Saturday 17 December 2011

Hurricanes With 4th Straight, 4-1 Over Broncos

LETHBRIDGE - A three goal second period lifted the Lethbridge Hurricanes to their 6th consecutive win at home, beating the Swift Current Broncos 3-1 at the ENMAX Centre Saturday night.

On what was Teddy bear Toss night at the ENMAX Centre, there would be no throwing of the stuffed animals in the first period of this one. Both teams went at each other in a back-and-forth, fast-paced opening 20 minutes. Damien Ketlo and Jon Groenheyde managed to keep the door closed keeping the game scoreless after one. Swift Current held the edge in shots at 10-9 after one.

In the second, the Hurricanes would get the offence going and break the scoreless tie very early, when Graham Hood, who's been hot as of late scored his 8th of the season to give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. That was the Teddy Bear goal, sending 2928 stuffed animals onto the ice at the ENMAX Centre. After a short delay to clean the ice, the Canes added another, this time short-handed. Cam Braes moved in on a two-on-one rush and rifled the puck over Groenhyede to give Lethbridge a 2-0 lead. It was Braes' team-leading 20th goal of the season. The Hurricanes scored two goals in a span of 1:31. Later in the period, the Canes would jump ahead 3-0, when Russ Maxwell scored his 8th of the year. That would give the Hurricanes one goal each on the power play, short-handed, and even strength up to this point. Before the end of the period, Swift Current would finally get one by Damien Ketlo. Coda Gordan fired the puck past the Lethbridge goalie to cut the Canes lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes of hockey. The Broncos out shot the Canes 26-18 through two periods.

In the third, the Hurricanes would get another one. Right out of the penalty box, Albin Blomqvist took a feed from Brody Sutter and hammed a shot by Groenhyede for his first-ever WHL goal to give Lethbridge 4-1. That would also be it for Broncos goalie Jon Groenhyede. Austin Smith would play the rest of the game for Swift Current. The lead would stick all the way to the end, as the Canes would win again on home ice. Damien Ketlo was outstanding in goal, as Lethbridge was out shot 36-25. Lethbridge finished the night 1/4 on the power play and Swift Current went 0/5.

Going into the WHL's Christmas break, the Hurricanes have won 4 games in a row, 6 straight at home, 8 of their past 9 at the ENMAX Centre, and 11 of 15 overall. This dramatic turnaround in the last 6 weeks has put the Hurricanes just 8 points back of a playoff spot, something that wasn't even a topic of discussion for this team in mid-November. I will say this. This team deserves a boatload of credit for the recent 180 turn. Things weren't looking all that good two months ago and now there is a fair bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Big props to the entire team. There's still lots of work to be done in the next two months for the Hurricanes, but they could make things very interesting after the break if they've able to pick up where they've left off.

NEXT UP

The Hurricanes are now off for the next 10 days for the WHL's annual Christmas break. They're next action isn't until December 27th when they travel to Cranbrook to take on the Kootenay ICE. The Canes will then close out the 2011 portion of their schedule December 29th and 30th with back-to-back games against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

On behalf of myself and Fred and everyone at 94.1 CJOC, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and happy 2012! For all those who tune into the radio broadcast, the Monday night radio show, or contribute their two cents to this blog thanks so much! All the best during the holiday season to you and yours and God Bless!

Thanks,
Pat

17 comments:

  1. Merry Christmas Pat, Fred and the Canes. Nice win, great effort. Nice to see Ketlo give a shout out to his coach. Keep it up Canes.

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  2. Thanks Canes for an EXCELLENT Christmas present!

    Great shot on the shorthanded break by Braes! VERY happy for Blomqvist on his first WHL tally. Maxwell was a monster-mini. Congrats to Hood. He now owns another little piece of Hurricane history. Well deserved!

    Very disappointed by the bear total. There were 4000+ in attendance and yet everybody can't spring five bucks once a season for a bear? Are we really that cheap? That is pretty embarrassing, Lethbridge! - Richie.

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  3. Good game boys. That was the best game in a while. Did anyone see how bad the Bezuch hit was. Great to see his linemates jump in after he took that wild slash. That should be worth a 10 game suspension.

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  4. No, didn't see the Bezuch hit.

    Blomqvist is making himself known in more ways than one! Great game for him. Hopefully he can stay healthy cause he seems like he can be an impact player.

    Ketlo is so solid in net right now it gives the boys a chance every night. That's what good goaltending can do for a team.

    Merry Xmas and have a good break! You've earned it!

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  5. Great game Canes! Merry Christmas Canes Pat and Fred! TD

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  6. Merry Christmas Canes, Pat and Fred...an entertaining first half of the of the season and and I am sure the second half will be just as exciting. Pat thank you for all your hard work and insights....TD

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  7. Good morning Pat. Have you heard if either Bezuch or Fleming will be getting suspensions

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  8. merry christmas and a happy new year to all the hurricanes to pat fred and all the hurricanes staff and to the hurricanes fans i was at the game on saturday big crowd good cheering section in section q best game ever have a good 2012

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  9. Still no word on Bezuch hit.......or the retaliation!

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  10. No word yet. Might not here anything till the break is over. Once I find out it'll be posted here on the blog.

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  11. The WHL site lists under "dicipline" that Eric Fleming received a one game suspension for slashing while Juraj Bezuch got a one game suspension for a clipping major. My question for everybody is, how is clipping different than an old fashioned hip check?

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  12. Clipping is a hit below the knees. Looks like Kuvaev will be a Giant. Curious to see how he does. So I can either say I knew we let a good one get away or eat my words

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  13. Did anyone actually see the hit, from where we are it didn't look that bad. The slash after was worth alot more than 1 game.

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  14. Anon 10:57 Should Kuvaev turn out to have a successful run with Vancouver (and I truly hope he does), it may not necessarily mean Preston let a good one go but rather Preston did a huge favor for a good player who didn't realize what a gift playing in the WHL can be and who needed a real wake-up call.

    -cc

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  15. Saw the check and the slash. Yes it was clipping Bezuch does deseerve one game for it as he did target the knees. The slash however is a different story! He deserved a lot more than one game. It was a deliberate attempt to injure and a cowardly act to act from behind with a stick. I guess seen as it is the Christmas season the WHL felt generous.

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  16. Must say I am not a huge Preston fan as a coach, but am impressed that he had our 4th line guys out at the end of the game. Hopefully he will continue to give them icetime at times like that. I know from experience tbat adds alot of confidence to those kids especially when they can hold the fort and not vet scored on. AJ

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  17. I agree that it was nice to see all lines running to the end. Not only does it instill confidence, it also shows we have more depth that this team is getting credit for (because not normally shown mind you). They held their own and it was a team effort, not just a few titled 'top guys' that we can rely on. I hope the trend continues!

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