GAME DAY: Hurricanes Welcome Broncos in Dairy Queen Home Opener
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes open the 2023-2024 regular season tonight at 7:00pm as they welcome the Swift Current Broncos at the ENMAX Centre in the Dairy Queen Home Opener.
The Hurricanes posted a 2-2-0-0 record in the ENMAX Pre-Season. The ‘Canes won their final two games of the exhibition season, both in overtime, including a 4-3 victory over the Red Deer Rebels last Saturday. Miguel Marques led all Hurricanes scorers in the pre-season racking up nine points in four games while finishing tied for first in Eastern Conference exhibition scoring. Lethbridge posted a 1-1-0-0 home-ice record in the pre-season.
The Broncos finished the pre-season schedule with a 1-3-0-0 record in the pre-season. Swift Current lost their last three games of the tune up season being outscored 27-16 in those three games while allowing 10 goals against in each of the last two outings. Clarke Caswell led the Broncos in pre-season scoring totaling seven points (3g-4a) in just two games played. The Broncos went 0-2-0-0 on the road in the pre-season.
Tonight will be the first of a home-and-home set to begin the new season between the Hurricanes and Broncos. Lethbridge will face Swift Current eight times during the 2023-2024 season. The ‘Canes posted a 5-2-0-0 record against the Broncos last year.
The ‘Canes will host a Tailgate Party tonight at the ENMAX Centre between 5:00pm and 7:00pm. Browns Socialhouse will be on site serving burgers, chips and water by donation in support of United Way Lethbridge. There will also be a beer garden and 106.7 ROCK will be on hand playing music while offering giveaways.
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: 2023-09-22 – LET vs. SC
VS. BRONCOS: Tonight will be the first of a season-opening home-and-home set between the Hurricanes and the Broncos. Lethbridge will face Swift Current a total of eight times during the 2023-2024 regular season. Last year, the Hurricanes posted a 5-2-0-0 record in seven meetings while going 3-0-0-0 at home during the season series.
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
September 22nd/2023 – at Lethbridge
September 23rd/2023 – at Swift Current
December 8th/2023 – at Lethbridge
December 9th/2023 – at Swift Current
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 ENMAX Pre-Season Schedule:
Game 1 – Tue, Sept. 5th – Lethbridge vs. Medicine Hat – 7:00pm (ENMAX Centre) – 7-3 Loss
Game 2 – Sat, Sept. 9th – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat – 7:00pm (Co-op Place) – 5-4 Loss
Game 3 – Thu, Sept. 14th – Lethbridge at Calgary – 7:00pm (Seven Chiefs Sportsplex) – 3-2 OT Win
Game 4 – Fri, Sept. 16th – Lethbridge vs. Red Deer – 6:00pm (ENMAX Centre) – 4-3 OT Win
2022 PRE-SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (4) – Miguel Marques
Assists (5) – Miguel Marques
Points (9) – Miguel Marques
PIMS (4) – Three Players
Plus/Minus (+6) – Miguel Marques
Wins (1) – Brady Smith & Koen Cleaver
Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.894) – Koen Cleaver
Goals Against Average (3.30) – Koen Cleaver
2022-2023 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (22) – Logan Wormald & Tyson Laventure
Assists (35) – Cole Shepard
Points (55) – Cole Shepard
PIMS (90) – Joe Arntsen
Plus/Minus (+11) – Chase Pauls & Tristan Zandee
Wins (19) – Harrison Meneghin
Shutouts (3) – Bryan Thomson
Save % (.919) – Bryan Thomson
Goals Against Average (2.63) – Bryan Thomson
REGULAR SEASON MILESTONE WATCH:
– Logan McCutcheon is 29 points away from 100 career points
– Chase Pauls is 4 points away from 50 career points
– Joe Arntsen is 18 points away from 100 career points
– Noah Chadwick is 20 games away from 100 career games
– Logan Wormald is 18 points away from 100 career points
– Tyson Zimmer is 4 games away from 150 career games
– Hayden Smith is 9 games away from 150 career games
– Blake Swetlikoff is 15 points away from 100 career points
NEWS & NOTES:
Tune Up Done: The Hurricanes played a total of four ENMAX Pre-Season games in 2023, posting a record of 2-2-0-0 during the exhibition schedule. The ‘Canes lost the first two games but won the final two games of the pre-season in overtime. Lethbridge averaged 3.50 goals per game.
Pre-Season Leader: Draft eligible forward Miguel Marques had a great pre-season collecting nine points, including four goals and five assists, in four games. Marques finished tied for second in WHL pre-season points while finishing tied for first in the Eastern Conference. He had 20 points (8g-12a) in 59 regular season games in 2022-2023.
Harry’s Back: Hurricanes netminder Harrison Meneghin returned to the team after attending the Minnesota Wild’s Rookie Camp. The South Surrey, BC, product attended Minnesota’s development camp in the summer. The undrafted goaltender went 19-12-2-2 last season with a 2.83 goals against average and a .905 save percentage with one shutout while being named a Central Division second-team all-star.
Double Dare: Lethbridge acquired 2004-born forward Carter Dereniwsky on Tuesday from the Victoria Royals in exchange for an eighth-round draft pick. Dereniwsky has appeared in 76 career regular season games totaling 23 career points (10g-13a) along with 36 penalty minutes with the Royals. He recorded 18 points (8g-10a) and 22 penalty minutes in 51 games in 2022-2023 with Victoria.
Still Campin’: The ‘Canes are missing three defenceman – Joe Arntsen, Chase Pauls and Noah Chadwick – all of whom are still attending NHL Training Camps. Arntsen is with the New York Rangers, Pauls with the Los Angeles Kings while Chadwick is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. All three were named to Main Camps.
Gone Pro: On August 10th, the Hurricanes announced that Brent Kisio resigned as head coach after eight years at the helm to accept an assistant coaching job with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League. Kisio left the ‘Canes as the winningest coach in team history posting a 267-176-44 regular season record while qualifying for the playoffs each season.
New Bench Boss: The Hurricanes announced Bill Peters the 15th head coach in team history on August 30th. Peters, who has served as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames, returns to the WHL for the first time since 2008. He helped guide the Spokane Chiefs to a WHL and Memorial Cup Championship in 2008 before going to professional hockey. He has posted a 111-92-13 record as a WHL bench boss.
Swedish Touch: The Hurricanes selected 2005-born forward Elias Knoester with their lone pick in the 2023 CHL Import Draft selecting him in the first round (42nd overall). The product of Olofstrom, Sweden became just the third player to hail from Sweden to be taken by the Hurricanes joining Albin and Axel Blomqvist.
