LETHBRIDGE - Three first period goals lifted the Kootenay ICE over the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-2 Monday night, handing the Canes their 9th loss in a row.
The Hurricanes got off to an early start in this game. Reid Duke, who the Canes called up for this game banged away out front of the Kootenay goal and Craig Leverton hammered it home by Nathan Lieuwen for his first in the WHL to give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. A few minutes later though the ICE tied things up on a bad defensive giveaway by the Canes in their own end. Jaedon Descheneau took a pass from Joe Antilla fired the puck by Liam Liston to even the score at 1-1. The ICE then jumped into the lead. Jagger Dirk let a low shot go from the point, beating Liston to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Before the end of the period, Kootenay would take a two-goal lead. Adam Rossignol tipped in a shot on a power play to put the ICE ahead 3-1. Kootenay held the edge in shots on goal 15-8.
In the second, the Hurricanes settled down nicely and some quality scoring chances as did the ICE. Neither team though was able to find the back of the net. The game remained 3-1 Kootenay after two periods of play. The Canes had a much better period of hockey and cut down on the shots on goal against. The ICE still held the edge 24-18.
In the third, the Canes made it a one goal game. Landon Oslanski, on the power play, ripped a slap shot by Lieuwen for his 2nd goal of the season to make it a 3-2 hockey game in favour of the ICE. The Canes continued to press to find the equalizer, but it wouldn't happen on this night. the ICE would score a shorthanded, empty-net goal with a few second remaining to give the ICE a 4-2 victory. The loss drops the Hurricanes record to 2-9-0-1 on the season. It was also the 9th consecutive loss for the hockey team. The ICE out shot Lethbridge 34-29 on the night. Both teams finished the game 1/4 on the power play. Despite the loss, Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore was a lot happier with his team's play on the CJOC post-game saying were a number of positives for the Hurricanes to take out of this game, but that said they have to find a win and quickly.
Liam Liston played his first game in goal as a Lethbridge Hurricane Monday. Damien Ketlo, still nursing a minor injury was a scratch. Spencer Galbraith also played his first game in a Canes jersey. Nick Buonassisi wasn't at the game Monday. He will be ready for the Hurricanes next action on Friday.
The Hurricanes called up 16 year old defenceman Joel Topping from Midget "AAA" Red Deer as well as recent draft pick Reid Duke from Calgary. Both played against Kootenay Monday. I thought Duke had a strong game for a 15 year old. He's got a good nose for the net played well on a line with Leverton and Watson. It was Duke's second game with the Canes in less than a week. Defencemen Daniel Johnston and Albin Blomqvist are both listed day-to-day with injury and should be back very soon.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes finally get a few days rest until their next game on Friday (Oct. 14) when they play host to the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Game time is 7:00 pm (MDT). The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30. Former Hurricane Brandon Anderson and the Wheat Kings will be in Lethbridge on Saturday which should make for a very interesting game given the recent trade between the two teams.
Thanks,
Pat
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Hey Pat, any updates on Merkley or Moline and how long they will be before coming back?
ReplyDeleteGreat effort. Fun to watch and worth the tickets (finally!). I didn't think Duke would be as good as he was. Dare I say we have a future 100 plus point getter?
ReplyDeleteMerkley might be ready this weekend. Moline is out a while longer.
ReplyDeleteSounded like a much better game (than the one against Swift)!!! I'd like to see players who are playing hard rewarded for their hard work. I heard Pat and Fred say the Duke, Leverton, Watson line was a real spark plug.
ReplyDeleteI also heard the new goalie played pretty well for having just arrived earlier in the day.
I'd also like to hear what's happening with Merkley and Moline.
I heard Preston's post-game comments (assuming he was responding to a question he didn't like) and I would have to agree that I'm more concerned with the "compete level" of the team rather than the result. It's high time the youngsters got their chance if their compete level is higher than that of the vets.
Hopefully a week of practice with the new players will help get them ready for Kamloops on Friday and end the losing streak.
(The crowd looked pretty small on TV tonight......hopefully it was just a "Monday" game.")
The best two lines on the night were the two "kid" lines. Duke with any luck would have had a couple of goals on his own. He certainly has a nose for the net and seems to find the open spaces. IMO Galbraith played well.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what this club will do with everyone heathly and back in the lineup.
For those of us (2600) who were there, we got our monies worth. Best effort in a while.
Now the vets have to follow the lead of the kids.
RJS
Good effort last night and they got better as the game went on. Young guys played well. Need some size on defence as it was a very small line up, hopefully Johnston and Bloomquist will be back soon as we couldnt win any battles in the corners in our own zone....As for Prestons compete comments, I dont think that has been an issue for the majority of the games this year....tough to compete when you have no systems and you never know where your teammate is going to be? When they get healthy with Merkley Johnston and Bloomquist and add the new kid from PG this team should win games....no excuses as they have the skill...TD
ReplyDeletePreston is worried about the compete level? "Just work harder" is all he can come up with as a coaching strategy....wow!
ReplyDeleteIt's also important to remember that Kootenay is a damn good team. Lewan is a top notch prospect and their defence is big and tough. They're a tough team to match up against, so I didn't mind the 4-2 score. (The 9-3 against Swift I had a MAJOR problem with!).
ReplyDelete@ TD......I think having a few days off should help their "systems".
Pat,
ReplyDeleteDo you know the status on Mark Reners?
I don't see him on the Oil Kings roster and he has no stats for this year on hockeydb.com
Has he left the game?
GDC
Reners is playing in the AJHL for Brooks and putting up points.
ReplyDeleteReners has put up 10 goals and 10 assists in 10 games with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on Reners.
ReplyDeleteGDC
That's good Reners is playing hockey, but I thought he still had a future in Edmonton. It's going to be pretty tough to get drafted out of the AJHL. Heatley and Kariya are anomalies. It's good to see him doing well for the Bandits though.
ReplyDeleteAnderson returns to Lethbridge having been in the nets for back-to-back wins and allowing just 3 goals.
ReplyDeleteSo.......what is the reasons for this magical turn about for Anderson? A change of scenery?
Or, is it a possibility that Anderson "played" himself off the team in order to force a trade?
Just asking the question for the sake of asking.
RJS
What kind of comment is that! Anderson is a competitor and works hard at his game. Why would he want to do that! Things happen in this league and maybe a change of scenery is what was in order foor him. You are challenging this kids character as a player and person. Give you head a shake!! The Hurricanes have had a series of injuries with key veterans which has allowed even more rookies in the line up. The team just needs to get healthy and good things will happen.
ReplyDeleteI know it is tough to see the team struggle and it is frustrating, but we just need to keep the faith.
give your head a shake for somebody bringing up a valid point and you shooting it down without any thought. You sound like a defensive grandparent rather than an objective fan. Why can fans not question a players character? Anderson did not look like he was mentally in the game when he played this season. Some of the goals he let in were beyond weak and really have made all canes fans wonder what was up with the guy. I agree that he was not 100% here when he played this season. Players have demanded trades in the past. This may have been his was of doing it.
ReplyDeleteI just asked the question...as I said I just asked for the sake of asking.
ReplyDeleteHas it been done before? Would not surprise me.
Certainly a change of scenery does make a difference for a lot of athletes.
I was not accusing Anderson of doing that, I just.....just asked the question.
RJS
Edmonton has a great coach in Laxdal and unfortunately Reners couldn't fit into that program, nor could he in Leth or Vancouver... also interesting to note that Neil Tarnasky has 14 pts in 11 games in the MJHL. Good for him!
ReplyDeleteRJS you don't have to worry about Anderson's character anymore. He has moved on and so should you. These young men put a lot of hours into playing hockey to the best of their ability. He plays bad you want him gone, he plays good there is a conspiracy. Anonymous 12:35 couldn't have said it better. If you are a grandparent Hi! Ha Ha
ReplyDeleteBBM
Anonymous 3:53
ReplyDeleteI was told that Reners asked the coach in Edmonton if he would be getting more ice time. He was told that because they still had the same top six that they had last season he would probably be still looking at third line. He asked to be released to play in Brooks so that he could actually play. It had nothing to do with him not fitting in with Edmonton. The decision to leave was his.
I am glad to hear Tarnasky is doing well. He is a great good and also needed to be somewhere where he could get the ice time.
-cc
Rumour mills were running rampant that Anderson had asked for a trade, but who knows? They were just rumours. Time to move on. We have a new tandem of goalies in town and hopefully a change of scenery will be good for both Anderson AND our new netminder! (It sounded like he played a pretty solid game the other night).
ReplyDeleteSpeaking to Friday night's game....let's play 60 minutes of good, hard hockey boys and let the Blazers know they were in a tough game!! No reason why the streak doesn't end tomorrow night!!