GAME DAY: Hurricanes Travel to Medicine Hat

Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes look to duplicate what they did Friday as they travel to Medicine Hat to face the Tigers Saturday at the new Canalta Centre.

The Hurricanes defeated the Tigers by a 5-1 score in the Dairy Queen Home Opener last night on a pair of goals by newly appointed Captain Tyler Wong. Stuart Skinner was terrific stopping 40 shots while Jordy Bellerive, Cory Millette and Justin Gutierrez all had multiple point games in the win.

It was the first time in three years that the Hurricanes had won their home opener, all have come against the Tigers. Dating back to last season, the ‘Canes have won three straight games against Medicine Hat and they hope to continue that trend tonight.

The game starts at 7:30pm, pregame show on ROCK 106 starts at 7:15pm.

 

SEASON SERIES:
September 25^th/2015 – At Lethbridge (5-1 Hurricanes)
September 26^th/2015 – At Medicine Hat
October 9^th/2015 – At Lethbridge
December 27^th/2015 – At Medicine hat
December 29^th/2015 – At Lethbridge
March 18^th/2016 – At Lethbridge
March 19^th/2016 – At Medicine Hat

2015-2016 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (2) – Tyler Wong                                      Assists (2) – Jordy Bellerive & Cory Millette
Points (2) – Four players
PIM’s 6) – Andrew Nielsen & Arvin Atwal              Plus/Minus (+1) – 10 players
Wins (1) – Stuart Skinner                                   Shutouts (0) – Stuart Skinner/Jayden Sittler
Save % (.976) – Stuart Skinner                          Goals Against Average (1.00) – Stuart Skinner

2015-2016 PRE-SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (3) – Egor Babenko & Brett Davis             Assists (4) – Arvil Atwal & Brayden Burke
Points (5) – Egor Babenko & Arvin Atwal
PIM’s (31) – Ryley Lindgren                              Plus/Minus (+5) – Zane Franklin
Wins (2) – Jayden Sittler                                   Shutouts (0) – Stuart Skinner/Jayden Sittler
Save % (.942) – Jayden Sittler                         Goals Against Average (1.99) – Jayden Sittler

WHO’S HOT:
– Jordy Bellerive – in his last two games, pre-season included, Bellerive has racked up four assists including a pair in his WHL regular season debut Friday night
– Justin Gutierrez – Four points in three pre-season games, the overager followed it up with a goal and an assist in the Home Opener
– Cory Millette – Four points in three pre-season games, the 20-year-old continued his hot hand scoring a pair of assists in the Home Opener
– Tyler Wong – The new Captain picked up a pair of goals on Friday

LEAGUE LEADERS:
– Arvin Atwal was tied for third in defenseman scoring in the pre-season with 5 points (1g-4a)
– Jayden Sittler was 7^th in the WHL pre-season with a 1.65 goals against average
– Jayden Sittler was 8^th in the WHL pre-season with a .942 save percentage

MILESTONES:
– Kord Pankewicz will play in his 150^th WHL game tonight
– Brady Reagan is 4 games away from 100 career games
– Cory Millette is 11 games away from 250 career games
– Justin Gutierrez is 13 games away from 200 career games
– Giorgio Estephan is 18 games away from 150 career games
– Giorgio Estephan is 23 points away from 100 career points

NEWS & NOTES:

Strong Start: For the fifth straight year the Hurricanes have kicked off the season hosting the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ENMAX Centre, but for the first time in three years, the ‘Canes won that first game. The Hurricanes picked up a 5-1 win over the Tigers in front of 4,248 fans on Friday night.

Tamed Tigers: After Friday’s 5-1 win, the Hurricanes have won the last three regular season meeting against the Tigers dating back to last year. The Hurricanes will look to continue the hot hand as the Tigers open up their new arena, the Canalta Centre.

Sweet Sixteen: The Hurricanes are currently carrying four sixteen-year-old’s with forwards Brett Davis, Zane Franklin and Jordy Bellerive as well as defenseman Nick Watson. The four have been impressive through camp and the pre-season and will look to stick with the big club for the entire year.

NHLers Return: Andrew Nielsen and Giorgio Estephan have been re-assigned to the Hurricanes after attending NHL camps. Nielsen, a third round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Estephan who was taken in the sixth round by the Buffalo Sabres will be key cogs in any success the Hurricanes have this year. Nielsen appeared in one pre-season game with the Maple Leafs.

Roster Moves: The Hurricanes have been shaving their roster down and are currently carrying 25, including two goaltenders, eight defenseman and 15 forwards. The ‘Canes have made three separate roster moves over the last week:

–       19-year-old defenseman Scott Allan has been re-assigned
–       18-year-old forward Johnny Wesley was re-assigned to the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL
–       18-year-old goaltender Brandon Kegler was re-assigned to the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL

Grizzled Veterans: It’s a new look ‘Canes team, and it begins with the overagers. Three separate trades made during the off-season by GM Peter Anholt saw him acquire forwards Justin Gutierrez, Cory Millette and defenseman Arvin Atwal. So far, all three have been impressive as they’ve all racked up better than a point-per-game in the pre-season.

Pre-Season Success: With new players, new coaches and new systems, the Hurricanes faired pretty well in the pre-season posting a record of 3-2-1-0 in six games. Despite losing one game in overtime and two in regulation, each loss was by a single goal.