Massive Third Period Lifts Hurricanes to 6-3 Victory Overt Broncos
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes scored five goals in the third period en route to a 6-3 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena.
Lethbridge inserted Brayden Edwards, Miguel Marques and Noah Chadwick into the lineup after they returned from National Hockey League training camps. The Hurricanes top line of Edwards, Marques and Logan Wormald had a great opening shift to the game as they came close to opening the scoring just 30-seconds in on a goal-mouth scramble. The Hurricanes continued to push early but couldn’t solve Broncos netminder Reid Dyck. Late in the frame, Swift Current opened the scoring when Sawyer Dingman ripped home his first WHL goal to make it 1-0 with 5:24 remaining in the period; Parker Rondeau and Jace McFaul earned the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes were outshot 8-6 in the first period.
The Hurricanes tied the game early in the second period when Kash Andresen banged home a loose puck on a power play to make it a 1-1 game; Hayden Pakkala extended his point-streak to three games while Kooper Gizowski earned the second assist on the equalizer. Swift Current quickly answered back to regain the lead as Luke Mistelbacher wired home his first goal of the season just 58-seconds after the ‘Canes tied the game; Brady Birnie and Grayson Burzynski picked up the assists. Just under four-minutes later, the Broncos struck again when Mistelbacher snapped home his second goal of the game to give Swift Current a 3-1 lead at the halfway point of the game. Lethbridge carried the play for most of the second and a trip of great looks for Edwards were all turned aside by Dyck who stopped 16 of the 17 Hurricanes shots he faced in the period as the Broncos led by two after forty minutes of play.
In the third period, the Hurricanes exploded for five unanswered goals. Just 1:10 into the period, Gizowski hooked home his first goal of the season slipping one under Dyck to make it a 3-2 contest; Edwards and Will Sharpe earned the assists on the goal. The ‘Canes tied the game just 1:34 later when Leo Braillard lifted home a loose puck on the power play for his second goal of the season; Edwards and Logan Wormald picked up the helpers. Lethbridge took their first lead of the game at the 7:12 mark as Marques wired a wrist shot home for his first goal of the season to make it a 4-3 Hurricanes advantage. The onslaught continued with the ‘Canes adding a shorthanded goal by Andresen who marked the first time in his career that he scored twice in a game; Trae Johnson earned the lone assist on the goal for his first point as a Hurricane. The ‘Canes rounded out the scoring with an empty-net goal with 2:50 remaining as Edwards completed a four-point third period with his first goal of the season to make it a 6-3 final.
The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 12-2 in the third period while outshooting Swift Current 35-16 in the contest. Lethbridge went 2/4 on the power play while going 5/5 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) ‘Canes – #19 Brayden Edwards (1 goal, 3 assists)
2) ‘Canes – #25 Kash Andresen (2 goals)
3) Broncos – #26 Luke Mistelbacher (2 goals)
The win for the Hurricanes improves their record to 3-0-0-0 to start the 2024-2025 regular season marking the second straight season the ‘Canes have won their first three games. Lethbridge improved to 2-0-0-0 at home with the victory.
The Hurricanes will visit the Calgary Hitmen at 2:00pm on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Saddledome. Lethbridge will return to the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday, October 4th at 7:00pm when they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors. Tickets for the home opener 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.
