Cleaver Sharp as Hurricanes Shutout Wheat Kings 3-0 on Monday
Brandon, MB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes ended a three-game East Division road trip on Monday with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings at Westoba Place.
The game marked Brandon’s annual Remembrance Day game with a special pre-game ceremony. Lethbridge had a great start to the game as they opened the scoring just 4:47 into the period when Logan Wormald had a puck deflect off him and into the net for his team-leading 12th goal of the season to make it 1-0; Brayden Edwards and Will Sharpe earned the assists on the play. Edwards extended his personal point streak to 10-straight games marking the first ‘Canes to have a scoring streak in double digits since the 2019-2020 season when Oliver Okuliar did it twice that year; Wormald extended his point streak to eight straight games. Lethbridge was outshot 11-10 in the period but led 1-0 after twenty minutes of play.
The Hurricanes started the second period with a four-on-three power play opportunity; the ‘Canes had a trio of great chances including a point-blank chance for Wormald, but Wheat Kings goaltender Carson Bjarnason made a terrific save to keep it a 1-0 Lethbridge advantage. Shortly after the power play, the Hurricanes doubled their lead with a goal by Noah Chadwick who wired his fourth goal of the year at the 3:35 mark to make it 2-0; Kash Andresen was credited with the lone assist on the goal. Late in the period, Brandon came close to cutting into the lead on an odd man rush by Jaxon Jacobson who ripped a shot, but Hurricanes goaltender Koen Cleaver made a great save with the pad to preserve the ‘Canes 2-0 lead after forty minutes of play. The Hurricanes outshot the Wheat Kings 12-7 in the second period.
In the third period, Brandon pressed outshooting Lethbridge 17-11 in the frame in hopes of chipping into the Hurricanes lead. The Wheat Kings had a pair of great chances when Jacobson ripped a short side shot, but Cleaver made a great pad save to keep the ‘Canes ahead 2-0. Brandon pulled the goaltender late in the game, but Miguel Marques would find an empty-net goal for his ninth goal of the year to make it a 3-0 final; Edwards earned the lone assist on the goal for his 150th career point.
The Hurricanes were outshot 35-33 in the game. Lethbridge and Brandon both went 0/1 on the power play in the contest.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #30 Koen Cleaver (35-save shutout – first career shutout)
2) Wheat Kings – #64 Carson Bjarnason (31-saves)
3) ‘Canes – #8 Noah Chadwick (1 goal)
The victory extended the Hurricanes winning streak to a season-long four-straight wins as their road record improved to 4-4-0-0 on the year. Lethbridge’s overall record lifted to 12-5-1-0 on the season as they leapfrog the Saskatoon Blades for top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Lethbridge will continue their stretch of nine games in nine different cites when they return home on Saturday, November 16th to welcome the Victoria Royals at 6:00pm on RE/MAX Presents: Nickelodeon Night for Children’s Miracle Network. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Yates Memorial Theatre or VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
