LETHBRIDGE - Damien Ketlo was outstanding between the pipes as the Lethbridge Hurricanes scored twice on the power play and they beat Medicine Hat 3-1 at the ENMAX Centre.
An entertaining period of hockey to open this game at the ENMAX Centre Friday night between these two Highway 3 rivals. Damien Ketlo had an outstanding period of hockey, stopping all 18 shots he faced, including a breakaway from Emerson Etem. The Hurricanes had a few good chances of their own, but they couldn't find a way to get one by Tyler Bunz on the other side. Lethbridge killed off a lengthy 5-on-3 power play for the Tigers to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes. Lethbridge was out shot 18-8.
In the second, the Hurricanes weathered the Medicine Hat storm early and then opened the scoring on a power play. Phil Tot hammered home his 5th goal of the season to break the scoreless tie and give Lethbridge a 1-0 lead. Brody Sutter recorded his 100th career WHL point with an assist. The Tigers continued to press to get the equalizer, but Ketlo came away with a number of sensational saves to keep the Hurricanes in a one goal lead.
In third, the Tigers would tie things on a power play goal by Emerson Etem. He ripped a low shot by Ketlo to even the score at 1-1. A few minutes later, Lethbridge would get that one back on a man advantage of their own. Dan Johnston, in front of the Tigers goal, poked it by Bunz to give the Canes a 2-1 lead. Late in the period, the Canes would add another when Cam Braes scored his 23rd of the year just after a penalty had expired to give the Hurricanes a huge goal and a big 3-1 lead. That's the way this game would end as the Canes would beat the Tigers for the 3rd time in 5 tries this season. The victory also improves the Hurricanes to 12-12 on home ice this season. Lethbridge had an excellent 3rd period as they out shot the Tigers 14-6 and overall 37-32 on the night. The Hurricanes special teams were very special in this game. Lethbridge went 2/4 on the man advantage while the Tigers finished the night 1/6.
The Hurricanes played a very solid 60 minutes from start to finish in this game and as Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore said on the CJOC post game show one the best efforts for this team all season. Cam Braes told CJOC's Fred Jack after the game that "nothing feels better than beating your biggest rival on SHAW TV on a Friday night at home!"
The Hurricanes got back three players from the U-17's Friday. Macoy Erkamps, Craig Leverton, and Jay Merkley played their first game since just before the Christmas break. They missed five games with the Canes.
HALL OF FAME NIGHT
Prior to the drop of the puck Friday, the Hurricanes inducted Jamie Pushor, Jason Ruff, and Bob Barlett in the Hurricanes/Broncos Hall of Fame. Another great job by Dick Gibson and his Alumni Committee.
TRADE DEADLINE APPROACHING
The WHL's trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon. I spoke with Head Coach and GM Rich Preston prior to Friday's game about the deadline. He says General Managers continue to talk and the last week has been busy on the phone.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes play their next six games on the road and won't play back in Lethbridge until January 25th. On Sunday, the Canes head up to Calgary to take on the Hitmen. Game time is 2:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 1:30 After that they held to B.C. for 10 for two games against Prince George and then games in Vancouver, Kamloops, and Kelowna.
Thanks,
Pat
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.
I thought the Sunday game was at 2pm....
ReplyDeleteIt is. Typo on my part. Now fixed. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteThe game was a lot of fun last night. Great to see the old Canes come back. Canes played really well for 60 minutes. They played great team defence, Ketlo was excellent in the first when they needed him and Johnston and Bloomquist did a fantastic job on D shutting down Etem and Shinkaruk. Hope this is isnt the last time we see Braes, Sutter and Johnston but if it is they worked hard for the Canes to teh final whistle.....TD
ReplyDeleteA fun fast game last night. The boys played a solid 60 minutes. I can understand why Preston's phone is ringing off of the hook, because we have some talented players. We certainly do not need many holes filled for the future as the nucleus is pretty strong.
ReplyDeleteLast night was a great effort and why I like Junior Hockey way more than the NHL. The boys work hard every shift every game no matter what the circumstances. Some days are better than others but they never quit. We are very lucky to have a major junior team in Lethbridge as there are a number of communities who would love to have our team....lets keep supporting the boys the rest of the year! For any boys who get traded this weekend, thank you and you will always be a Hurricane!
ReplyDeleteGreat game, great third period for the Canes, and great result!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, BUNZ proves he is only an average goaltender that can make the first save and is rarely anything special after that. He didn't make a single big save when his team needed one, and his puck play is literally laughable and results in liability for his team every touch.
His team kept most of the Canes (37) shots from safe distances, and he was completely undeserving of second star honors! From my seat, Hood (2 assists), Mckechnie (relentless for 60 minutes), and Etem (only Tiger goal and a TON of minutes) each deserved a star ahead of Bunz. - Richie.
I agree that anybody else on either team deserved that 2nd star. Since when does a goalie that lets 3 in 37 get a star? Just because he flops around like a fish doesn't mean he's making great saves. Good enough goalie, poor choice for star. Great game!
ReplyDeleteRichie keep on posting and proving how little you know. Sure gives me a chuckle.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that everyone picks on Richie?
ReplyDeleteAt least he's involved in the blog and at least he posts his name. Peter
As Coach C. pointed out in the post game show, we would like asset’s in return for any trade. I agree with coach as it seems we have done great in the last two drafts. We should have a possible 6 or 7 playing next year from our 95 class and 3 for sure in (Duke, Pilon and Wong) from our 96 class. I think the core of our team has been built. I also agree with Fred that if Braes requests out to contend we should try and make it happen. Great idea only if we get someone that will help our team. Braes is too valuable as a leader, teacher, hard worker, steadying influence, role model and captain of our team to just let him go to contend with another team. Our main goal is the future and Cam is just as important to us grooming the youth. I also have my doubts that this is the last of his hockey career.
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ReplyDeleteI have played and coached hockey at various levels (including net) for over 30 years (enough to have a non-expert opinion). I have scored on enough tenders, and watched enough tenders from the ice, the bench, and the stands, to have an opinion on who can make the first save, who is big and slow, who is going to flop around, who is going to be more likely to give me an easy goal from poor puck handling, and who is over-rated; Bunz is all of the above, and he shows us evidence of it regularly.
Think of the game. Bunz didn't face a breakaway, no dangerous shots from the slot, he didn't have to move much to make 34 saves (in fact, he moved when he should have held his butterfly position on Tot's powerplay goal), he gave the puck away to us regularly when playing it, and we scored on all three of our good chances in the game.
I would take Ketlo over Bunz every day of the week, and would only trade for him (as a back up) if I could trade a nobody (maybe like you) for him. Unfortunately for Ketlo, he got overlooked for the World Junior tryouts because he plays for a team with a horrible record.
Glad to know you get a chuckle from my opinion, but is that all you have to offer here?
Why not post your own opinion with some interesting evidence to support it, instead of just running off the cliff with the lemmings?
Team Canada Juniors sent him home for a reason, and it wasn't because of his alledged drinking problem. - Richie.
Not to nitpick, Richie, but Ketlo couldn't have been invited to the world juniors anyway because he was born in '91. This year's WJ's were for '92 born players and younger, since it is the U20 age group. They can't turn 21 in the same year the tourney is being held. Ketlo turns 21 this year, so he wasn't eligible. In other words, overages can't play in the WJ's.
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