GAME DAY: Hurricanes Host Tigers in Dairy Queen Home Opener
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will begin the 2018-2019 regular season tonight when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers at 7:00pm at the ENMAX Centre in the Dairy Queen Home Opener.
The Hurricanes posted a 3-2-0-0 record in the ENMAX Pre-season having split a pair of games against the Tigers. The ‘Canes also earned wins against the Red Deer Rebels and the Swift Current Broncos. Keltie Jeri-Leon led all Hurricanes scorers in the exhibition schedule with eight points (5g-3a) in four games and finished with the third most points among all WHL skaters in the tune up season.
The Tigers meanwhile posted a pre-season record of 3-1-1-0. Medicine Hat dropped an overtime loss to the Hurricanes in the pre-season opener while also suffering a regulation loss to the Moose Jaw Warriors. Forward Dawson Heathcote led all Tiger scorers in the exhibition with six points (3g-3a) in four appearances.
Tonight will be the first of 10 head-to-head meetings this regular season between the Hurricanes and the Tigers. Lethbridge posted a 4-3-0-0 record last year against Medicine Hat.
The Hurricanes will be wearing special Ryan Vandervlis jerseys for tonight’s warm-up which will begin at 6:25pm. The jerseys will be auctioned off online with the proceeds being split between the Vandervlis family and KidSport Lethbridge and Taber, as per the wish of the Vandervlis’.
Tickets for tonight’s game can be purchased online, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or by visiting the ENMAX Centre or Yates Ticket Centre’s.
TIGERS: Tonight will be the first of 10 meetings between the Hurricanes and Tigers in the 2017-2018 regular season. Lethbridge posted a 4-3-0-0 record against Medicine Hat last season. This will be the eighth straight season the Hurricanes will open the season against the Tigers.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES: TOP 5 PRE-SEASON SCORERS
September 21st/2018 – at Lethbridge Keltie Jeri-Leon – 5G, 3A – 8 points
September 22nd/2018 – at Medicine Hat Logan Barlage – 2G, 5A – 7 points
October 19th/2018 – at Medicine Hat Ty Prefontaine – 2G, 2A – 4 points
October 20th/2018 – at Lethbridge Jake Elmer – 1G, 3A – 4 points
December 1st/2018 – at Medicine Hat Dylan Cozens – 2G, 1A – 3 points
December 30th/2018 – at Lethbridge
February 22nd/2019 – at Lethbridge
February 23rd/2019 – at Medicine Hat
March 8th/2019 – at Lethbridge
March 16th/2019 – at Medicine Hat
2018 PRE-SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (5) – Keltie Jeri-Leon Assists (5) – Logan Barlage
Points (8) – Keltie Jeri-Leon
PIMS (13) – Koletrane Wilson Plus/Minus (+5) – Logan Barlage
Wins (2) – Reece Klassen Shutouts (1) – Reece Klassen
Save % (.938) – Reece Klassen Goals Against Average (1.57) – Reece Klassen
2018 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS:
Goals (16) – Brad Morrison Assists (21) – Brad Morrison
Points (37) – Brad Morrison
PIMS (24) – Owen Blocker Plus/Minus (+14) – Tate Olson
Wins (10) – Logan Flodell Shutouts (2) – Logan Flodell
Save % (.906) – Logan Flodell Goals Against Average (2.79) – Logan Flodell
2017-2018 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (46) – Jordy Bellerive Assists (54) – Calen Addison
Points (92) – Jordy Bellerive
PIMS (103) – Matthew Stanley Plus/Minus (+18) – Ty Prefontaine
Wins (38) – Logan Flodell Shutouts (3) – Logan Flodell
Save % (.909) – Logan Flodell Goals Against Average (3.13) – Logan Flodell
MILESTONE WATCH:
– Calen Addison is 2 points away from 100 career points
– Calen Addison is 15 games away from 150 career games
– Ty Prefontaine is 25 games away from 150 career games
– Igor Merezhko is 1 game away from 200 career games
– Jordy Bellerive is 16 goals away from 100 career goals
– Jordy Bellerive is 16 points away from 200 career points
– Jake Elmer is 14 games away from 150 career games
– Logan Barlage is 25 games away from 100 career games
NEWS & NOTES:
Tune Up Done: The Hurricanes completed the ENMAX Pre-Season with a 3-2-0-0 record. The ‘Canes earned victories over the Swift Current Broncos, the Red Deer Rebels and the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Hurricanes defeats came to the Broncos and the Tigers, both on the road.
Season Opener: The ‘Canes open their 32nd season in Lethbridge with a home-and-home with their rival Medicine Hat Tigers. It will be the eighth straight season the ‘Canes will open the year against the Tigers. Lethbridge has won each of the last three season openers against Medicine Hat.
High Profile: Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens will be under the microscope this season. The defending WHL Rookie of the Year has been projected by TSN’s Craig Button as the second overall pick for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Cozens had 53 points (22g-31a) in 57 games last year while adding 13 points (7g-6a) in 16 post-season games.
Seeing Double: The Hurricanes have twin brothers on their roster for the first time ever. Adam and Justin Hall were both drafted in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. They are the first brother tandem to suit up simultaneously for the Hurricanes since Axel and Albin Blomqvist in 2012-2013. Adam was born before Justin, by just two minutes.
Great Experience: Four Hurricanes players attended NHL Training Camps and Exhibition. Captain Jordy Bellerive and Calen Addison were with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both appeared in one pre-season game with the Penguins, Addison earned an assist in his lone appearance. Defenseman Igor Merezhko was with the Calgary Flames and goaltender Akira Schmid attended the New Jersey Devils camp.
Golden Moment: Two members of the Hurricanes helped Canada capture gold at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton. ‘Canes forward Dylan Cozens appeared in all six games for Canada and finished with seven points (1g-6a). Hurricanes Assistant/Video Coach Andrew Doty served as the Video Coach at the tournament.
Canada Calling: Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio will serve as an Assistant Coach for Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria. Kisio has coached for Canada at the Under-17 and the Under-18 levels in his career. ‘Canes players Jordy Bellerive and Calen Addison were invited to the World Junior Showcase tournament in August as they vie for spots on the team.
Home-Sweet-Home: Over the last three years, the Hurricanes have posted an impressive 72-28-6-2 regular season record at the ENMAX Centre (a winning percentage of .667%). Over those three seasons, only the Kelowna Rockets (76), Seattle Thunderbirds (75) and the Brandon Wheat Kings (74) have posted more home-ice wins. The ‘Canes were 19-13-4-0 at home during the 2017-2018 regular season.
