The Lethbridge Hurricanes are down to their final three games of the 2011-2012 season and they'll play them on the road this week.
The Canes closed out the home portion of their schedule with back-to-back losses, 6-3 to Calgary on Friday and a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers Saturday. The fans gave the players a big standing ovation after final buzzer sounded. The team can somewhat say mission accomplished when it comes to their home record. They finished with a 17-19 record this year at the ENMAX Centre. Opposing teams coming into Lethbridge had work for their points this year. Hopefully that will carry over into next season, given the fact the overwhelming majority of the players here this season will be here in fall and the next few seasons to come as well.
This week, the Hurricanes will make their final trips to Calgary on Wednesday, Red Deer Friday, and then in Medicine Hat Saturday. After that, the players will meet the coaches for their exit meetings and everyone will head their separate ways for what will be another long off-season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes. I truly believe the Canes are on the right track when it comes to building a team for success. I think the new season starting in September will most certainly be an interesting one to follow with all the returning players who will have one season in the Western Hockey League under their belts. That experience will be vital for players like McKechnie, Yakubowski, Merkley, Erkamps, Watson, and Leverton. We will also get to see Reid Duke and Ryan Pilon full-time. Everywhere I've gone around the WHL this season, especiallty the last 3 months coaches, scouts, and fellow broadcasters have told me fans of the Lethbridge Hurricanes should be in for some exciting hockey the next two or three seasons with the core group of returnees and players like Duke and Pilon making the jump to junior hockey. The fall can't come soon enough!
HURRICANES THIS WEEK
Our second-last radio show of the season will take place tonight at 6:00 MDT LIVE from Average Joe's Sports Bar on 6th Street South. Head Coach and GM Rich Preston will join us for the first 25 minutes or so and then we will speak with WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. We will wrap up the season next Monday, March 19th with the Hurricanes Media Roundtable.
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.
Pat, lots of questions for coach Preston tonight. I agree the future looks bright but there are still a lot of holes especially for next year. Every playoff team in the East had a point leader with 70 points or more and 4 of the 8 teams had points leaders with 100 pts or more. Our best was 57 pts. Where are we going to get a 70 point player next year? Its not going to happen from our young players or the 18/19 year old forwards we have this year. We have no number 1 goaltender for next year what is the plan? Are we going to trade some of the picks we have to fill these holes? We need score more and drop our goals against. If we don't I can't see the playoffs next year more likely the year after. TD
ReplyDeleteI think Buonassisi could be a high point-getter next year. Not sure if 100 is possible, but I see 70 points as an attainable goal.
ReplyDeleteI'll say it again.......what is going on with the goaltending? Why is Preston not auditioning Liston and Kovacs for next year????
I think Preston should/will trade a draft pick or two for a 19 year old or two. We need to fill that hole.
Darren
I agree with you Darren...its a big hole at the 19 year old spot that needs to be filled. I also agree re Liston/Kovacs. Kovacs barely played in the AJHL this year..he was in 16 games went 2-11 5.12 GAA and .873 SP. So not sure he is the answer. With Liston they must see something in practice and the games he has played that raises issues. TD
ReplyDeletePat, you already have a lot of questions for Preston. So, when you get to talk to the "politically correct" Ron Robison, try to nail him down on his concerns over the financial situations facing Swift Current, and Lethbridge. You can also mention the number of rumors floating around regarding an interested group wanting to purchase the team. Please ask him what the process is from the WHL's point of view is, and would the league allow this franchise (regardless of ownership) to be relocated?
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:16 With respect to Kovacs. He played pretty much every second game when he went to St Albert after the new year. At best it is safe to say that St. A's defence was porous and back checking non existent in the game that I saw. As a matter of fact to use an old statement he could have sued the team for non support. He played not bad in that game and was the team star.
ReplyDeleteWould like to have seen Liston played mor in the last month one out of the playoffs.
Listened to Coach Preston...thanks for asking the questions Pat. He said you need to get scorers through the draft, fair enough but so he knows I checked and this year was not an anomoly regarding having a 70 point player and making the playoffs. There has actually only been 2 playoff teams since 2008/09 (4 years)that made it without a 70 point player. Moose Jaw in 2009/10 had a 65 pt leading scorer Quinton Howden and 2008/09 Kootenay Ice had a 61 point scorer. It can be done but it is rare. Anyone lending this organization money and thinking playoffs next year should undertand that the chances of getting to the playoffs next year are slight if nothing changes, the drafted scorers are still a couple years away. TD
ReplyDeleteI agree with Preston that Henry is one of the most improved players this year and is now playing with confidence....having said that as Preston said he has improved since Blomqvist got hurt and he was paired with Johnston. At the start of the year Blomqvist struggled until he was paired with Johnston and "improved". Last game against Med Hat Henry was not playing with Johnston for the first time since Blomqvist got hurt and went -3 paired with Erkamps. Both Henry and Erkamps are small offensive defenceman who are going to be very good but need to be paired with strong defensive defenceman to cover for them defensively. Scott
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point Scott. Both Henry and Blomqvist need to improve for next season. It's easy to say they need to be paired with certain partners, but I'd rather see them be able to play in any defence pairing on the team.
ReplyDeletePat can you help me out? I only caught a piece of your show while at work and thought I heard you say that Bouanassisi is going to be a 20 year old next year? Did I hear correctly? (I was under the impression he was 18 this year so, 19 next year?).
Really not a fan of Ron Robinson. I won't get into it here, but he's a big city guy who talks a big talk when it comes to small market teams, but.......... Darren
Darren, Buonassisi was born April 92 so will be a 20 year old with Johnston, Hood, Oslanksi and Kizuik. I agree with you that D men should be interchangable...another example was Jackson who looked good when playing with Johnston, even went to Flames camp last year but has struggled a lot since going to PG.
ReplyDeleteScott
Ok, thanks Scott! Good to know. I thought maybe Nick was a 19 next year, which would be nice to fill the 19 year old spots. Knowing that Nick will be a 20 year old makes the decision on which 20 year olds to keep next year much tougher!
ReplyDeleteI was much more impressed with the D-core after Preston made those trades. Jackson and especially Ryckman were just not physical enough. Liked Galbraith's physicality much better.
Darren
Overage picks for next season. Hood, Buonassisi and Johnston. That will mean moving Kiziuk and Oslanski. Kiziuk will likely be playing CIS next season.
ReplyDeleteGoaltending remains a question mark. Liston and Kovacs will have to prove themselves fairly early into the season.
Moline, great kid, but is slow and will not go into the "dirty spots".
Blomqvist might not be back due to health reasons. If Albin does not return, the Hurricanes will have a decent spot in the Euro draft which is also a commodity to deal for a roster player if Albin does come back.
Beuzch will have to hone up on his defensive play, but has all sorts of offensive skills.
Just some thoughts on next season.
I agree that Johnston and Buonassisi need to stay. I am on the fence about Hood though. I think Kizuik is one of the most underrated players on the ice and I think we might get a decent 17-18-yr-old scorer for Hood. Then if we need to address the goaltending situation and a 20 becomes available that can get us through, Kizuik would have to be dealt.
ReplyDeleteIt is a complete turnaround from last season when everyone just knew it was going to be Braes-Fyten-Sutter as the 20s and there was never any question. It is quite a different situation now.
-cc
Darren, I agree about the D improving after the trade. Galbraith is quick and plays big despite his size. He just needs to cut down on the turnovers. I think people need to look at the trades Preston made and give him some props...I don't think Brandon or PG will be dealing with him anytime soon getting as they got Anderson and Jackson for Galbraith Liston and Buonasissi and getting a first round pick for a 20 year old (Braes) is almost unprecedented. I think the team will go with two 20 year old forwards and 1 D man Johnston but probably no decisions until after pro camps and training camp unless deals can be done, lots of things can happen. I agree with others comments about Kizuik he has improved a lot and is solid defensive defencman which Canes are short of. Scott
ReplyDeleteI agree with several previous comments. I mean, it could be "6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other" (keeping forwards or defense?).
ReplyDeleteI think this that is where Preston is going to have to prove his worth as a GM. As I've said about Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini of the Oilers (there's one for AJ!), it's easy to draft at the top every year, but not so easy to fill in the other spots with roster players.......free agents, so to speak.
Darren