Canes visit Pats on New Year’s Day – Preview

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are looking to put some disappointing moments of 2013 behind them and kick off the new year on a winning note! The Hurricanes starting off 2014 with a three game in four night road trip through Saskatchewan starting this afternoon in Regina.

Hurricanes vs. Pats Preview

This is the 2^nd of 4 meetings this season between the Pats and Hurricanes. Regina won their first meeting back on Nov. 6^th by a score of 5-2. The Hurricanes spotted the Pats 3 goals in the first period before coming back to score their 2 goals (Reid Duke & former Cane Axel Blomqvist) in the loss. The Hurricanes come into the game after a weekend split with the Tigers, while the Pats are coming off a 4-0 shutout to the Raiders which has them sitting 7^th in the East Conference. The Hurricanes continue to be led offensively by Tyler Wong (26 pts.) Russ Maxwell and Brady Ramsay (24 pts. each) while Boston Leier leads the Pats with 46 points (25G, 21A).  The Canes and Pats play their final two games on February 25^th and March 7^th.

Stats Leaders:

Points (26), Goals (14), Powerplay Goals (6) – Tyler Wong

Assists (17) – Macoy Erkamps

PIM’s (88) – Brady Ramsay

Hurricanes Points Leaders:

Tyler Wong: 26 points (14G, 12A)

Brady Ramsay: 24 points (9G, 15A)

Russ Maxwell: 24 points (9G, 15A)

Riley Sheen: 22 points (8G, 14A)

Pats Points Leaders:

Boston Leier: 46 points (25G, 21A)

Chandler Stephenson: 45 points (15G, 30A)

Dyson Stevenson: 40 points (19G, 21A)

Morgan Klimchuk: 29 points (12G, 17A)

 

Recent Streaks:

3 game point streak: Kolten Olynek (2G, 1A)

Milestone Minute:

1^st Career WHL Goals: Kris Khenkel (Dec 27^th) Reid Nemeth (Dec. 10^th), Carter Folk (Dec. 4^th) Bryton Sayers (Sept. 27^th)

50^th Career WHL Goal: Russ Maxwell (Nov. 8^th)

200 Career WHL Games: Josh Derko (Dec 17^th), Nick Walters (Dec 1^st), Brady Ramsay (Nov. 2^nd)

150 Career WHL Games: Riley Sheen (Dec 27^th) Macoy Erkamps (Nov. 6^th), Jamal Watson (Oct. 4^th)

100 Career WHL Games: Tyler Wong, Griffin Foulk (Dec. 28^th) Remi Laurencelle (Dec 27^th) Lenny Hackman (Nov. 29^th)

100^th Career WHL Point: Brady Ramsay (Nov. 3^rd)

1^st Career Hat Trick: Tyler Wong (Oct. 19^th)

 

NEWS AND NOTES:

RECALLED: Just two games into the second half of the season and the injury bug has hit the Hurricanes; so a pair of players have been recalled. The Canes have called up Goalie Jonny Hogue as backup to Corbin Boes while Teagan Sacher is out and Jaeger White (2013, 4^th round – 72^nd overall draft pick) has been recalled to help out up front. Hogue will wear #33 and White #15.

HE’S BACK! Import draft pick Kristian Khenkel scored in his Hurricanes debut (Dec 27^th). He re-joined the team following the Christmas break and after competing for his country at the World Juniors (Group A in Sanok, Poland from December 15^th to 21^st). U17 CHALLENGE: Hurricanes rookie Giorgio Estephan is in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia after being named to Team Pacific for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. After 2 games, Estephan has 1G, 1A. MAC’S TOURNY: Another excellent showing for Hurricanes prospects at the prestigious Macs Tournament that wraps up later today. Stuart Skinner, Kody White, Andrew Nielsen, Tak Anholt, Tanner Browne, Cole Davis and Eric Szudor all played with Browne (Okanagan Rockets) and Skinner (SSAC Athletics) advancing to the playoff round of the tournament. Canes prospect Brandon Kennedy (Delta Wild Hockey Academy) competed at the World Sport School Challenge which also wrapped up today.

PLAYER MOVEMENT: The Hurricanes and Spencer Meyer mutually parted ways as he is returning home to BC to attend school. Joel Topping made the same decision choosing to enroll at Red Deer College in January to pursue a career in Teaching. There was a number of moves in the first half with Chris Tai being dealt to Brandon (for an 8^th round pick in 2015) after the team acquired Teagan Sacher from Regina. Axel Blomqvist was traded to Victoria (for a 4^th and an 8^th round pick this year), while Ryan Pilon found a new home in Brandon after being traded to the WK’s for  (D) Nick Walters, (LW) Taylor Cooper and Prospect (D) Tanner Browne. The rights to Colt Conrad were also traded to Brandon and if he signs, the Hurricanes receive a 5^th round pick in 2016. Defenceman Tyler Bell joined the team after a trade with Moose Jaw and a pair of deals were made with Seattle. Forwards Jaimen Yakubowski & Sam McKechnie went to the T-Birds for Forwards Carter Folk, Riley Sheen and a 2015 – 3^rd rounder. The addition of these two reunited them with teammate Griffin Foulk who the Canes acquired via the Adam Henry trade.

DRAFTED: Defenceman Nick Walters, was taken in the 4^th round (116^th overall) by the St. Louis Blues in 2012. PRO EXPERIENCE: Two players attended NHL Camps this off-season Macoy Erkamps (Ottawa Senators Development Camp), and Josh Derko (San Jose Rookie Camp). CENTRAL SCOUTING: On the Central Scouting November Watch List Reid Duke was listed as a C North American skater to watch, meaning he’s projected to be a 4^th to 6^th round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.

IN THE CAGE: 20-year old Corbin Boes is 3-22-2-2 with a 4.24 GAA and .896 Save Percentage. He’s also 2^nd in the WHL in saves with 977. 19-year old Teagan Sacher is the back-up and is 3-4-0-1 with a 3.63 GAA and a .901 Save Percentage.

 

NEXT 3 GAMES:

Friday, January 3^rd – at Prince Albert, 6:00pm

Saturday, January 4^th – at Saskatoon, 6:05pm

Wednesday, January 8^th – vs. Kootenay, 7:00pm

Home or on the road stay tuned to the home of your Lethbridge Hurricanes on 94.1 CJOC. Follow us on Twitter at @WHLHurricanes @CanesCast, checking out our website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/WHLHurricanes.

(Photo Credit: CanesCast)