GAME DAY: Hurricanes Hit The Road
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes kick off a five game stretch away from home as they visit the Red Deer Rebels tonight at the ENMAX Centrium. The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss Thursday night against the Edmonton Oil Kings in their lone home game in a nine game stretch.
The last time that the Hurricanes visited the Rebels was just two weeks ago when the ‘Canes picked up a 2-1 victory on a 26-save performance by Red Deer product Jayden Sittler. The ‘Canes have lost five straight games, with two of those coming in overtime.
This will be the final meeting of the season between the ‘Canes and Rebels. Red Deer won the first four contests. The ‘Canes have posted a 1-3-0-1 record this season against the Rebels.
Hurricanes Top Scorers: Rebels Top Scorers:
Tyler Wong: 22G, 26A – 48 points Connor Gay: 22G, 34A – 56 points
Jamal Watson: 23G, 23A – 46 points Riley Sheen: 18G, 37A – 55 points
Giorgio Estephan: 18G, 24A – 42 points Conner Bleackley: 27G, 22A – 49 points
Kord Pankewicz: 7G, 31A – 38 points Wyatt Johnson: 23G, 24A – 47 points
2014-2015 STATS:
Power play (overall): The PP is 39/243 (16%)…(away): the PP is 13/112 (11.6%)
Penalty Kill (overall): The PK is 51/257 (80.2%)…(away): the PK is 24/133 (82%)
Division Matchups:
Central: 8-15-2-1 East: 8-9-2-0 BC: 2-7-0-2 US: 0-4-1-0
Stats Leaders:
Goals (23) – Jamal Watson Assists (32) – Kord Pankewicz
Points (48) – Tyler Wong
PIM’s (102) – Devan Fafard Plus/Minus (E) – Tyler Wong
Wins (12) – Stuart Skinner Shutouts (1) – Stuart Skinner/Jayden Sittler
Save % (.909) – Jayden Sittler Goals Against Average (3.39) – Jayden Sittler
Who’s Hot:
– Mike Winther has points in 7 straight games (4g-6a); in 8 of last 9 games (4g-8a)
– Jamal Watson has points in 5 out of 7 games (5g-6a); in 18 of 24 games (11g-18a)
– Kord Pankewicz has points in 4 out of 6 games (2g-5a); in 10 of 13 games (2g-12a); in 14 of 18 games (3g-15a); in 20 of his last 28 games (4g-23a); has 32 points (5g-27a) his last 32 games.
– Tyler Wong has 32 points (14g-18a) in his last 32 games
– Brayden Burke has 24 points (6g-18a) in his last 23 games
– Giorgio Estephan has 38 points (17g-21a) in his last 32 games
League Leaders:
Stuart Skinner – ranked 8th in the WHL in save percentage (.907), T-4th in SO wins (2), 20th in minutes (2,013) and 9th in saves (1,221)
Tyler Wong – ranked 4th in First Goals (6)
Devan Fafard – ranked 11th in Penalty Minutes (102)
Andrew Nielsen – ranked 12th in Penalty Minutes (101)
NEWS & NOTES:
February Fun: The Hurricanes have found themselves on a February roll. The ‘Canes have posted a 6-4-2-0 record this month and have had two three-game winning streaks. The Hurricanes, win or loss tonight, will finish the month of February with an above five-hundred record for the first time since February of 2012. The ‘Canes are 4-4-2-0 in their last ten games.
Pank-You Very Much: Defenseman Kord Pankewicz has been one on quite the roll since mid-December. The 18-year-old defenseman who was acquired from the Brandon Wheat Kings at the start of the year currently sits fourth in Hurricanes scoring. Pankewicz has collected 38 points (7g-31a) and leads the ‘Canes in helpers. In his last 32 games, Pankewicz has scored 32 points (5g-27a)
Oh Captain, My Captain: Fourth year Hurricanes, and first year Captain, Jamal Watson is leading by example with the “C” on his chest. The longest serving Hurricanes is red hot as of late having collected 29 points in his last 24 games. Watson has also set new career highs in goals (23), assists (23), and points (46). He played in his 250th WHL game (all with the Hurricanes) on Feb.7th at Medicine Hat.
Beast Mode: Since the beginning of December, Giorgio Estephan has been red hot. Since being placed on a line with Brayden Burke and Tyler Wong, the 18-year-old Estephan has racked up 38 points (17g-21a) in his last 32 games. Estephan has already set career highs in goals (18), assists (24) and points (42)
Wong-Derful: In his third WHL season, all with the Hurricanes, Tyler Wong is having a career year. The 18-year-old has already set new career highs in goals (22), assists (26) and points (48). The Cochrane, AB, product surpassed his previous career high of points (31) set last year in 16 less games. Wong is third in 6 first goals of a game. He has also opened the scoring for the Hurricanes 12 times. He played in his 150th game Jan.17th in Moose Jaw.
Central Scouting Midterm Rankings: Two Lethbridge Hurricane defensemen were ranked on the latest NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings. 18-year-old defenseman Andrew Nielsen was ranked #69 (7th among draft eligible WHL defenseman), while 17-year-old Kade Jensen came in at #164.
Deadline Deals: The Lethbridge Hurricanes made 12 roster moves leading up to the trade deadline that saw 8 players and 3 drafts picks leave and 6 players and 3 drafts picks come back:
In Via Trade: Johnny Wesley (F)(97), Brady Reagan (D)(97), Scott Allan (D)(96), Jayden Sittler (G)(96), Mike Winther (F)(94), 12th round 2015, 5th round 2016 and cond. 7th round 2017.
In Via Waiver Claim: Florian Baltram (F)(97) – from Seattle.
Out Via Trade: Bryton Sayers (D)(96), Miles Warkentine (F)(96), Lenny Hackman (D)(95), Taylor Cooper (F)(95), Zane Jones (F)(94), 7th round 2015, 5th round 2016, and 8th round 2017.
Out Via Reassignment: Dexter Bricker (F)(95) – Melfort, SJHL; Brett Kitt (F)(96) – Flin Flon, SJHL; Zac Robidoux (G)(96) – Portage, MJHL.
NHL Camps: Nick Walters signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets and attended their Prospects Camp in September.
Prospect Watch: Jordy Bellerive, Nick Watson (Team BC); Zane Franklin (Team Alberta); and Brett Davis (Team Manitoba) have all made their provincial U16 teams to compete at the Canada Winter Games scheduled for February 19th to March 1st in Prince George.
Jesse Sheen, Jake Ashton, and Ayden Roche-Setoguchi (Calgary Buffaloes); Connor Rokosh (SSAC Athletics); and Barrett Sheen (UFA Bisons) all participated in the Mac’s tournament in Calgary.
Jamal Watson is the longest serving Hurricane on the roster with 259 games played, the franchise record of games played with the Hurricanes is 336 held by Shane Peacock (1989-94)
Roster Age Breakdown:
1994 – 3 – (Walters, Fafard, Winther)
1995 – 1 – (Watson)
1996 – 8 – (Wong, Lindgren, Amson, Folk, Nielsen*, Allan, Pankewicz, Sittler*)
1997 – 9 – (Wesley*, Estephan, Skumatov*, Burke*, Baltram*, Jensen, Reagan, Kennedy*, Kegler*)
1998 – 2 – (White*, Skinner*)
*indicates rookie
NEXT GAME: The Hurricanes visit the Brandon Wheat Kings, Wednesday, March 4th at 6:00pm MT.
