WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes

Canes Weekly

Published on December 4, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release


Last Week:

Tuesday, November 27th - Hurricanes (3) at Saskatoon (5)

The Canes looked to end a 5 game winless streak when they faced the Saskatoon Blades and they jumped out to a quick start just 61 seconds into the game when Sam McKechnie beat Andrey Makarov with his 11th of the year. It was all Hurricanes in the opening 10 minutes of the period, before Saskatoon started to push back and get some chances but it was 1-0 Canes after the 1st period. The second period was a carbon copy of the first with the Hurricanes again controlling play in the opening 10 minutes before the Blades started to push back. Rimmer made some key saves in the first couple of minutes but Nick Zajac would get the equalizer just 2:34 in. The Hurricanes would restore their lead 90 seconds later when Jaimen Yakubowski buried his 9th of the year. Two minutes later rookie Defenceman Ryan Pilon scored his 4th of the year giving the Canes a two goal advantage. Midway through the period, the Hurricanes would have a goal waved off a that would have given them a 3-goal cushion but instead, Saskatoon cut into the lead on a 2 on 1 rush when Brendan Walker beat Ty Rimmer and it was a 3-2 game. That seemed to change the game for good because in the 3rd an unfortunate situation would tie the game. Lethbridge was on the PP when Joel Topping tried to knock the puck off his stick but instead it went past Rimmer and into his own goal. That made it 3-3 and two minutes later a powerplay goal by Darren Dietz made it 4-3. The injury riddled Blades added an empty netter for a 5-3 win.

Wednesday, November 28th - Hurricanes (6) at Prince Albert (4)

Now in the midst of a 6-game losing slide, Lethbridge faced the East Conference leading Prince Albert Raiders and opted to start backup goalie Christopher Tai in goal in what was just his 2nd career WHL start. The Canes jumped out to a quick start with some quality scoring chances, but it was Prince Albert that opened the scoring on their first shot on goal. Sawyer Lange made it 1-0, but o the Canes first powerplay of the game Russ Maxwell got in front of Luke Siemens and fired his team leading 15th goal of the season behind the Raiders netminder. PA would regain the lead just over a minute later when a funny bounce off the glass went right to Anthony Bardaro and it was 2-1 Raiders after the 1st. It was a fast paced and back and forth second period with the Hurricanes tied the game 2-2 just 2 minutes in when Jamal Watson's shot went off Mark McNeill and behind Siemens. Four minutes later, the Hurricanes would take their first lead of the game when Jaimen Yakubowski got behind the PA defence. He was stopped by Siemens but Sam McKechnie was there to follow-up with his 12th of the year and it was 3-2 Lethbridge. The lead was again short-lived as the Raiders tied the game on a goal by McNeill just over a minute and a half later making it a 3-3 game. Prince Albert would take the lead once again when Jonas Knutsen ripped a shot behind Tai from the high slot and it was 4-3 through 40 minutes. The Hurricanes would pull even at the 6 minute mark of the 3rd on Jaimen Yakubowski's 10th of the season and six minutes after that Axel Blomqvist would tally his 3rd of the year giving the Canes the lead for the 2nd time in the game 5-4. Prince Albert would pull Siemens for the extra attacker in the final minute of the game, but Yakubowski sealed the victory with an empty netter as the Canes end the 6 game losing skid with a 6-4 win.

Saturday, December 1st - Hurricanes (1) at Medicine Hat (2)/SO

In their 4th meeting with Medicine Hat, Lethbridge got off to a fast start less than 3 minutes into the game when a turnover led to Craig Leverton taking a pass from Jay Merkley and he went 5-hold on Cam Lanigan for his 5th of the year for a 1-nothing lead. Teams always talk about having "bounces" go their way and that was the case for Medicine Hat just over 2 minutes into the 2nd period. A dump in by Dylan Busenius from centre ice took a flukey bounce and beat Rimmer making it a 1-1 game. Rimmer was again solid the rest of the way including stopping Boston Leier on a shorthanded breakaway which would be Rimmer's best save of the game. The teams battled for the lead in the 3rd, but after both goalies stood on their head and combined to make 26 saves, the game would go to overtime. The Canes had a few more chances to end it, but the game would go to a shootout to decide a winner and the Tigers squeaked out a 2-1 win.

Sunday, December 2nd - Hurricanes (3) at Edmonton (4)

Edmonton opened the scoring when Curtis Lazar beat Ty Rimmer from the high slot on a shot that beat him low glove side. Dylan Wruck would make it a 2-0 game when he beat a screened Rimmer. The Canes turned it up in the second period and it was a wild middle frame between the two division rivals. Edmonton made it 3-0 when Edgars Kulda put a backhander over Rimmer, but the Canes would go to work on their powerplay. With a 5 on 3 man advantage for 1:23, they would get the first goal on a pretty tic tac toe play that was finished off by the Captain Graham Hood who scored his 4th of the season in his first game back after missing 11 games. A few minutes later, Jaimen Yakubowski got the Canes to within a goal on his 12th of the year. The Canes would pull even 2 minutes later and it started with the Canes shorthanded, Yakubowski was hooked on a partial break and he was awarded a penalty shot. Yakubowski was stopped by Tristan Jarry as his shot bounced up and hit the OK's netminder, but the puck rolled down his back and into the net for the shorthanded penalty shot goal that made it a 3-3 game. Edmonton would retake the lead a couple of minutes later when Lazar scored on the powerplay and it was 4-3 after 40 minutes and that's how this one ended after a scoreless 3rd period.

2012 - 2013 Stats Leaders:

Points (30), Goals (15), Powerplay Goals (7) - Russell Maxwell

Assists (16) - Daniel Johnston

Rookie Points Leader (18) - Axel Blomqvist

PIM's (85) - Jaimen Yakubowski

Plus/Minus (+9) - Lenny Hackman

Practice Schedule:

Monday - 1:30pm - 4:00pm (Media availability 1:00pm)

Tuesday - 1:30 - 4:00pm (Media availability 12:15 - 12:45)

Wednesday - Game Day vs. Edmonton - 7:00pm

Thursday - 1:30 - 4:00pm (Media availability 12:15 - 12:45)

Friday - Game Day vs. Medicine Hat - 7:00pm

Saturday - Game Day vs. Kootenay (Teddy Bear Toss Night) - 7:00pm

Looking Ahead:

Wednesday, December 5th - Hurricanes vs. Oil Kings - 7:00pm

The Hurricanes will get a chance to exact a little revenge on the Oil Kings as they two teams play for the second time in four days. The Oil Kings have won both meetings this season with wins of 3-0 (September 26th) and 4-3 on Sunday. The division rivals will play three more time this season, with the final three games (one at the ENMAX Centre) to be played in January.

Friday, December 7th - Hurricanes vs. Tigers - 7:00pm

It's been a good battle so far between the Hurricanes and their rivals from Medicine Hat. The two teams split their home and home series to open up the season and the Canes won again on November 2nd. Lethbridge visited Medicine Hat this past weekend and opened the scoring, but a fluke goal led to a tie game after regulation and the Tigers would win the game in a shootout. Lethbridge and Medicine Hat play each other 8 times this season and they'll wrap up their season series with a home and home on the final week of the regular season.

Saturday, December 8th - Hurricanes vs. Ice - 7:00pm (Teddy Bear Toss Night)

The Hurricanes and divison rivals from Cranbrook, play each other six times this season, but this is just their 2nd meeting of the year. The two haven't played since September 29th when Lethbridge skated to a 4-2. Ty Rimmer made 16 saves in the win while Russ Maxwell led the way with 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists)

Milestone Watch:

Ty Rimmer surpassed the 500 save mark this season on October 27th vs. Swift Current (he also became the first goalie in the CHL to hit 500 saves) Rimmer surpassed 3,000 saves (regular season) for his career. His 29 saves vs. Regina on October 26th gave him 3,003 for his career. He played his 100th WHL game (regular season) on October 6th and recorded his 10th career shutout on Oct. 23rd vs. Swift Current. Chris Tai got his 1st career WHL win on November 28th at Prince Albert, a 6-4 win.

Graham Hood - hit the 100 career point milestone with 1 assist vs. Kootenay on September 29th

Brady Ramsay - recorded his 50th career point vs. Kamloops on October 19th, 2012

Russ Maxwell - played in his 150th career game on October 17th vs. Brandon

Ryan Pilon, Tyler Wong, Remi Laurencelle, Axel Blomqvist have all scored their first career WHL goals this season

Lenny Hackman and Joel Topping have all recorded their first career WHL points as well this season

News and Notes:

- U17's Team Pacific: Hockey Alberta announced their 22 man roster for the upcoming World Junior Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Victoriaville/Drummondville, Quebec starting on December 29th and Canes Rookie Forward Reid Duke was named to the team. In 22 games this season, he's 3rd in rookie scoring with 6 points (6A). Also competing will be Ryan Pilon and Kolten Olynek who were named to Team West. Pilon has played 16 games for the Hurricanes this season and he has9 points (3G, 6A) while Olynek leads the Saskatoon Contacts and the SMAAAHL with 29 points in just 14 games. Last year Jay Merkley, Craig Leverton, Remi Laurencelle and Macoy Erkamps all played in the tournament last year.

COMMUNITY CORNER:

-Tuesday, December 4th at 9:00am the Hurricanes will be making another school visit and this one will be to Gilbert Paterson to speak to kids in the Hockey Program. There will be time for a presentation by our players, Q & A and autographs afterwards with Graham Hood, Ty Rimmer, Adam Henry and Brady Ramsay.

-The Canadian Tire/Global TV Teddy Bear Toss Night is coming up on Saturday, December 8th when the Lethbridge Hurricanes host the Kootenay Ice. Last year Graham Hood scored the "goal" that sent the bears flying and 2,928 bears were collected and donated to a number of Lethbridge and Southern Alberta organizations. Join us on December 8th for the big game and help ensure that no child goes without a toy this holiday season. Once again this year you can purchase a bear at either Canadian Tire location for $9.99 or more and receive a ticket to the game. The Lethbridge Hurricanes will deliver the bears to Chinook Regional Hospital on Monday, December 10th at 10:00am (further details to follow)

-With back to back games this weekend, that means it's another "2 for $32" weekend. Be sure to stop by the ENMAX Centre and purchase a ticket for each night of a Friday / Saturday back to back home stand and receive a complimentary pop for each game courtesy of the ENMAX Centre! Why not spend your weekend with the Canes this weekend as we welcome our rivals from Medicine Hat on Friday and the Kootenay Ice for Teddy Bear Toss on Saturday - see both games all for $32 ... so save on your ticket price and enjoy a complimentary pop for each game courtesy of the ENMAX Centre!

-Every Friday home game throughout the season is also "Food Bank Fridays". Be sure to bring a non-perishable food item for the Lethbridge Food Bank. Also look for the Food Bank on the concourse and be sure to enter your name into draw for a weekly prize (winners announced during the game - 3rd period)

-EXCLUSIVE for Season Ticket Holders: This season we're introducing the Perfect Attendance! We want to reward our Season Ticket Holders for their perfect attendance. If their season ticket is scanned for every home game during the Hurricanes 2012-2013 regular season, they will be entered in a draw to win a free season ticket in 2013-2014.

Check out the Lethbridge Hurricanes Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2012


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