Hurricanes Earn 4-1 Victory to Begin ENMAX Pre-Season
Lethbridge, AB –
The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened their 2024 ENMAX Pre-Season with a 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
The Hurricanes dressed a youthful lineup with six 2009-born players dressed including first-round pick Tyden Lafournaise. It marked the first pre-season game for both the ‘Canes and Tigers and it was a sloppy first half of the period. Lethbridge had a pair of early chances by Landen Ward, but Medicine Hat’s starting goaltender Cash Christie was sharp to keep the game scoreless. The Tigers opened the scoring at the 12:52 mark when Avery Watson slipped one through the legs of Brody Rotar to make it 1-0; Luke Ruptash and Nate Corbet earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes came close to tying the game in the final five-minutes of the period when Kai Anderson wired a one-timer off the crossbar. Medicine Hat had a trio of power play opportunities in the first period, but failed to capitalize as they held the 1-0 lead after one period. The Tigers outshot the ‘Canes 16-6.
Medicine Hat opened the second period with a carryover penalty to Ryder Ellis, but again the Lethbridge power play was strong to keep it a 1-0 Hurricanes deficit. The Hurricanes tied the game at the 7:56 mark on a beautiful three-way passing play as Lafournaise centered to Kai Anderson who made a deke to his back hand before slipping it home to make it 1-1; Cameron Norrie earned the second assist. The teams replaced their starting goaltenders as the midway point of the period; Rotar, who stopped 22 of 23 Medicine Hat shots, was lifted for Leif Oaten while Jordan Switzer replaced Cash Christie who stopped 11 of the 12 shots for the Hurricanes. Lethbridge pulled ahead on another beautiful goal by Anderson who tucked home his second goal of the night, again on the back hand, on a breakaway at the 12:25 mark; Lafournaise earned his second helper of the game while Reid Soper picked up the second assist. Lethbridge was outshot 12-11 in the second period but held the 2-1 lead after forty minutes.
In the third period, the Hurricanes added to their lead when Landen Ward sniped his first of the pre-season cutting off the right-wing and ripping a shot low blocker on Switzer giving the ‘Canes a 3-1 lead just 1:27 into the final period. Lethbridge continued to press and almost added to their lead when Matteo Di Stefano poked a puck past a Tiger defender before firing a shot off the goal post. Medicine Hat, who outshot Lethbridge 12-9 in the third period, pulled the goaltender late in the frame but with 15-seconds left, the Hurricanes rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal by Chase Petersen; Kash Andresen earned the lone assist on the goal. The Hurricanes were outshot 40-26 in the game but earned the 4-1 victory.
The ’Canes went 0/3 on the power play while going 4/4 on the penalty kill. Oaten was terrific in his half-game turning aside all 17 shots he faced in the game.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #16 Kai Anderson (2 goals)
2) ‘Canes – #23 Tyden Lafournaise (2 assists)
3) ‘Canes – #29 Landen Ward (1 goal)
The win for the Hurricanes marks their first victory of the exhibition season with three games to play before the 2024-2025 season opened. The Hurricanes will continue their 2024 ENMAX Pre-Season on Saturday, September 7th at 7:00pm when they visit the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavy Mart Centrium. The ‘Canes will return to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday, September 13th when they host the Calgary Hitmen at 7:00pm.
Tickets for the September 13th game can be purchased for $10.00 online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca; proceeds benefitting the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association. Parking will be complimentary for the home pre-season games, courtesy of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Fans are also encouraged to bring a pair of new socks to the Hurricanes home pre-season game in support of Onside Restoration’s Socktember, with all donations benefiting local charities, including the YWCA, Grant’s Closet and Lethbridge Family Services.
Season Tickets for the 2024-2025 Hurricanes regular season are still available, including the new premium season ticket. Season Tickets can be purchased by visiting the VisitLethbridge.com Arena Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.visitlethbridgearena.ca.
