GAME DAY: Hurricanes Face Oil Kings in Edmonton

Edmonton, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes look to earn their first road victory of the season as they pay a visit to the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight at 7:00pm at Rogers Place.

The Hurricanes (1-1-0-0) are coming off a 4-0 loss last Saturday in Medicine Hat against the Tigers after opening the season with a 5-2 victory over the Tigers on Friday. Stuart Skinner has been sensational in the first two making a total of 77 saves in two games to lead the league in saves. Jadon Joseph currently sits as the ‘Canes leading scorer with three points (2g-1a).

The Oil Kings (0-2-0-0) were swept on WHL Opening Weekend by the Red Deer Rebels. Edmonton was handed a 7-3 loss in Red Deer on Friday before dropping a 5-3 decision on Saturday at Rogers Place. Going back to last year, the Oil Kings have won just five of their last 36 regular season games going 5-28-3-0 in that span.

Tonight will be the first of six head-to-head meetings between the Hurricanes and Oil Kings. The ‘Canes posted a 5-1-0-0 record against Edmonton last year winning two of three at Rogers Place.

2017-2018 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (2) – Jadon Joseph                                                 Assists (2) – Josh Tarzwell
Points (3) – Jadon Joseph
PIMS (6) – Jordy Bellerive                                                 Plus/Minus (+2) – Igor Merezhko
Wins (1) – Stuart Skinner                                                   Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.939) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (2.54) – Stuart Skinner

2017-2018 PRE-SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (3) – Ryan Vandervlis                                             Assists (3) – Four Players
Points (4) – Four Players
PIMS (14) – Jadon Joseph                                                                Plus/Minus (+3) – Tanner Nagel & Shawn Harke
Wins (1) – Adam Swan                                                      Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.906) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (3.18) – Stuart Skinner

2016-2017 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (51) – Tyler Wong                                                    Assists (59) – Brennan Menell
Points (109) – Tyler Wong
PIMS (103) – Zane Franklin                                              Plus/Minus (+29) – Tyler Wong
Wins (34) – Stuart Skinner                                                 Shutouts (2) – Stuart Skinner
Save % (.905) – Stuart Skinner                                        Goals Against Average (3.26) – Stuart Skinner

MILESTONE WATCH:
– Kyle Yewchuk is 4 games away from 100 career games
– Giorgio Estephan is 40 games away from 300 career games
– Giorgio Estephan is 9 points away from 250 career points
– Jack Flaman is 3 games away from 150 career games
– Jordy Bellerive is 13 games away from 150 career games
– Jordy Bellerive is 7 points away from 100 career points
– Ryan Vandervlis is 8 games away from 150 career games
– Jadon Joseph is 30 games away from 100 career games
– Zane Franklin is 28 games away from 100 career games
– Stuart Skinner is 25 wins away from 100 career victories
– Brent Kisio is 13 wins away from 100 career victories

NEWS & NOTES:
El Capitano: The Hurricanes announced that five-year veteran Giorgio Estephan has been named the 25^th Captain in franchise history, succeeding Tyler Wong. The team named Jordy Bellerive, Tanner Nagel and Ryan Vandervlis as Alternate Captains.

Big Deal: On Wednesday, September 27^th the Hurricanes acquired overage defenseman Tate Olson from the Prince George Cougars in exchange for a 2018 third round draft pick. Olson, who was a Vancouver Canucks draft pick in 2015, has played in 252 career WHL games. He is sidelined until November after undergoing off-season surgery.

Additions & Subtractions: The ‘Canes added overage forward Jack Flaman and 1999-born forward Zach Cox while releasing 1999-born forward Connor Lyons. Flaman, who played for the Vancouver Giants last year, joins the ‘Canes from the Notre Dame Hounds of the SJHL. Cox comes to the ‘Canes also from the SJHL where he started the year with the Nipawin Hawks.

Addison Gold/Pre-Draft Rankings: ‘Canes defenseman Calen Addison was ranked on TSN’s Craig Button’s pre-draft ranking as the 38^th overall skater for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The sophomore recorded 33 points as a 16-year-old last season. Addison, along with ‘Canes head coach Brent Kisio, won a Gold medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup Tournament in Slovakia in August.

Menell Signs: Hurricanes defenseman Brennan Menell has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild. Menell, who is from Woodbury, Minnesota, was invited to camp on a try-out. He appeared in one pre-season game for the Wild recording one assist against the Colorado Avalanche.

Elmer Trade: The ‘Canes announced on September 18^th that they had acquired 19-year-old forward Jake Elmer and a fifth round draft pick from the Kootenay Ice in exchange for overage forward Alec Baer. Elmer registered one goal in five pre-season contests with the Ice this season.

Belly-Inked: Hurricanes forward Jordy Bellerive signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, September 16^th. Bellerive was undrafted in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft but was invited to camp by the Penguins. He played in one exhibition game with the Penguins before being re-assigned.

Stuey Back: On Sunday, September 17^th the Edmonton Oilers re-assigned Stuart Skinner back to the ‘Canes. Skinner, who hails from Edmonton, was drafted by his hometown Oilers in the third round (78^th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. He appeared in one game in the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton.

Home Sweet Home: The Hurricanes have been one of the best teams on home ice over the last two seasons. The ‘Canes have posted an impressive 53-15-2-2 record at the ENMAX Centre the last two regular seasons (a winning percentage of .736%). The ‘Canes are 1-0-0-0 to start the new season.