Hurricanes Blank Hitmen in Game 1
Calgary, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened the second-round of the WHL Playoffs on Thursday with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Calgary Hitmen at Scotiabank Saddledome.
It marked the first time the ‘Canes appeared in the second-round since 2018 as they faced the Hitmen for the first time since 2019. Lethbridge had a great start to the game as Noah Chadwick ripped an early shot off the crossbar on the first shift as the Hurricanes kept the Hitmen pinned for the first ninety seconds of the game. The Hurricanes capitalized on an early mistake by Calgary netminder Daniel Hauser. The overage puck-stopper charged out of the net to play a puck, but it skipped by him to Kooper Gizowski who ripped it into an empty net to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead just 4:25 into the game. Lethbridge doubled their lead at the 13:14 mark when Brayden Edwards lifted a puck over the blocker of Hauser to make it 2-0; Luke Cozens and Logan Wormald earned the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes outshot the Hitmen 14-13 in the opening period.
The Hurricanes started the second period with an early power play opportunity when Rylan Ng was penalized for a high-stick; just six-seconds into the man advantage, the ‘Canes struck with the extra man when Wormald jammed home his own rebound for his first-ever playoff goal after being robbed by Hauser to make it 3-0 Lethbridge; Chadwick and Miguel Marques picked up the assists on the goal. Calgary had a trio of power play chances in the middle frame but could not solve Jackson Unger who was terrific in the game. The ‘Canes came close with a pair of shorthanded breakaways, but Hauser denied both Wormald and Trae Johnson on back-to-back chances on the same power play. Lethbridge outshot Calgary 9-7 in the middle frame and held the 3-0 lead.
In the third period, Calgary pressed outshooting Lethbridge 13-1. The Hitmen had a great look to get on the board when Carson Wetsch was sprung on a breakaway, but Unger made a great blocker save to keep it a three-goal lead. The Hitmen kept their foot on the gas keeping the Hurricanes on their heels when Ethan Moore was stoned on a back-door feed by the left leg of Unger. The ‘Canes added a late power play goal with 5:08 remaining in the game when Chadwick ripped home his second goal of the post-season on a three-way passing play to make it a 4-0 Lethbridge lead; Marques and Edwards were credited with the assists. The Hurricanes kept the Hitmen at bay for the final fives minutes as they steered home the Game 1 victory.
The Hurricanes were outshot by the Hitmen 33-24 in the contest. Lethbridge went 2/4 on the power play while Calgary was 0/4 with the extra man.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #35 Jackson Unger (33-save shutout)
2) ‘Canes – #18 Logan Wormald (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) ‘Canes – #19 Brayden Edwards (1 goal, 1 assist)
The win for the Hurricanes secured a 1-0 series lead while stealing home-ice advantage away from the Hitmen. Lethbridge improved to 2-1 on the road during the post-season while their record in Game 1’s in their playoff history lifted to 22-20 while 2-0 in the 2025 WHL Playoffs. It marked just the eighth time in team history the ‘Canes shutout the opposition in the playoffs and first time since 2018.
The Hurricanes will visit the Hitmen in Game 2 of their series on Saturday at 6:00pm at Scotiabank Saddledome before the series shifts to Lethbridge for Games 3 & 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday next week at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena. 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.
