this group some good.

The Canes' are in a funk right now, with only one victory in their past 8 games. The last time these two teams met back in mid-October in Lethbridge, the Bruins blanked the Hurricanes 1-0. Lethbridge is looking to get an offence groove going. They have scored just 6 times in their last 4 games. That's certainly not going to cut it with Rich Preston and his staff. The Head Coach and G.M. of this Hurricanes team knows a number of players need to pick things up in the final 21 games of the regular season.

As for Chilliwack, the Bruins currently hold down the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with a record of 23-25-1-5 in 54 games this season. The Bruins are having one of their better seasons actually. When they beat the Hurricanes 1-0 earlier this season, Chilliwack was kind of a struggling team, but have picked up their game and have been a pretty consistent .500 team for the most part.

Game time tonight from Prospera Centre in Chilliwack is 8pm (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30.

Thanks,

Pat

Hurricanes Hit The Road

LETHBRIDGE - The Lethbridge Hurricanes hit the road for a couple of weeks.

The team left early this morning for the B.C. Fraser Valley and will set up shop in Chilliwack for the next few days. The Canes' will play the Bruins tomorrow at 8pm (MT). Perhaps a little time away from home will do this team some good. Lethbridge has been struggling to put it mildly. They have just one victory in their past 8 games and have lost 4 in a row. In those 4 losses, the Hurricanes have score just 5 goals. Finding the back of the net been an issue all season for this team, but it's been somewhat magnified over the past week.

The Hurricanes have 21 games to go in the regular season. They play their next 6 to start off the month of February away from home.

Hurricanes This Week

Our weekly Hurricanes talk show in back on the air tonight on CJOC at 6:00. I'm away with the team, so Fred Jack our colour analyst on the broadcasts will host the show along with Marty Baceda from Global TV. We had hoped to get WHL Commissioner Ron Robison on the program tonight, but he's away at the WHL Governors meetings and is unable to join us. We will talk with Morley Scott, the radio voice of the Vancouver Giants to set up Wednesday's match-up between the Canes' and Giants. Fred and Marty will also take your phone calls tonight. The number is 403-388-4646 if you want to get in tonight's open line segment. I might call in and join the chat too if we get to our destination before the show starts!

Thanks,
Pat

Canes' Lose 4th in Row: 5-1 P.A. Wins

The Prince Albert Raiders beat the Hurricanes for the fourth straight time this season, this time by a score 5-1 in what was a very chippy hockey game at the Enmax Centre

It was nightmarish start to this game for Hurricanes. Prince Albert opened up a 3-0 lead before the game was barely three minutes old. Linden Rowat allowed 3 goals on just 5 shots in a span of 3:02. That would be it for his night as Brandon Anderson replaced him between the pipes and was able keep the Raiders off the board for the rest of the first. Certainly not the start the Canes' were hoping for as they found themselves behind the 8-ball very early. Ryan Harrison, Emerson Hrynyk, and Andrew Herle quieted the Enmax Centre crowd as they all scored for P.A. in the first. The Hurricanes were out shot 16-9. There was a pretty good fight early in the period too as Cason Machacek and Dustin Cameron threw some serious right hands at each other, shortly after Prince Albert went up 3-0.

In the second, the Raiders would go up 4-0 when Jordan Hickmott scored to extend the lead for the visitors. The Hurricanes though would get one back with 3 seconds to go in the period as Mitch Maxwell notched his 23rd of the season to cut the lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes. The game got a little more interesting at the end of the second when a line brawl almost broke out at centre ice. While fights were taking place between Landon Oslanski and Colin Reddin and Cason Machacek and Mark McNeill, Canes' goaltender Brandon Anderson skated down the ice to challenge P.A. goalie Jamie Tucker, but he wanted no part of a goaltenders bout. The officials got there quick to prevent anything from happening. Anderson was assessed a two minute penalty for leaving the crease. Machacek and McNeill were given game misconducts after the mess was all sorted out. It was 4-1 P.A. after two. Raiders were out shooting the Canes' 23-16.

In third, P.A. would get yet another one, their second power play goal of game when Jordan Hickmott scored his second of the night to give the Raiders a 5-1 lead. The Hurricanes just couldn't recover from the tough start to the game and that's the way the game would end. The Canes' finished the night 0 for 5 on the power play, while the Raiders went 2 for 7. Hickmott would get the game's first star for his two goal effort on the night. The Hurricanes now have one victory in their last 8 hockey games as they get set for two weeks of hockey away from the Enmax Centre. They have a busy February with 15 games next month.

Next Up

The Hurricanes now hit the road for 6 straight games include four this coming week in B.C. Tuesday the Canes' take on the Bruins in Chilliwack. Game time is 8pm (MT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:30. Lethbridge will also play Vancouver, Kelowna, and Kamloops before returning to Alberta for games the following week in Red Deer and Edmonton.

Skate With The Hurricanes Sunday

A free family skate with the Hurricanes will be held today (Jan 31) at the Enmax Centre. Those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to Lethbridge Interfaith Food Bank. There will be draws and giveaways as well. The skate takes place from 4:15 to 7:15. Children under 12 must wear helmets.

Thanks,
Pat