Thursday 24 October 2013

Warriors Storm Back & Beat Hurricanes 4-3 in OT

LETHBRIDGE - The Moose Jaw Waartiors erased a 3-0 third period deficit as they came back to beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-3 Thursday night in overtime at the ENMAX Centre.

A great start for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in this game. Just over 5 minutes into the first period, Axel Blomqvist would rifle home a nice shot from between the hash marks to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead. That was his 4th goal of the season. That gave the Canes a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later the Hurricanes would get on the power play. The red hot Tyler Wong would keep his streak alive, roofing his team-leading 7th goal of the season. That gave the Canes a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. Shots were even at 8-8.

In the second, the Hurricanes would notch one more on the power play. This time Griffin Foulk fired a point shot which beat a screened Zach Sawchenko in the Moose Jaw goal. That was Foulk's first of the year and gave the Canes a 3-0 lead. On the other end of the ice Corbn Boes did his job between the pipes keeping Moose Jaw off the score sheet. The shots favoured the Warriors 20-19 after 40 minutes.

In the third, the Warriors would get a goal early to get back into the hockey game and that would start a big rally for the visitors. Brayden Point got a goal on the power play to cut the Lethbridge lead to 3-1.  Six minutes later another power play goal for Moose Jaw, this time Travis Brown from the point. That cut the Canes lead to 3-2 and made for a rather interesting finish. With just over 5 minutes remaining in the period, the Warriors would complete the comeback when Alexander Chriva's shot beat Corbin Boes. That evened the score at 3-3 and sent this game into overtime.With 1:20 left in the extra period, Travis Brown picked up the puck as the Hurricanes were trying to clear the zone and ripped a shot over the glove of Boes for the game winner and the Warriors would skate away with a 4-3, come-from-behind victory.
Moose Jaw out shot the Hurricanes 39-26 in this one. Both teams finished the game 2/3 on the power play. The Canes get a point despite the loss and see their record fall to 2-11-1-1 on the season.

Hurricanes Deal Yakubowski & McKechnie to Seattle

The Lethbridge Hurricanes announced a trade prior to puck drop Thursday. The Hurricanes have dealt Sam McKechnie and Jaimen Yakubowski to Seattle in exchange for 19 year old forward Riley Sheen and  17 year old forward Carter Folk and a 3rd round draft pick in 2015. GM Brad Robson both players are character kids. He says Sheen is a skilled player with lots of energy and heart. As for Folk, Robson says he's big and strong and brings size to the wing. Sheen is from Edmonton and Folk a native of Regina.

Khenkel Situation Re-Surfaces

GM Brad Robson stated during our first intermission that he continues to work to bring defenceman Kristian Khnenkel to Lethbridge. The International Ice Hockey Federation last month ruled Khenekl's contract he signed when he was 14 years old was valid. Belarus would not give him his release to come play here in North America. He was sent back to Europe early in the season.. Robson did say he's still working on getting Khenkel his release and there's a chance we could see him in a Lethbridge Hurricanes later this season, possibly sometime in December


Next Up

The Hurricanes get a long rest now as they don't play again until Next Tuesday (Oct. 29) when they play host to the visiting Swift Current Broncos. The Canes will have the entire weekend off to rest up and get ready for Swift Current, a team which has been a lot of hockey on the road lately. This will be the first of four meetings this season between the two teams. Game time Tuesday from the ENMAX Centre is 7:00 pm MDT. The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.

Thanks,
Pat

31 comments:

  1. Nice third period systems, coach. Top shelf. Real Coach of the Year material. Winning culture is cultivated. Way to hang on for that point. Keep talking the talk, and with results like these, don't change a thing!!

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  2. I'm dumbstruck at how little was returned for McKechnie and Yakubowski..just dumbstruck. I have seen Folk (0 points in the WHL) play and he is a mediocre winger who will never score more than 10 goals a season. These guys are a dime a dozen but at least he's 6'1". Sheen is 19 and 5'11" and 156 lbs. How is that getting bigger? He will never be an impact 20 year old. At least the 3rd round pick holds some promise. I refuse to believe that some teams wouldn't have paid more. I hope it wasn't the GM refusing to trade in the conference since that's just foolish.

    Enigma

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  3. We are to believe that with over 15+ calls about a trade for the two players that this was the best offer on the table? With all due respect to the new guys, the potential that Yakabowski and McKechnie bring after their point totals last season did not warrant at least one impact player? Robson may as well have wrapped these two up with a big red bow.

    -cc

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  4. D n C I was not being sarcsdtic and asked because from what I have heard Ben was offered a pro contract and his agent told him to hold out because they would offer more. They made another offer. Similar to SG last year know pro contract but demanding more ice time. Very surprised any team actually offered more then late round draft picks for those 2 . Our GM must have felt that was the best offer we would get. It is now over and time to move on. As for last night 2 good periods and 1 real bad one. They stopped skating in the last period and that never works. No puck pressure at either end of the ice. Wish coach would have used timeout early in the third to calm the boys down and try to get them moving. Good luck to the two newest Canes . KAOS

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  5. Congrats to McKechnie and Yakubowski and best of luck in Seattle...you will enjoy playing for a playoff team....Welcome Sheen and Folk. The Hurricanes may be the worst run franchise in the WHL but the city and its fans support their players despite management. LthHnds

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  6. Bad sentence in last post about Ben. Should have said No other offer was made. KAOS

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  7. Well that was one lost. Definitely a game that the Canes should have Won!

    A View from Above

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  8. Did I hear the city and fans support there players in a prior post?? The day that there are 4000+ in that building on a nightly basis I could see that. Lethbridge has the biggest group of bandwagon hockey fans in the WHL, all I know is I don't think I would be to worried about holding a 3rd period lead if I was playing there. The biggest problem is not management, not coaching but the lack of community support in that city. Give the kids a reason to want to hold a 3rd period lead, if they go on a road trip and win 3 of 4 or 5 of 6 organize a little rally for when they get home. Thats the way the culture used to be and it wasn't because of management or coaching, it was fan support creating a sense of pride in that city. Quit coming on here and bashing everyone, create some unconditional support for the kids playing the they will in turn bust there butts.

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  9. Where's the accountability?

    Coalsoffire

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  10. I have a MAJOR problem with someone calling out Lethbridge fans and then not attach a name to it. Especially if you're going to criticize those of us who won't pay for a ticket right now, put your name to it.

    As for the trade, if this was the best that was offered, I'd hate to see the worst that was offered. Very underwhelmed by the two players coming to the Canes. This is the second worst trade Robson has made (the first being the one for Corbin Boes....not that Boes was a bad pick up, but he could've had him for no cost 2 days after giving up our 6th overall pick).

    As for the "bandwagon hockey fans of Lethbridge comment", I won't deny that I don't support a losing franchise. Instead of going to the games and booing, I choose to not spend my hard-earned money on a franchise that can get out of it's own way. There's lots of other entertainment happening in Southern Alberta and spending it on a franchise that sees itself as something more than it really is, is not how I operate. It's obvious that MacNaughton is happy with the work he and the BOD have done (which is sad) with the franchise, so I'm willing to let them bask in their own sunshine. But don't criticize me for finding another/better form of entertainment and not dropping $20 a game and wasting 3 hours of my life. You spend your money on what you want to spend it on and I'll spend it on what I want to spend it on. There are about 1 500 - 2000 die hard Hurricane fans. No more, no less. They've been around since the Broncos. Good on them. I applaud their support. I am not one of them.

    Darren

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  11. Again, a reminder to please use a "handle" or "name" when posting comments here on the blog. I'm trying to get away from anonymous posts. Thanks again.

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  12. I'm a fan that will support a losing franchise but one thing I won't support is a dysfunctional franchise and that's what exists right now. I feel that incompetance exists from ownership through to the coaches.
    Hirachi

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  13. Darren is right on about the trade return. The Ice paid a kings ransom to get Bozon with 91 points last year. Two big high end young players, a 1st, 3rd, and 5th round draft picks. Regina paid a 2nd round pick for Boston Leier who is 20 yrs old. Yak and Mckechnie had about the same points as Bozon if totalled. I don't for one second think this is the best trade that could be had. Farwell stole these guys and he has them for next year. Even the T-Bird blog says they got them for basically nothing. Boes could have been had for next to nothing after training camp. Not many teams wanted a 20 year old tender. McCrimmon skinned us. no pun intended.

    Enigma

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  14. Just saw that Kris Versteeg has put an offer in to buy the team and McNaughton already shot it down. Would be the best thing for the team in my opinion. KAOS

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    1. I wonder how a city could force a sale, if we leave it at this things will never change.....bob

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    2. Just a note that he didn't offer to buy the team, he simply expressed his desire to. There is a difference, no dollar amount was ever attached to his comments

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  15. ....If you go to Rod Pedersens blog and then check out Phil Andrews blog it's very telling. the Pats are saying they offered a more aggressive package and were shocked at what Robson took. The Canes got Rowatt, Hood, and Pilon in trades with the Pats and have always done good. But then again if you give up Clague to get Boes I think that says all that needs to be said.

    Willy..

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Willy, that's interesting to know. The rebuild is back on!

      Darren

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    2. I don't believe anything that comes out of Chad Lang's mouth. He's trying to justify to his boss why he didn't send two marginal players and a pick to the Canes for a local kid and McKechnie, so he says he's "shocked" not to get them. Nice save, Chad.

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  16. I want to commend Pat on a job well done last night. I thought the commentating was a lot better and the game was called with little talking etc. I listened and I enjoyed what I heard. Thanks for making the changes- I thought it was much better than previous games.
    As for the trade I think Seattle got those two exceptional players for a steal. Seattle has a strong team this year and these two boys just made it even stronger. The t-birds will be in a great position for this year and next. I feel bad for the boys coming in as I know all the pressure is on them. Robson did not make a great trade. He has smaller players and less offensive. He has a younger player that hopefully can play in the WHL as he has not shown much so far. Good luck to those boys! Lots of pressure on these boys but it is hard to maintain a lead and score without the blue line being strong and able to handle the puck. The Canes need help on the blue line.!
    George

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  17. Let me clarify one thing regarding "McNaughton has already shot it down". The mandate of the Board of Directors as elected by the shareholders is to oversee (careful with that word) the overall operations of the hockey club. They do not have a mandate to decide whether or not the club is up for sale, thus McNaughton has to say it is not for sale. The only way any person or group can pursue the sale of the club is by approaching the shareholders, not the board of directors. If Kris or whomever wants to make a pitch to buy the club, then they must request a special meeting of the shareholders. If it ever came to that the league would set a minimum price and would have to approve the ownership group.

    As for Kris's two goals in hockey, winning a Stanley Cup with the Panthers and ownership of the Canes, he has a better chance of the ownership than a Stanley Cup with the Panthers. (tongue in cheek).

    Dump'n Chase (season ticket holder and shareholder)

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  18. I find it extremely perplexing with the comments on the trade and the value that has been returned. Were all of the commenters privy to all of the trade offers from other teams? Do all of the commenters know the quality of player we are receiving from Seattle? Have they seen them play? If the answer to the three above questions is yes they then I personally would believe that there comments have a foundation of fact. Otherwise they are just noise!

    I will personally wait and base my opinion after watching the play of the players that are returned from Seattle.

    A view from Above

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    1. Do you think the trade partner was considered when Brad made the trade?
      We do not play Seattle again this season and I assume once next year (Probably in Seattle)?
      Of course if Seattle and Hurricanes make it to the finals my assumption will be wrong.

      To me this deal looks as if we didn’t want our two former players meeting us 8 or more times in the next two years.
      Not sure how it would have looked if we end up with another top six pick for the Fifth Straight season and get lit up by two former Canes?

      But I to hope it’s all noise and we can cheer for the Canes winning the trade. Either or the trade definitely suggests we are in rebuild mode again. An intelligent move given the fact we can’t even go into the third with a three goal lead at Home on a subpar team and get the W.
      Long Run

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  19. George you're a bafoon. Go away!

    Hit em hard

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  20. As per Kris Versteeg's letter in the The Lethbridge Herald, as a shareholder, I want to this team sold. After years of floundering and poor coaching decisions and bad management moves (and they continue up to this day), the time has come to turn the team over to deeper pockets and more experienced minds.

    Darren

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  21. Darren I thought last year you promised to quit submitting to this blog!

    A View from Above

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    1. That was then, this is now. Why?

      Darren

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  22. Darren, if you want the team sold and you are a shareholder, then do something about it.

    Harris

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    1. I have.........I attend as many meetings as I can.

      Darren

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  23. AS a shareholder you have the RIGHT to voice that opinion. I agree that this team is a mess on the ice right now, and I have heard the criticisms of the BOD that because they have no skin in the game that they are prepared to accept these kinds of results. And that private ownership wouldn't allow this team to fail.

    What I don't necessarily see is how private ownership will automatically make things better or successful. Businesses fail every day, and teams fail every year. Private ownership cannot guarantee anything. Should things falter with this team under private ownership, the fans, the city, and the former shareholders have no voice. Decisions get made by the owner and the league. And I don't care how deep their pockets are, eventually these issues will arise.

    Look around the league at teams that struggle and you see the same criticisms about coaching and ownership that you see about the Hurricanes and the BOD. Maybe not to the same degree but that's because its private ownership, and people figure what's the point? Russ Parker doesn't give a dam what people say. Even successful teams and their owners get hammered by criticisms. Kelly McCrimmon does what he wants and nobody can tell him different. Ton Toigo could care less if you agree or disagree with what he decides. Any new, private ownership can do as they please with this team within the boundaries of the league's bylaws. At that point, all we can do is speak with our $$. Sorry but that doesn't work for me.

    As shareholders we have a voice, and we SHOULD use it. Not to sell the team, in my opinion, but to make change where it counts. Why was this year's BOD election uncontested? Why aren't more people getting involved? I think apathy is one of the biggest issues with this team's shareholders. And no, before you rip me, I am not blaming the shareholders. I just believe that we need more involvement from more passionate shareholders. If you don't own a share, why not? They are $100 plus gst and my understanding is that unless you are an axe murderer you won't get turned down.

    I respect what Kris said in his open letter. I would like to know MORE about his potential ownership group as well. But for me, and I hope the majority of the shareholders, I am still very proud that this is a community owned team. My vote is NOT to sell, and currently that is my right to exercise.

    CDD

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