Hurricanes Blast Hitmen to End Pre-Season
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes concluded the 2025 ENMAX Pre-Season on Saturday with a 7-1 victory over the Calgary Hitmen at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
Lethbridge and Calgary both played the final of their five-game pre-season schedules. It also marked the first of three-straight meetings between the ‘Canes and Hitmen as they will open the regular season next weekend with a home-and-home set. The Hurricanes had a strong first period as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead just 3:34 into the game when Easton Daneault wired home his first of the pre-season from the right circle beating Hitmen netminder Aidan Hesse over the glove; Gavin Lesiuk earned the lone assist on the goal. Calgary had a power play at the mid-way point of the period, but Koen Cleaver – who made his second start of the exhibition season – was strong turning aside of pair of chances by Calder Hamilton. The ‘Canes doubled their lead late in the frame as Chase Petersen buried a rebound in the final minute to put Lethbridge up 2-0 after twenty minutes of play; Tyden Lafournaise and Matteo Fabrizi collected the assists on the goal. Lethbridge outshot Calgary 15-6 in the first period.
Calgary had an early second period power play when Shane Smith was assessed a goaltender interference penalty, but again the Hitmen were unable to convert with the extra man. The Hitmen cut the Hurricane lead in half late in the period with a shorthanded goal – the third allowed by the ‘Canes in the pre-season – when Luc Trevors scored a back hand shot on a breakaway to make it a 2-1 game. The Hurricanes responded on the same power play, however, as they struck with the extra man as Daneault potted his second of the game just 25-seconds after the Hitmen goal to restore the two-goal lead; Enzo DiDomenicantonio and Carson Olsen picked up the helpers on the goal as Lethbridge led 3-1 after forty minutes of play. Calgary outshot Lethbridge 11-8 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes exploded for four goals while outshooting the Hitmen 18-10 in the final stanza. Just 50-seconds into the period, Shane Smith potted his first of the exhibition season as he was able to jam home a rebound to make it a three-goal lead; Kai Anderson and Logan Wormald picked up the helpers on the goal. Just under eight-minutes later, Lethbridge added another when Anderson finished a three-way passing play for his second of the pre-season to make it a 5-1 game; Smith and Wormald earned the assists on the goal as the trio combined for eight points in the game. Anderson added his second of the game exactly five-minutes later snapping home a centering pass from Wormald. The Hurricanes added another late goal in the final minute when Jake Evans lifted home his second pre-season goal from Daneault and Fabrizi to round out the scoring giving Lethbridge a 7-1 win.
The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 41-27 in the game. Lethbridge went 1/2 on the power play while Calgary was 0/3 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #16 Easton Daneault (2 goals, 1 assist)
2) ‘Canes – #17 Kai Anderson (2 goals, 1 assist)
3) ‘Canes – #10 Shane Smith (1 goal, 1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes ended their five-game pre-season schedule with a 1-4-0-0 record as they split a pair of games against the Hitmen. Lethbridge ended 1-2-0-0 on home-ice during the exhibition schedule.
The Hurricanes will open the 2025-2026 regular season on Friday, September 19th when they welcome the Hitmen in the Dairy Queen Home Opener at 7:00pm at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena. The ‘Canes will hold a Tailgate Party prior to the game starting at 5:00pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
