Canes Weekly
Published on October 15, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release
Last Week:
Tuesday, October 9th "" Hurricanes (1) vs. Prince Albert (4)
The Canes welcomed the hottest team in the league and got off to a great start, scoring just 21 seconds into the game when Russ Maxwell (Jaimen Yakubowski, Axel Blomqvist) buried his 3rd of the season from the side of the net. That opening goal was also the first time the Hurricanes have scored first in their first 7 games to start the season. The Hurricanes played their best opening 20 minutes of the season and had plenty of scoring chances but they couldn't find a way to beat Luke Siemens. The Raiders picked up their play in the second and scored just over 4 minutes into the period when Mike Winther buried his 1st of the year. The Raiders scored on their first powerplay to make it a 2-1 game and that's how things stood after two periods. In the third, Prince Albert would get a little breathing room as Riley Guenther scored and then an empty netter sealed the win. Final shots on goal favored the Raiders 35-20; the Canes were 0/3 on the powerplay while the Raiders were 1/1.
Friday, October 12th "" Hurricanes (3) vs. Prince George (2)
The Hurricanes hadn't won in a game in October since 2010, but they broke through with a 3-2 win over the Cougars in one of their best games of the season. For the second game in a row, the Canes opened the scoring on a powerplay goal just 1:18 into the first period when Russ Maxwell buried his team-leading 4th goal of the season. The Hurricanes would get a late 5 minute power play when PG's Caleb Belter was given a major penalty and ejected from the game for a hit from behind as he knocked down Jaimen Yakubowski. The Canes would score on that major power play as Russ Maxwell scored his 5th of the season and second of the night giving Lethbridge a 2-goal cushion. A few minutes later, PG would cut into the lead when Lethbridge native Brock Hirsche slapped the puck by Ty Rimmer. The Cougars drew even just 52 seconds into the 3rd when Jari Erricson fired the puck by Rimmer and with OT looming, Sam McKechnie took a feed from Graham Hood and roofed a shot into the top corner for his 4th of the season with 4:53 to go and that proved to be the game winner. Lethbridge outshot the Cougars 28-27 and they finished the night 2/6 with the man advantage while the Cougars were 1/6.
Saturday, October 13th "" Hurricanes (2) vs. Saskatoon (5)
Both teams came out flying with some chances early on in the game, but it was Saskatoon opening up the scoring at 7:26 when Brett Stovin scored his first of the year. Back to back penalties to the Blades would give Lethbridge a 5 on 3 powerplay for 1:37 but they weren't able to convert on any of their quality scoring chances. The Canes would pull even moments later as Jamal Watson fed a nice pass to Jay Merkley (Remi Laurencelle) who skated in and buried it behind Makarov. Less than 2 minutes later Saskatoon restored the lead on a goal from Josh Nicholls and 2-1 is how the first period would end. The Blades would add a pair of goals in the 2nd to go up 4-1 and that's how the 2nd period would end. The Canes had a 5 on 3 PP into the 3rd, but they couldn't score and took a penalty of their own which ended their man advantage. Later in the 3rd, Brett Stovin buried his hat trick goal to make it 5-1 and then Sam McKechnie added his 5th of the year with just over a minute to play but Saskatoon skates away with a 5-2 win ending their 5 game losing streak. The Canes powerplay finished 0/6 on the night while Saskatoon was 1/1.
Stats Leaders:
Points (7) "" Russell Maxwell
Goals (5) "" Russell Maxwell, Sam McKechnie
Assists (4) "" Graham Hood
PIM's (25) "" Spencer Galbraith
Plus/Minus (+1) "" Reid Duke, Ryan Pilon
Practice Schedule:
Monday "" 1:30 "" 4:00pm (Media availability 12:30 "" 1:00)
Tuesday "" 1:30 "" 4:00pm (Media availability 12:30 "" 1:00P
Wednesday "" Game Day vs. Brandon
Thursday ""1:30 "" 4:00 (Media availability 12:30 "" 1:00)
Friday "" Game Day vs. Kamloops
Saturday "" Game Day vs. Moose Jaw
Looking Ahead:
Wednesday, October 17th "" Lethbridge vs. Brandon "" 7:00pm
Tonight marks the return of Nick Buonassisi to the ENMAX Centre for the first time since the overager was traded in the off-season to the Wheat Kings. As a member of the Hurricanes last year, Buono had 1G, 2A in 4 games vs. Brandon and this year he has 12 points in 9 games for the WK's. In the 2011-2012 season, Brandon won the season series 3-1-0-0 with the lone win for the Hurricanes coming on February 3rd when they skated away with a 4-2 win. Captain Graham Hood and Adam Henry were among the goal scorers that night while Macoy Erkamps, Jamal Watson, Jay Merkley, Brady Ramsay, Dan Johnston and Craig Leverton all added assists. Tonight also marks the return of Brady Ramsay who was suspended 5 games by the WHL for his actions at the Kootenay Ice on September 29th. Before his suspension Ramsay had 1G in his 4 games played. The WK's and Canes will play 3 more times this season, with the next game on November 9th.
Friday, October 19th "" Lethbridge vs. Kamloops "" 7:00pm
The Hurricanes will host the Kamloops Blazers on Friday night at the ENMAX Centre. The Blazers are the top team in the BC Division and the West Conference with an 8-0-0-1 record in their 9 games. The Blazers swept their 2-game season series with the Canes last year with wins of 7-4 (October 21st) and 3-0 (January 18th) The Canes and Blazers will wrap up their season series on December 14th.
Saturday, October 13th "" Lethbridge vs. Moose Jaw "" 7:00pm
The Lethbridge Hurricanes were 1-3-0-0 against the Moose Jaw Warriors last season and tonight play the first of 4 meetings against the East Division squad. The Canes and Warriors are two very different teams after the Hurricanes traded then-Captain Cam Braes to the Warriors for a 1st round draft pick which the Canes selected Thomas Lenchyshyn (18th overall) at this year's Bantam Draft. Through their first 9 games of the season, Moose Jaw is 4-4-0-1. The Canes and Warriors will meet again in less than a week's time when Lethbridge makes a mini 2-road trip to Saskatchewan playing the Warriors in the 24th.
Milestone Watch:
Brady Ramsay "" 4 points shy of 50 for his career
Remi Laurencelle "" scored his first career WHL goal vs. Spokane on October 6th, 2012
Joel Topping "" recorded his first career WHL point with his 1 assist vs. Tri City on October 5th, 2012
Axel Blomqvist "" recorded his first career WHL point with 1 assist vs. Spokane on October 6th, 2012
Graham Hood "" hit the 100 career point milestone with 1 assist vs. Kootenay on September 29th
Ty Rimmer "" has played 100 career regular season WHL games (Oct 6th.) Rimmer is 1 shutout shy from 10 in his career
News and Notes:
- Leading the Way: The Lethbridge Hurricanes named overage forward Graham Hood the 22nd Captain in Hurricanes history. Hood follows in the footsteps of four of his former teammates "" Brody Sutter, Cam Braes (2011-2012), Mike Reddington (2010-11) and Carter Bancks (2009-10) who have worn the "C" during his time in Lethbridge.
- CSS Says: Central Scouting released its "preliminary watch list" for 2012 with Defenceman Adam Henry (who is sidelined until January with a heart condition) and rookie Forward Axel Blomqvist in the rankings. Henry finished with 21 points (4G, 17A) in 60 games last year while Blomqvist had 46 points in 38 games with Rogle J18 last season.
COMMUNITY CORNER:
On Tuesday, October 16th at 9:00am as part of their Education Program with Careers, member of the Lethbridge Hurricanes will visit Lethbridge Fire Station #1 for a building tour as well as learn about firefighting as a career. The media is invited to join the players as they tour the facility and meet with Emergency Services personnel at the fire hall.
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.
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)
Western Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2012
- Cougars Acquire Veteran Goaltender Mac Engel from Spokane Chiefs - Prince George Cougars
- Engel Traded to Prince George - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Sign Prospect Rodney Southam - Tri-City Americans
- Major Junior Hockey The Focus On Episode 14 of Puska on Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
- Royals' Money Mart Mad Monday Tickets Sold Out - Victoria Royals
- Canes Weekly - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Portland Winterhawks this Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders this Week - Prince Albert Raiders
- Blazers Week in Review - Kamloops Blazers
- Pat Chat - Regina Pats
- Kamloops Blazers' JC Lipon Named Denny's WHL Player of the Week - WHL
- Warriors Weekly Update - Moose Jaw Warriors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
