WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes

Canes Weekly

Published on March 11, 2013 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release


Around the Rink:

The Lethbridge Hurricanes only have 2 home games remaining and we'd love to see a sellout for the rest of those games!! Let's pack the barn as the Canes make their final push for the playoffs!! Join us for a few special celebrations in those final home games as well:

March 13th - Fan Appreciation Night: this year's Team Poster will be handed out to those fans coming into the doors (limited quantity, don't miss out) and after the game, all the players will be up on the concourse signing autographs. The souvenir shop will have autographed Jerseys and player hockey cards for sale as a number of discounts in the store. Get a great deal on some Canes swag & apparel!!

March 15th - Jersey Off Our Backs / Awards Night: the Hurricanes will recognize this year's award winners in a pregame ceremony as well as welcome former Lethbridge Bronco Bryan Trottier to the game and he'll also present the award for MVP. Friday, the Canadian Cancer Society will also hold a special Chuck-A-Puck during intermission and a LIVE auction after the game for the annual Jersey Off Our Backs night.

LOOKING BACK:

Wednesday, March 6th - Hurricanes (0) vs. Red Deer (4)

The trend of close games between the two division rivals continued with both Ty Rimmer and Patrik Bartosak shutting the door on the 18 (combined) shots they faced in the opening 20 minutes. In the second, Captain Graham Hood, who reached a milestone by playing in his 300th career WHL game was given a 5 minute major penalty and game misconduct for boarding on Red Deer's Devan Fafard. On the power play, the Rebels would take the lead as a slap pass from the Lethbridge blue line was tipped perfectly by Turner Elson giving the Rebels a 1-0 lead. Red Deer added another when the Canes got caught while on the power play behind their own goal and Elson scored shorthanded to make it a 2-0 game. Before the end of the middle frame, Wyatt Johnson's shot from just inside the right face-off circle beat Rimmer 5-hole for a 3-goal advantage despite the Canes outshooting the Rebels 28-21. Red Deer connected on a late powerplay in the 3rd when Matthew Dumba made it a 4-0 game and that's how this one ended. Lethbridge once again ran into a hot goalie in Bartosak who shut them out for the second time this season. The Canes were 0/6 on the powerplay while the Rebels were 2/4.

Friday, March 8th - Hurricanes (2) at Red Deer (4)

The Canes came out with the jump they needed and had a couple of chances, but Red Deer took the early lead when Tyson Ness scored just 1:33 into the game. The Rebels added to the lead midway through the period on a shorthanded goal from Turner Elson. Despite the Canes carrying most of the play, the Rebels went ahead 3-0 on a goal from Ryhse Dieno. After 6 shutout periods against Red Deer, Lethbridge scored with 25 seconds to go in the 1st when Brady Ramsay scored his 12th of the season making it 3-1 after one. The Canes cut into the lead early in the 2nd when Ty Rimmer spotted the Rebels on the change and after Jaimen Yakubowski was stopped by Patrik Bartosak, Jamal Watson buried the rebound making it a one-goal game. Both teams tried to get the upper edge in the 3rd but once again Rimmer made one incredible save after another to keep his team in the game and at the other end, Bartosak did the same despite Lethbridge tossing one shot after another his way. Late in the period, Ness sealed the game on an empty netter resulting in a 4-2 Rebels. The loss didn't change the playoff chase for 8th as the Kootenay Ice lost 6-4 in Tri-City.

Saturday, March 9th - Hurricanes (0) at Calgary (9)

It was a slow start in the opening few minutes of this game for Lethbridge, but the Canes certainly picked up the pace as the period moved along. Ty Rimmer came up with several key saves for Lethbridge, while Chris Driedger was tested a few times as well. Both goalies managed to keep their opponents off the scoresheet in the opening 20 minutes with the Canes narrowly outshooting the Hitmen 11-9. In the second, Calgary would strike first and take a commanding 3-0 lead in the game. Brooks Macek got things going when he picked off the puck on a Lethbridge giveaway and beat Rimmer to make it 1-0 Hitmen early in the period. Late in the period, Calgary would get two more when Cody Sylvester made it 2-0 and with just over a minute remaining in the period, Victor Rask snapped a shot by a screened Ty Rimmer to make it 3-0 Hitmen after 40 minutes with Calgary holding a slight edge in shots 23-16. In the third, the Hitmen would keep the offence coming in a big way with 6 more goals. Brooks Macek would score twice more to get the hat trick. Pavlo Padakin also scored along with Cody Sylvester with his second of the evening along with a goal by Brady Brassart. All that would add up to a 9-0 lead for the Hitmen and that's the way the game would end. Calgary finished the game 3/5 on the powerplay and also scored a shorthanded goal while Lethbridge went 0/6. Final shots on goal were 44-22 Calgary.

2012-2013 STATS LEADERS:

Points (51), Assists (30), PPGs (9) - Russell Maxwell

Goals (32) - Jaimen Yakubowski

PIMs (127) - Brady Ramsay

Rookie Points Leader (33) - Axel Blomqvist

Plus/Minus (+7) - Reid Duke

PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

Monday - 1:30pm (media availability from 12:15 - 12:45 / practice is at Henderson)

Tuesday - Game Day at Kootenay Ice (7:00pm)

Wednesday - Game Day vs. Kootenay Ice (7:00pm)

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

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

Saturday - Game Day vs. Medicine Hat (7:30pm)

LOOKING AHEAD:

Tuesday, March 12th/Wednesday, March 13th - Hurricanes vs. Kootenay Ice

The Lethbridge Hurricanes and Kootenay Ice are playing the two biggest games of the season over the next two days as they close out their season series with a home and home matchup. Despite losing their last three games, the Kootenay Ice continue to hold down the final playoff spot in the East - 6 points ahead of the Hurricanes who have a record of 0-4-1 in their last five games. Tonight's game is crucial to keep the Hurricanes playoff hopes alive and if the previous 4 meetings between the two is any indication it should be another close game. The season series is even at two games apiece with the Ice winning the most recent matchup 2-0 on Feb. 24th. Against the Ice this year, Russ Maxwell leads the way with 6 points (3G, 3A) in four games.

Friday, March 15th/Saturday, March 16th - Hurricanes vs. Medicine Hat

The Lethbridge Hurricanes close out the regular season in the same way they kicked it off - with a home and home date with the Medicine Hat Tigers. If the Hurricanes can manage to sweep their games with Kootenay, their playoff lives will then rest on the series with the Hat (as well as needing the Ice to lose). The Tigers lead the season series 4-2.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Milestone Watch:

Graham Hood: played in his 300th career WHL game March 6th vs. Red Deer

Russ Maxwell: played in his 200th career WHL game on March 2nd vs. Kelowna. He also surpassed 100 points for his WHL career on February 16th.

Craig Leverton, Adam Henry: 2 games shy of 100 for their careers

Record Breakers: On February 24th, Goalie Ty Rimmer became the franchise leader for saves in a single season. His 35th save in the 3rd period (vs. Kootenay) gave him 1,838 on the season breaking the record of 1,837 set by Jeff Ferguson in the 1987-88 season. Rimmer finished the game with 48 saves on 49 shots.

NHL Central Scouting (Mid-Season) Report: 3 Hurricanes ranked - Jamal Watson is listed at 182, Axel Blomqvist at 185 and despite limited viewing (missing 38 games recovering from a heart condition) Adam Henry is 213th.

Trade winds (Jan. 10th WHL Deadline): The Canes shipped former 1st round draft pick Jay Merkley to Swift Current for LW Josh Derko and a 3rd rounder in 2014. They added Defenceman Mike Simpson from Kootenay for a 5th round pick in 2013. The Hurricanes also reassigned D-man Connor Sutton to the Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL.

Recognition: Jaimen Yakubowski became the first Hurricane to be named WHL Player of the Week (twice.) For the week of Nov. 26th - Dec. 2nd, Yakubowski had 8 points (5G, 3A) in 4 games; the following week (Dec. 3rd - 9th) he recorded 9 points (6G, 3A) in 3 games to be named POW. At this same time, Yakubowski was also named the CHL's Player of the Week for the week ending December 9th.

U17 Challenge: Canes Rookie Forward Reid Duke (Team Pacific) and Ryan Pilon (Team West) competed at the World Under-17 Challenge along with Prospect Kolten Olynek. Team West finished 9th while Team Pacific claimed 5th.

Check out the Lethbridge Hurricanes Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2013


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