SASKATOON, SK. - Two quick goals in the 3rd period lifted the Hurricanes to a come back 3-2 victory over the Saskatoon Blades Wednesday night.
A strong start for the Hurricanes on the road. The Canes had several good chances in the opening 10 minutes, but the Blades would draw first blood in this game. Ryan Olson took a great feed from Chris Collins and he tapped the puck by Damien Ketlo to give Saskatoon 1-0 lead. That didn't last long. Just over a minute later, Lethbridge would tie things up. Phil Tot found a bouncing puck in front of the Saskatoon goal and knocked it by Andrey Makarov for his 13th of the season, evening the score at 1-1. It appeared that's the way the period was going to end, but a recent problem for the Hurricanes would rear it's ugly head in the final minute, when the Blades scored with 2.3 seconds left to take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes. Ryan Olsen would get credit for his 2nd of the night. Again, the Canes would surrender a goal in the final minute of a period, something that proved costly the last time these two teams played in Lethbridge just over a week ago. The Canes had several good chances to score as they out shot the Blades 16-14.
In the second, the Hurricanes would press hard to get the tying goal and again had some excellent chances to score, but Makarov was a big key for the Blades in the second period, keeping the Canes off the score sheet. Damien Ketlo did his job in the Lethbridge goal as well, preventing Saskatoon from scoring. That 2-1 lead the Blades had after one period, held up through 40 minbutes as well. Lethbridge held the edge in shots 29-24.
In the third, the Hurricanes would begin the comeback. Nick Buonassisi ripped a low point shot along the ice, beating Makarov for his 15th of the season. That tied the game at 2-2. Then just 1:47 later, Lethbidge would take it's first lead of the game. Macoy Erkamps took a pass at the side of the Blades goal and buried his 2nd of the season to give the Canes their first lead of the night, 3-2. Saskatoon would push hard in the final 6 minutes to try and tie the game, but Damien Ketlo shut the door and the Hurricanes would steal two points with a 3-2 come-from-behind win. It was the second time this season the Canes have won a game when trailing after 40 minutes of play. The win improves the Hurricanes record to 24-36-0-1 on the season. This is the most victories the Hurricanes have had in a season since Rich Preston took over as Head Coach and GM two seasons ago. They has 23 total last season and 20 the year before. Saskatoon out shot Lethbridge 43-41 in this game. A very disciplined game by both teams. The Hurricanes went 0/1 on the power play and the Blades finished the game 0/2.
The Hurricanes played without forward Craig Leverton Wednesday night. He suffered an upper body injury after getting checked into the boards from behind in the Canes last home game against Regina. Albin Blomqvist remains sidelined with concussion symptoms stemming from a hit he received in Vancouver back in mid-January.
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes have 11 games to go in the regular season. They're back in Lethbridge Friday night (Feb. 24) for one of their final 4 games at home this season. The Canes will play host to the Kelowna Rockets. This will be the rubber match between the two hockey clubs, with the Rockets winning the first meeting and the Hurricanes taking the second game, both in Kelowna earlier this season. Game time from the ENMAX Centre is 7:00 pm (MST). The pre-game show on CJOC at 6:30.
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.
Good game call Pat! The team showed real spunk coming back on the road when it sounded like they were done. Games like this will go a long way in building team confidence and chemistry for next year.
ReplyDeleteWay to go boys! Safe trip home!
Having difficulty answering the poll. The way this organization is bumbling along, I say GO PRIVATE.......I don't care if it's a local owner or not as long as we can be guaranteed the team will stay in Lethbridge indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:07.....I don't see how we will be guaranteed the team will stay in Lethbridge without local ownership??
ReplyDeleteThe Broncos were locally owned and that didn't keep the team in Lethbridge. The only way to guarantee the team stays here is to keep it locally owned so it can never be moved which was the plan from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI have been following this blog all year and just want to thank Pat for letting us share our opinions here. Now I need to say a few things to Darren, First who cares who is giving their opinion,because it is their opinion. You post your name as Darren but who knows if that is even your name and who cares if it is. You say there is nothing worse than an uninformed opinion when you should say there is nothing worse than someone that doesn't agree with you. What are you trying to be the blog bully. You say the Oilers had know choice but play the rookies. They could have put them on the 3-4 lines and played them 3-5 minutes a game or they could have sent them to the minors. The Canes on the other hand have half of the team as rookies so who had more choice. AJ
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:07...personally I don't think it matters if the ownership is local or not, the league can put stipulations into any sale in terms of being in a location for a period of time etc. Portland's owner is from Calgary and they were in a lot worse financial situation than Lethbridge. Lethbridge is a great hockey community. The only answer is that it can't remained community owned and be successful. This franchise can be as successful as Kelowna or Kamloops with the right group owning it.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake about it. My name is Darren. Darren Harker to be exact. I don't care if people know who I am. I have an opinion (just like you), but the difference being I have many DIFFERENT opinions.
ReplyDeleteUnlike yourself, I don't want to remain anonymous (AJ). I could give a rat's patoot what you think of me and my opinion, but to continually rant about the same thing every single time you send Pat a post is ridiculous. We've all read how you don't think the 16 year-olds are getting enough ice time and are tired of hearing it. Get over it because that isn't going to change. Nobody else seems to have a problem with my opinion. If you do, that's a YOU thing and nothing more.
I'm not going to respond to your Oiler analogy because it's so far removed from the Hurricane's situation, it's not worthy of further comment.
So if we want the team to stay why not get behind the organization..then there will be nothing to worry about. My point being if and that is a big if the team is bought by a private owner and he looks at what this city does to support the team...it would be gone.....and yes that is my opinion
ReplyDeleteCaniac1 you are right on the mark. Look everyone it all comes down to this. This community owned team has remained a community owned team so that it remains a part of our community. If it gets sold there is nothing to keep it here. If a private owner buys it, how will things be different? If the team is losing people will complain and attendance will be down. If the team is winning, a few more people will go but the same people who are always complaining will still be complaining. The only big difference is that when it is privately owned no one will really care what you have to say. At least now you get a vote (as a shareholder) if you choose to use it. When it comes right down to it the only way to ensure that the team stays here is to get behind it. The community, the business world and the surrounding area. If you want to be without WHL hockey in this city again keep doing what you're doing. If you want to help the team then find a way to get behind it. Buy your season tickets, buy your vouchers, buy your advertising, buy the programs (which are outstanding this year by the way) and buy your walk up tickets. It is really very simple.
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Supporting the team is important guys if we want it to remain in Lethbridge, regardless of whether it is community-owned or privately owned.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel the franchise is at a very important point of its history. There's been so many missteps by the Board in the past that it set the team back a few years. It's important, moving forward, that the Board establishes some stability within the organization including that of the Business Manager. (That revolving door needs to stop).
Stability is the key. Let's hope the the Business Manager's role is filled sooner rather than later and that, along with a young and exciting team, will fill the seats next year!
Go Canes!
cc.......I remember when I was a kid, the program was one of the highlights of the game for me! They used to have local advertising and great articles. I'd save my allowance to buy one for every team that came to town. I still have a lot of them, but some are in pretty rough shape :(
ReplyDeleteI'll have to buy a program this year and see what you're talking about!
Darren I can't claim to have been a kid then but I do remember buying my program every game to see if I had a signed advertisement. If you did you waited excitedly for them to announce "Turn to page 19. If Wes Walz has signed the Smitty's advertisement you are a winner". The programs this year have been extremely informative and are very interesting. I have expressed this to the staff I see many times because it is apparent that they are taking a lot of time and care with them. The funny thing is I think I spent two dollars on them back then too.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about finding the right business manager. It is no secret that I have never been a fan of the current one. We need someone who knows that "tracking your expenses" as he put it is fine if you are also "tracking your revenue". If one side isn't meeting the expected budget than maintaining the other is not that impressive, but reducing it is. I understand that there is a cost to doing business and some things you can only whittle down so much but don't brag that you are on target with expenses. Brag when you have reduced a few things given the financial situation of the team so it looks like you actually understand the process. It is probably the accountant in me coming out but when one can't figure out that basic philosophy there is not much hope and all the smoke and mirrors in the world can't hide ignorance.
Great win by the Hurricanes tonight. The future looks to be very bright.
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For sure whoever the owner is we need to support the team. However private ownership can provide a lot more than business development. Someone with deeper pockets can invest in the hockey operation. From coaching to scouting, training. Look at the assistant coaches in Portland, Vancouver and Calgary, Travis Green, Glen Hanlon and Joel Otto...guys who have been to the pros. Those teams and teams like Kamloops, Red Deer Edmonton have players from across Western Canada and the US not just Southern Alberta becasue they have the budget to travel and scout. private teams goals are to win...put kids in the pros and that is the way to fill the seats and they are willing to invest to make it happen like in any business. A community owned teams goal is to keep a team at the lowest cost...no different then any govt org (provide a service at a low cost), private vs community ownership is a completly different operating philosophy. A winning attitude starts at the top with ownership.
ReplyDeleteDoes Darren know that it was local ownership that moved the Broncos? Or am I offering an uninformed opinion? The local group talking about ownership will cry like a baby the first time it's criticized.
ReplyDeleteRealistically, are there potential PRIVATE owners around LOCALLY? Otherwise, the poll doesn't mean much does it? We can wish all we want, but is there even a chance?
ReplyDeleteunless you get a real loyal owner that believes in junior hockey, its probably better to stay community owned.. you could end up getting a owner like Brodsky with PG look how he has driven the fans away in that center
ReplyDeleteR.S.
anon 11:00pm FEb 24. Yu have no idea how right on you are.
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