Friday 8 November 2013

Chiefs Down Struggling Hurricanes 6-2

LETHBRIDGE - Mitch Holmberg, the WHL's top point-getter scored three times and added one assist as the Spokane Chiefs beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6-2 Friday.night.

Some chirping in the warm-up in this hockey game spilled over into the first period as the Hurricanes and Spokane Chiefs came out throwing fists. Just over 8 minutes in the game, there were fights which certainly set the tone for a very feisty contest at the ENMAX Centre. Late in the period, the Hurricanes would strike first. Off the draw on a power play, Giorgio Estephan roofed a shot upstairs on Garret Hughson to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead going into the dressing after 20 minutes of play. Spokane held a slight edge in shots, 9-7.

In the second, the Chiefs would tie things up. Carter Proft was left along in front of the Lethbridge goal and snapped a shot over Corbin Boes to even the game at 1-1. The Hurricanes though would regain the lead on the man advantage. A great pass out in front of the Spokane goal and Russ Maxwell with a perfect tip for his 4th of the season. That made it 2-1 Lethbridge. The Chiefs though would again tie the game on a power play of their own. A rocket shot from Mitch Holmberg beat Boes to even the score at 2-2. That was Holmberg's 20th goal in 20 games this season and he wasn't done there either. That's the way the period would end. Spokane held a 22-15 edge in shots.

In the third, the Chiefs would blow this game wide open with four goals in under 12 minutes. Mitch Holmberg would keep it coming with two more goals. He scored early on the power play for his 2nd of the game to give Spokane its first lead of the night, 3-2. A couple of minutes later the Chiefs would go ahead 4-2 when Adam Helewka beat Boes. The Mitch Holmberg show would continue as he would score his hatrick goal to put his club ahead 5-2. Holmberg would finish the game with 4 points and now has 49 points in 20 games this season for Spokane. The visitors would get one more before the final buzzer when Jackson Plairfair just slipped the puck by Boes to make it 6-2 Chiefs and that's the way this game would end. The Chiefs out shot Lethbridge 37-23. Power plays were good for both teams. The Canes went 2/6 with the man advantage and Spokane was 2/5. The loss drops the Hurricanes record to a league-worst 2-15-1-2 on the season. They've also lost 8 in a row. This was a very feisty game with a number of fights between these two clubs which meet just once each season.

Hurricanes Acquire Goaltender From Regina Pats

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have announced the acquisition of goaltender Teagan Sacher from the Regina Pats in exchange for a 5th round pick in the 2015 WHl Bantam Draft. Sacher only played two games to start this season with the Pats as he was sidelined with a groin injury. Hurricanes GM Brad Robson says Sacher has very good stick skills, a quick glove hand, and is very agile. Robson plans to finalize the Hurricanes goaltending rotation within the next week as the club has Sacher, along with Corbin Boes and Chris Tai on the roster.

Next Up

It's been a long few weeks at home for the Hurricanes, but this lengthy 8 game home stand will come to a close Saturday (Nov. 9) when they Canes welcome the Red Deer Rebels. This will be the first of six meetings this season between the two Central Division opponents. It's also military appreciation night as the Hurricanes will pay tribute to our great soldiers past and present just prior to puck drop. Game time is 7:00 pm MST. The pre-game showon CJOC at 6:30. Immediately following that game, the Hurricanes will load the bud and head east to Brandon where they will play the Wheat Kings on Monday afternoon at 1:30 pm MST.

Thanks,
Pat

9 comments:

  1. I can not say anything nice about our coaching staff or the way our captain stands up for the younger players, or even throw a full speed full weight hit. So I quess no comment. Good for you BR letting pilon sit at home your in charge and the players need to know it. Now work on the drake and the other guys just there for a pay cheque. Forehand Backhand in

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  2. The frustration that the majority of the skaters on the Canes are feeling is enormous. It has to be so, as the fans are frustrated as well. Listening to the fans in the stands proves that point. I can not believe that our coaching staff feels confident in our goalkeeping when we are allowing 5 and 6 goals a game. It also makes you wonder about our goalie coach. Boes does not seem to be responding to coaching. This brings forward the question is it coaching or is the student coachable?

    Cudos to BR for going looking for another keeper. I just hope he arrives here PDQ as long as Boes is the go to guy I feel we will continue to see the same frustration on the Canes.

    Last night was a pretty good effort until the third period. Once the floodgates opened up the spirit left the skaters.

    Tonight I personally would like to see Tai given a chance to start.

    A View from Above

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    1. To blame the teams woes on one guy is downright silly. The Canes as a team are giving up a whopping 42 shots a game on average. They are a brutal defensive team, period.

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    2. Longtime Fan you are right. The Canes have other problems that require fixing as well. Goaltending however is the most important issue that requires immediate attention. Once this is repaired then I believe the other problems will be easier to correct.

      A View from Above

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  3. A View from Above, while I hate to look like I am picking on a young man, I have to agree that I just don't thinks Boes can get the job down here. While he certainly has flashes of brilliance once he falters there is no hope. You can see it in the players. When Boes loses his edge (whether it is in the first minute or the third period) it seems the team automatically resigns themselves to the loss and the pucks start going in like the net is empty. It is time to give Tai a chance. When he has been called to step in overall he has been good. He needs games to get better. He should get the start today.

    -cc

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    1. It's time this organization stopped relying on a goaltender to bail them out and stealing games they had no business wining. It's been going on for two years. Robson tried it again this year and it isn't working. The onus isn't on Boes, it's on the organization to fix itself by putting together a complete team and not just an All-Star goalie.

      Empty Net

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  4. Back in the old days of the WWF there was a tag team known as the Killer Bees! The Lethbridge Hurricanes have a tag team known as the Killer B's and unfortunately they are killing this team with their play. Boes has not gotten better, he has gotten worse. The kids played good solid hockey for the first period and most of the second period. But when Boes let in the third goal, you could see the heads hang low on the rest of the team and subsequently three more with very suspect goaltending. Like don't over play the puck, catch the puck, smother loose pucks, close the five hole; all simple fundamentals. He does not look confident and therefore the kids playing in front of him do not have confidence in him. Sacher the answer? Who knows. At least its an attempt to do something. The other half of the Killer B's is Axel Blomquist. Ok he had a couple of good rushes. But his odd goal here and there do not make up for his huge liability defensively. On the Chiefs second goal he just stood and watched the player come around the Canes net and gave him a clear lane to the net...Scored! He does show speed, but certainly not on a regular basis. What the Jets see in him is mind boggling.
    Was I hearing things last night? Was Blomquist booed a bit? Sarcastic cheer for Boes on a routine save? Time for the Cane's Killer B's to be counted out.....one-two-three!

    Dump'n Chase

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  5. Time to give TAI the start!

    Tonight is a great night for a Cane Hat trick; my hat is ready to fly.

    Both teams always say they want to win. The big difference is who wants it more, who can visualize it, and who is willing to accept being the loser. We've been exceptionally accommodating to the opposition so far this year.

    Sutter hates to lose more than most. For his opposition, it is tremendously fun to watch him sulk when he is losing.

    Wouldn't it be fun to win a hockey game?

    Certainly would be satisfying and surreal should we see one of seven silly smiling second to senior Sutter son former seventeenth selection six-foot skater and Chicago centre sulk sullenly scowling skyward at a seven-six score while shouting selfishly at stripe-Shlenker for slashing but starting a new streak for the suffering shareholders and Siedlecki on scenic south this Saturday after sunset?

    Seven hours seven minutes till the new season starts

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  6. pilon may be a blessing..
    BR bring in a new goalie to shore up the the back end and with hopefully the value pilon and a few others will bring we can get a rock solid 19/20 dman
    and a high end forward which is badly needed...Holmberg killed us, klimchuk killed us, Hawryluk killed us, there's a pattern here that we don't have...try to fix the goalie problem bring in some older dman and add a scorer if possible and watch most of the problems disappear ...bob

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