Lethbridge Hurricanes Beat Regina Pats 5-2

REGINA, SK - Jamal Watston scored a pair of goals and Ty Rimmer stopped 48 shots as the Lethbridge Hurricanes beat the Pats 5-2 in Regina.

A great start for Lethbridge in this hockey game.  Just a few minutes in, the Canes would open the scoring on the power play when Axel Blomqvist knocked home his 6th of the season. That made it 1-0 Lethbridge.  Less than a minute later, the Hurricanes would strike again.  Josh Derko was fed the puck out front and snapped home his his 6th of the year to give Lethbridge a quick 2-0 lead.  That would be it for Regina's stating goaltender Matt Heweitt who allowed 2 goals on 4 shots.  After that the Pats bounced back.  Chandler Stephenson cashed in a rebound off Ty Rimmer to cut the Canes lead to 2-1, but in the final few minutes of the period Lethbridge would regain it's two goal lead.  Jamal Watson used Reid Duke as a decoy on a 2-on-1 rush and snapped the puck off the post and by Teagan Sacher to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.  The Pats through held a 13-10 edge in shots.

In the second, the Pats would cut into the Hurricanes lead again.  Marc McCoy jammed the loose puck behind Rimmer to make it a one goal game in favour of the Canes, this time 3-2.  Regina would continue to press as the period moved one, but the score would remain that way after 40 minutes.  It was a very busy period Ty Rimmer as he faced 22 shots.  Regina held a 35-19 edge in shots, despite being down 3-2. 

In the third, the Hurricanes would pick things up and put the game away with a pair of goals.  Sam McKechnie, who continues to score very timely goals, scored his 24th of the season to make it 4-2 Lethbridge and late in the period, Jamal Watson would steal the puck from the Regina defence and tap home his 2nd of the night and 14th of the season to make it 5-2 Hurricanes and that's the way the game would end.  The victory improves Lethbridge to 25-23-1-7 on the season for 58 points in 56 games. The Canes power play went 1/4 and the Pats finished the night 0/7.  Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore stated on the CJOC post-game show that the Hurricanes now have to play the same way the next game and not this "Jekyl and Hyde" style of hockey as of late.  He says the question is which Hurricanes team is going to show up in Brandon?

HURRICANES GOALIE MASK DESIGN CONTEST

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have launched a goalie mask design contest with ENMAX!  The ENMAX Energy Goalie Mask Design Contest is now open for kids ages 7 to 17. You could have your design painted on a real goalie mask. Go to www.hurricanescontest.com for rules and to download the official mask design template. Contest closes February 22nd.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes will play game two of this four game road trip Wednesday (Feb. 5) in Brandon against the Wheat Kings.  The Canes hold a 2-1 edge in the regular season series between the clubs.  The Wheaties sit last in the Eastern Conference and made a few changes at the trade deadline.  Just like Tuesday's game in Regina, this is another one of those game the Hurricanes are favoured to and should win.  Game time from Brandon is 6:00 pm MST.  The pre-game show on CJOC at 5:30.

Thanks,
Pat