PLAYOFF GAME DAY: Hurricanes Open 2024 WHL Playoffs in Swift Current in Game 1
Swift Current, SK – The Lethbridge Hurricanes open the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Stringam Law tonight at 7:00pm in Game 1 of their first-round best-of-seven series against the Swift Current Broncos at the InnovationPlex.
The Hurricanes (33-28-7-0) finished the season sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference standings after ending the season with a 4-3 overtime victory in Medicine Hat last Saturday. Dylan Sydor scored twice while Carter Dereniwsky added the other goal in regulation before Tristen Doyle scored the overtime winner. Brady Smith made 27-saves for the win. Lethbridge ended the season posting a 15-18-1-0 record on the road while going 6-0-1-0 in their last seven away from home. The ‘Canes posted a 9-3-2-0 record in their final 14 games of the regular season.
The Broncos (40-22-4-2) ended the 2023-2024 campaign as the Central Division Champions holding the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Swift Current finished the regular season with a 6-3 loss in Calgary to the Hitmen on Saturday. Conor Geekie, Clarke Caswell and Dawson Gerwing scored in the defeat while affiliate goaltender Berney Weston made 31-saves in the loss. The Broncos ended the season posting a 25-5-3-1 record at home, the second-most home victories in the Eastern Conference.
During the regular season, the Hurricanes posted a 4-3-1-0 record in eight meetings against the Broncos while going 1-3-0-0 in four games in Swift Current. Tonight’s Game 1 can be streamed on WHL Live, watched at Browns Socialhouse in Lethbridge or heard on 106.7 ROCK.
The series will shift to Lethbridge for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, April 2nd and Wednesday, April 3rd. Tickets 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: 2024-03-29 – Game 1 – Lethbridge at Swift Current
2024 PLAYOFF SERIES: (*If necessary)
Game 1 – Fri, March 29th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Swift Current
Game 2 – Sat, March 30th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Swift Current
Game 3 – Tue, April 2nd – 7:00pm – Swift Current at Lethbridge
Game 4 – Wed, April 3rd – 7:00pm – Swift Current at Lethbridge
*Game 5 – Fri, April 5th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Swift Current
*Game 6 – Sun, April 7th – 6:00pm – Swift Current at Lethbridge
*Game 7 – Tue, April 9th – 7:00pm – Lethbridge at Swift Current
REGULAR SEASON VS. BRONCOS: During the regular season, the Hurricanes faced the Broncos on eight occasions, posting a record of 4-3-1-0. Lethbridge went 3-0-1-0 in the four games at the ENMAX Centre while going 1-3-0-0 in four trips to the InnovationPlex. The ‘Canes outscored the Broncos 27-20 in the eight meetings (3.38 to 2.50 avg.). Lethbridge has gone 8-3-1-0 in the last 12 head-to-head meetings against Swift Current dating back to the 2022-2023 season. The Hurricanes posted an all-time record of 96-103-8-3 with 12 ties against the Broncos while going 32-69-2-1 with seven ties all-time in Swift Current.
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 (7-6 OT SC)
January 3rd/2024 – at Lethbridge (6-3 LET)
January 31st/2024 – at Swift Current (6-0 SC)
February 14th/2024 – at Swift Current (4-1 SC)
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 (31) – Brayden Edwards
Assists (46) – Miguel Marques
Points (74) – Miguel Marques
PIMS (120) – Landen Ward
Plus/Minus (+27) – Brayden Edwards
Wins (27) – Harrison Meneghin
Shutouts (3) – Harrison Meneghin
Save % (.919) – Harrison Meneghin
Goals Against Average (2.58) – Harrison Meneghin
END OF SEASON STREAKING:
– Logan Wormald had points in 2 straight games (1g-1a); 5 of 7 games (1g-4a); 32 of 48 games (17g-32a)
– Miguel Marques had points in 4 of 5 games (2g-4a); 5 of 8 games (2g-5a); 33 of 48 games (24g-35a)
– Logan McCutcheon had points in 3 of 4 games (4a); 4 of 7 games (5a); 8 of 15 games (12a)
– Brayden Edwards had points in 2 of 3 games (2g-1a); 9 of 12 games (10g-4a); 41 of 63 (27g-36a)
– Carter Dereniwsky had points in 2 of 3 games (1g-1a); 5 of 12 games (3g-2a)
– Noah Chadwick had points in 4 of 7 games (1g-5a); 5 of 9 games (1g-7a); 37 of 66 games (12g-44a)
– Hayden Pakkala had points in 5 of 12 games (4g-4a); 6 of 16 games (4g-5a)
– Dylan Sydor had points in 2 of 5 games (3g); 5 of 10 games (6g-2a); 18 of 33 games (15g-11a)
– Sean Tschigerl had points in 5 of 11 games (1g-7a); 7 of 15 games (1g-9a); 16 of 35 games (14g-17a)
– Joe Arntsen had points in 2 of 5 games (4a)
– Tristen Doyle had points in 2 of 5 games (1g-2a)
– Braeden Wynne had points in 2 of 4 games (2a)
NEWS & NOTES:
Game 1’s: The Hurricanes have posted an all-time record of 20-19 in Game 1’s in their WHL post-season history. Last year, the Hurricanes dropped a 4-3 decision to the Moose Jaw Warriors in Game 1 of their first-round matchup in double overtime.
All-Time Record: In the playoffs, the Hurricanes have posted an all-time record of 86-112 in 200 post-season games in team history. Lethbridge has also posted an all-time series record of 18-21 in 39 playoff series. The ‘Canes were swept in the first-round of the 2023 WHL Playoffs by the Moose Jaw Warriors, marking the 10th time the Hurricanes had been swept in a playoff series. The Hurricanes have posted just a 4-18 series record in the 22 times Lethbridge did not hold home-ice advantage.
Two By Five: This year will mark just the second time ever that the Hurricanes and Broncos will face off in the WHL playoffs. Swift Current downed Lethbridge in six games in their only previous match-up in the 2018 Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes and Broncos franchises, however, had met a total of five times previously between 1977 and 1985 when the Lethbridge Broncos (now Swift Current) faced the Calgary Wranglers (now Lethbridge). The Broncos franchise won three of the series (1977, 1979 and 1983) while the Wranglers won twice (1981 and 1985)
Playoff Experience: The Hurricanes enter tonight with a total of 107 man-games worth of WHL Playoff experience. The most experienced ‘Canes is Dylan Sydor who has played in 31 career playoff games, including four games at the 2023 Memorial Cup. By comparison, Swift Current has 59 man-games led by Conor Geekie who has appeared in 34 career post-season contests.
Strong Finish: Lethbridge ended the 2023-2024 regular posting a 9-3-2-0 record in their final 14 games. The ‘Canes went 7-2-2-0 in the month of March. The Hurricanes outscored the opposition 49-37 in those 14 contests while averaging 4.77 goals per game in their final nine victories while allowing an averaging just 2.11 goals against per game. The ‘Canes ended the regular season with a 33-28-7-0 record.
Road Warriors: The ‘Canes posted a record of 15-18-1-0 in 34 road games during the regular season. Lethbridge finished the season posting a 6-0-1-0 record in their final seven away games while outscoring the opposition 29-16 in those seven contests. Their last four road games went to overtime or beyond.
Gr-Eight: The 2024 WHL Playoffs marks the eighth straight season the Hurricanes have qualified for the post-season, marking the longest stretch in team history. This year will be the seventh straight post-season the ‘Canes will compete in after qualifying for the playoffs in 2020 before the season was cancelled.
All-Stars: The WHL announced that goaltender Harrison Meneghin and defenceman Noah Chadwick were named to the Central Division All-Star teams. Meneghin was named a first team all-star, marking the second-straight season he was named an all-star after a second team nod last year. While Chadwick was named a second team all-star – the first time in his career he was honoured.