RED DEER - Two goals in the third period lifted the Red Deer Rebels to a 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes Friday night.
The Red Deer Rebels would draw first blood in this one. Charles Inglis moved in on a two-on-one rush four minutes into the game and snapped the puck past Liam Liston to make it 1-0 Red Deer early. The Hurricanes had a couple of good chances to get back to even terms, but that one goal would stick as the only offence of the period. The Rebels also had a few quality opportunities to add to their lead. The shots were dead even at 14-14.
In the second, the Hurricanes continued to press to get the tying goal and late in the period they would do just that. On the late stages of a power play, Macoy Erkamps hammered a slap shot off the post and by Bolton Pouliot for his 4th goal of the season. That evened up the score at 1-1. That would be the only goal of the period and the two teams would head off to their respective dressing rooms tied at 1-1. Lethbridge held the edge in shots 24-21 after 40 minutes.
In the third, the Rebels would regain the lead just over a minute in when Cody Thiel scored a beautiful goal, lifting a backhander over Liston to make 2-1 Red Deer. That didn't last long. Less than two minutes after that, the Hurricanes would tie things up. Craig Leverton, in his first game back in nearly a month from injury, scored his 5th of the season to even the score at 2-2. It would turn into a one shot game after that. As the period moved on, Red Deer ended up getting the eventual game winner when Coaldale's Adam Kambeitz snapped a shot by Liston to make it 3-2 Rebels. Lethbridge pulled the goalie late to try and tie the game for a 3rd time, but that's as close as they would get. The Hurricanes out shot the Rebels 37-26 on the night. Lethbridge finished the game 1/5 on the power play while Red Deer went 0/4. The loss drops the Canes overall record to 28-42-0-1 in 71 games on the season. Assistant Coach Chris Chisamore said on the CJOC post game show that he's happy this Hurricanes team has not quit, despite being out of the playoff picture for some time. He says it just shows the character of this team.
CANES PROSPECTS IN MIDGET AAA FINALS
Remi Laurencelle, Kolten Olynek and Bryton Sayers are all gearing up for their respective League Finals which kick off this weekend. Laurencelle, the Hurricanes 2010 8th round pick, and his Winnipeg Wild team face the Southwest Cougars for the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League Title starting tonight. Laurencelle finished second in team and league scoring with 73 points (24G, 49A) in 43 games. In the playoffs he’s tied for first with 12 points (6G, 6A) in 5 games.
The Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League finals get underway Saturday with the Saskatoon Contacts and Prince Albert Mintos squaring off. The Hurricanes 2nd round pick this year – Kolten Olynek has 11 points (5G, 6A) in 8 playoff games for the Contacts and finished 3rd overall in team scoring. Bryton Sayers, the Hurricanes 3rd round pick this year led all rookie Defencemen on his team in scoring during the regular season with 29 points (8G, 21A) in 42 games.
(From Hurricanes Communications Director, Esther Madziya)
NEXT UP
The Hurricanes will play their final game of this 2011-2012 WHL season Saturday night in Medicine Hat. I suppose it's fitting the Hurricanes end the season in the same building they started this season off in late September. Medicine Hat holds a slight 4-3 edge in the 8 game season series, so the Canes will be looking to even things up 4-4 with a victory on the road. Game time is 7:30 pm MDT. The pre-game show on CJOC at 7:00.
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.
Can we end the year the same way we began it? HIT ETEM & SHINKARUK every time they touch the puck or suffer the exact same fate as the last time the Hat came to town!
ReplyDeleteGood luck lads & HAPPY GOLF SEASON! -
Richie.
I'm going to throw something out there that I heard today about why the Canes are starting Ketlo over Liston. From what I heard, because the Eastern Conference has two more teams than the Western Conference, the league is giving the 9th and 10th place teams in the East $50 000 each.
ReplyDeleteYa know, I hate spreading rumours, but if the organization (whether it be the Board of Directors, the President of the Board or the GM and coaches) aren't going to tell us the whole story, I guess rumours is all we have to go on. That's a shame, but that's the cards we're dealt.
Good luck in The Hat!
Darren
It is true that the league pays out for 9th and 10th. The amount is the question. Some years it is better financially if you don't make the playoffs than to have two home games and be out.
ReplyDeletePat,
ReplyDeleteAre you auditioning to replace the Tigers' announcer Ridley, or what? Bunz this, what a save Bunz, Bunz is going to play pro with the Oilers next year,...blah blah blah....
BUNZ was just scored on THREE times in regulation then again in the shootout by the smallest Cane on the ice (maybe the smallest that has ever played for the Canes?? - No offence, Russ) and was scored on FIVE times by the 11th place team in the Eastern Conference, and still you can't stop bragging about BUNZ. FIVE GOALS! Do you really think he is that great?
... And the year ends the way it began... with another win in the rink having the WHL's lowest fan IQ and highest post-game breathalyzer average.
THANK YOU CANES, FOR YOUR EFFORT TONIGHT AND THIS SEASON! - Richie.
Wow! Ritchie telling Hat fans like he's sees it!! It's unfortunate that some of their fans can't act like they're over 16. I'm sure they have some quality ones too (don't they?).
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure about Bunz. I think the jury is still out on whether he makes it past the AHL. (On a side note, I see former Spokane Chief Dustin Tokarsky is starting a few games for the Lightning these days). To be honest, I thought Calvin Pickard was playing at a higher level than Bunz when the World Juniors came around. The Seattle game was one of the handful I was able to see live and he was outstanding.
Darren