GAME DAY: Hurricanes Open Second Half, Welcome Broncos
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes open the second half of the season tonight as they welcome the Swift Current Broncos at 7:00pm to the ENMAX Centre in the first of a two-game homestand.
The Hurricanes (15-15-2-0) enter on a four-game losing streak after suffering a 7-2 loss on December 16th in Medicine Hat to the Tigers at Co-op Place. Miguel Marques and Joe Arntsen scored in the loss while Brady Smith made 31-saves in the setback. It marked the first time since November 2021 that the Hurricanes have lost four-straight games. Lethbridge enters tonight with an 8-6-2-0 record at home this year.
The Broncos (16-14-1-2) enter with a 4-4-0-0 record in their last eight games. Swift Current suffered a 7-4 loss in Calgary in their final game before the break. Maddix McCagherty, Tyson Laventure, Connor Hvidston and Zach Turner scored in the loss while Matthew Kieper made 31-saves in relief. The Broncos enter with a 6-11-0-1 road record this season.
Tonight will be the fifth of eight meetings on the season between the Hurricanes and Broncos; Lethbridge has posted a 3-1-0-0 record against Swift Current this year while having won four of the last five meetings dating back to last year. Tickets for tonight’s game can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
DOWNLOAD GAME NOTES/STATS HERE: 2023-12-27 – LET vs. SC
VS. BRONCOS: Tonight will be the fifth of eight meetings between the Hurricanes and the Broncos this season. The ‘Canes have posted a 3-1-0-0 record against the Broncos and having won four of the last five meetings dating back to last season; Lethbridge is 7-2-0-0 in the last nine head-to-head meetings. The Hurricanes posted a 5-2-0-0 record in seven meetings last year. The ‘Canes have posted an all-time record of 95-101-7-3 with 12 ties against the Broncos while going 63-34-5-2 with five ties all-time at home against the Broncos.
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
September 22nd/2023 – at Lethbridge (3-1 LET)
September 23rd/2023 – at Swift Current (5-2 LET)
December 8th/2023 – at Lethbridge (5-3 LET)
December 9th/2023 – at Swift Current (3-1 SC)
December 27th/2023 – at Lethbridge
January 3rd/2024 – at Lethbridge
January 31st/2024 – at Swift Current
February 14th/2024 – at Swift Current
2022-2023 REGULAR SEASON SERIES:
October 22nd/2022 – at Swift Current (3-2 LET)
October 26th/2022 – at Swift Current (5-4 SC)
November 12th/2022 – at Lethbridge (2-1 LET)
December 6th/2022 – at Lethbridge (7-2 LET)
December 10th/2022 – at Swift Current (4-3 SO LET)
December 30th/2022 – at Swift Current (4-3 SC)
January 11th/2023 – at Lethbridge (5-3 LET)
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (14) – Brayden Edwards & Miguel Marques
Assists (21) – Miguel Marques
Points (35) – Miguel Marques
PIMS (65) – Landen Ward
Plus/Minus (+14) – Edwards & Wormald
Wins (13) – Harrison Meneghin
Shutouts (2) – Harrison Meneghin
Save % (.919) – Harrison Meneghin
Goals Against Average (2.50) – Harrison Meneghin
WHO’S HOT:
– Brayden Edwards has points in 2 straight games (1g-2a); 4 of 5 games (1g-5a); 18 of 27 games (12g-16a)
– Noah Chadwick has points in 2 straight games (1g-2a); 3 of 5 games (1g-3a); 20 of 30 games (7g-17a)
– Miguel Marques has points in 8 of 9 games (7g-7a); 10 of 13 games (10g-10a); 17 of 29 games (14g-18a)
– Logan Wormald has points in 3 of 5 games (1g-2a); 10 of 13 games (5g-11a); 16 of 22 games (7g-17a)
– Tyson Zimmer has points in 3 of 6 games (1g-2a); 4 of 9 games (2g-3a); 6 of 13 games (2g-5a)
– Elias Knoester has points in 6 of 9 games (2g-4a); 8 of 13 games (4g-5a); 9 of 16 games (4g-6a)
– Kooper Gizowski has points in 4 of 9 games (2g-3a); 9 of 15 games (9g-3a); 11 of 19 games (12g-3a)
– Logan McCutcheon has points in 2 of 5 games (1g-2a)
– Joe Arntsen has points in 3 of 8 games (4g-1a)
– Leo Braillard has points in 3 of 6 games (2g-2a); 7 of 11 games (4g-7a); 13 of 18 games (7g-13a)
REGULAR SEASON MILESTONE WATCH:
– Logan McCutcheon is 11 points away from 100 career points
– Logan McCutcheon is 5 games away from 200 career games
– Chase Pauls is 10 games away from 200 career games
– Joe Arntsen is 4 points away from 100 career points
– Kooper Gizowski is 8 games away from 150 career games
– Logan Wormald is 6 games away from 150 career games
– Logan Wormald is 7 goals away from 50 career goals
– Brayden Edwards is 4 games away from 150 career games
– Tyson Zimmer is 9 points away from 100 career points
– Carter Dereniwsky is 4 games away from 100 career games
– Blake Swetlikoff is 8 points away from 100 career points
– Blake Swetlikoff is 11 games away from 200 career games
NEWS & NOTES:
Thru 32: The Hurricanes enter tonight with a 15-15-2-0 record (32 points) on the season after 32 games. The ‘Canes are 8-6-2-0 at home and 7-9-0-0 on the road so far this season. In 2022-2023, the Hurricanes had posted a 19-12-0-1 record after 32 games.
NHL Ink: Hurricanes defenceman Noah Chadwick signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on December 22nd. The Saskatoon, SK, product was a sixth-round (185th overall) selection by the Leafs in the 2023 NHL Draft. He became the first ‘Cane since Dylan Cozens (BUF) to sign an ELC deal. Chadwick has recorded 24 points (7g-17a) in 30 games with the Hurricanes this season. He leads the ‘Canes in defenceman scoring while sitting tied for 13th among all WHL blueliners in points.
Miggy-Wiggy: Sophomore forward Miguel Marques has been on a tear of late entering tonight with points in eight of his last nine games having collected 14 points (7g-7a) in those nine contests. The Prince George, BC, product has recorded 20 points (10g-10a) in his last 13 games while he leads the team in assists (21) and points (35). He was ranked as a ‘C’ skater by NHL Central Scouting Service.
Swiss Pick: Leo Braillard is representing his country Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden. He is the first Hurricane to represent the Swiss since Lucas Sbisa attended three-straight tournaments (2008, 2009, 2010). Braillard, who was acquired by the ‘Canes on CHL waivers from the Shawinigan Cataractes, has recorded 20 points (7g-13a) in 18 games with the Hurricanes. He has collected 24 points (9g-15a) in 25 CHL games this year.
Strong PK: The Hurricanes penalty kill has been strong this season killing at a rate of 83.6% – ranked sixth in the WHL. Entering tonight, the ‘Canes have killed 10-straight power play’s against while going a perfect 8-for-8 over the last four contests. Lethbridge’s penalty kill has gone 17-for-18 (94.4%) in the last seven games. The Hurricanes also had the top-ranked home PK while finishing eighth overall last season.
Called Up: The ‘Canes have called up 2007-born goaltender Koen Cleaver from the Pacific Coast Academy U18 Prep team. Cleaver, who won a gold medal for Canada White at the 2023 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, has posted a 4-5-0 record with a 4.07 goals against average and a .893 save percentage in nine appearances this season. Cleaver made his first home start in a 5-2 loss on December 15th to Regina.
Three Amigos: The trio of Miguel Marques, Brayden Edwards and Logan Wormald have been red-hot for the Hurricanes of late. The ‘Canes trio have combined for a whopping 49-points, including 18 goals, over the last 12 games – an average of 4.08 points per game. Marques leads the team with 35 points on the season while Edwards (33) and Wormald (25) are second and third in team scoring.
