LETHBRIDGE - Two goals in teh first and two more in the second helped the Red Deer Rebels get by the Hurricanes 5-0 at the ENMAX Centre Saturday night.
Another decent start for the Hurricanes in the first few minutes, but this time the visitors would score first. Matt Dumba ripped home a slap shot on the power play to put Red Deer ahead 1-0. The Rebels came close to getting a few more, but they hit three goal posts in the period. They did manage to get one more before the end of the period. In the final minute, a race for the puck in the Hurricanes zone and Turner Elson got to it first and chipped it by Liam Liston to give Red Deer a 2-0 lead after one period of play. The Rebels heavily out shot the Canes 14-5.
In the second, the Rebels would a few more. Coaldale native Adam Kambeitz tapped home the puck by Liston to put Red Deer ahead 3-0 and then less than two minutes later the visitors would make it 4-0. Colton Mayor got behind the Lethbridge defence and put a nice move on Liston to give the Rebels a commanding four goal lead. Red Deer continued to pound pucks on the Lethbridge goal, but that's the way the period would end. The Rebels out shot Lethbridge 18-14 in that period and held the edge 32-19 through 40 minutes of play.
In the third, the Rebels would make it 5-0. Matt Dumba scored a nearly identical goal on the power play that he scored back in the first. He hammered a slapper by Liston for his second of night to give the Rebels a big lead and that after it was all said and done, that would be the way this game would end. Red Deer out shot Lethbridge in this one, 42-29. The Rebels went 2/5 on the power play and the Hurricanes finished the night 0/4. The Hurricanes went winless in the month of October and have now dropped 13 straight games. The sit with a record of 2-13-0-1 as the season nears the quarter-way point. Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore pulled no punches on the CJOC post-game show. He said, "No sugar-coating this tonight, they gave us an old-fashioned butt-kicking. I wish I had some answers. We (as coaches) take full responsibilty for the way this team plays in the good times and the bad".
The Hurricanes got two players back Saturday from illness, but lost another to the flu. Macoy Erkamps and Tyler Kizuik were back on the blueline. Head Coach and G.M. Rich Preston said both players lost about six pounds with the stomach bug the had this week. Jamal Watson though went down with the flu prior to the game and sat the game out. The Hurricanes played with 11 forwards. The Canes went a little retro Saturday as well, wearing a version of their original jerseys from their first season 25 years ago.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will close out this 7 game home stand on Wednesday (Nov. 2) when they play host to the Everett Silvertips. The Tips have been struggling this season too and are near the bottom of the Western Conference with just four wins in 16 games. After Wednesday, the Hurricanes will hit the road next weekend for a pair of games in Saskatchewan. Next Friday (Nov. 4) they're in Prince Albert to take on the Raiders and Saturday (Nov 5) they stop in Saskatoon. The puck drop for all three of those games next week is 7:00 pm (MDT). In November, the Hurricanes play 13 games: 7 at home and 6 on the road.
Thanks,
Pat
This blog post is brought to you by http://www.clearlylethbridge.com/.
The views expressed on this blog are those of the moderator and contributors and are not endorsed by 94.1 CJOC or the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Now what? I'm at a loss. I'm sure you are too Pat. Should the team make changes behind the bench? Can this team afford to make changes behind the bench? I ask that question literally.
ReplyDeleteThis is a team that has lost over $650,000 the past two seasons. Can they really afford to fire a Coach/GM who has another, what 3 (?) years left on what I'm guessing is a pretty hefty contract.
If they don't start winning they won't make any money. But will they be able to win with the current regime? I've been a big supporter of Mr. Preston so far but now I think something needs to change.
the coaching staff has done nothing to teach these kids. they need to be shown the door, time to do something. but i agree with Artie - can they actually afford to make a change?
ReplyDeletethe coaches stand on the bench every game and just lean on the boards, they are not engaged (they haven't ever really been...) ... it is pathetic. COACH THE KIDS!!!
tonight in the pre-game show when preston said he has never been a part of such a loosing skid it really made me shake my head. the reason he has never been a part of one is because he has never run a team. time for preston (and the coaching staff for that matter) to move on ... they clearly cannot coach this team.
A lack of coaching for the previous 2 seasons and now this one are finally starting to show.
Anon 12:07...your information is not completely accurate. Preston was head coach of the Regina Pats from 1995-1997, so yes he has run a team.
ReplyDeleteReading what Artie posted brings two factors into account. Yes, they have lost money in the past seasons and they need to put a winning team on the ice bring up revenues. A quandry that I am sure the board is struggling with.
ReplyDeleteI will answer Artie's question.....no, they can't afford to fire the coach. Not from a economic stand point nor from a stability stand point. It's true some veteran players aren't producing, but now is not the time to trade our young players or our draft picks for more older players. Stay the course.
ReplyDeleteI believe my expectations for this team weren't as high as others, so maybe that's where I'm coming from. I didn't expect this version of the Canes to make the playoffs this year. But they have a tremendous future with some nicely talented players.
But on a side note, I DO wish the Canes were more competitive and not get blown out on home ice. (Injuries have hurt because they're not a deep team).
Losing hurts, but this is what rebuilding is.......Preston can be evaluated after the season is over.
Further to JWB comments, I want to see another Preston draft (minimum). I would like to see a couple of our 19 yr olds or 20yr old traded for a younger player(s) and picks (at the deadline). Preston and his staff have been outstanding at drafting and trading. Liston and Galbraith have been great improvements both in play, durability and attitude over Anderson and Jackson. Both are 18 and great building block for our team. We need to get healthy. We will get out of this funk and my goal is a 370 winning % for this year. Once Rich has two of his draft classes on his team, we then need to take a close look at his coaching. Good showing by our kids in the u16 challenge. The only way we get to go or host a memorial cup is by building this team the correct way. Drafting and youth is key.
ReplyDeleteLook at the way Kamloops has handled things over there they've went from missing the playoffs last season and bad seasons since the new ownership to leading the entire league.
ReplyDeleteI understand as an avid Canes fan myself I'd like to see things turn around with that said if we take a look at the Blazers model which was and still is:
Build through the draft. The Canes will turn around. I think its unfair to push the panic button on Preston, junior hockey is a cycle that doesn't turn around overnight