GAME DAY: Hurricanes Visit Broncos in Second of Back-to-Back
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes will look to sweep the WHL Opening Weekend as they visit the Swift Current Broncos tonight at 7:00pm at the Innovation Credit Union i-Plex.
The Hurricanes (1-0-0-0) enter after earning a come-from-behind 3-1 victory on Friday night at home in their home opener. The ‘Canes scored three unanswered goals in the third period by Logan McCutcheon, Landen Ward and Logan Wormald en route to the win; Harrison Meneghin was named the game’s first star with 40-saves in the contest. Lethbridge posted a 15-16-2-1 record on the road during the 2022-2023 season, including going 2-2-0-0 in Swift Current.
The Broncos (0-1-0-0) dropped their season opener for the second straight season with the 3-1 defeat in Lethbridge. Maddix McCagherty scored the lone goal for the Broncos in the loss while Joey Rocha made 31-saves in the setback. Swift Current outshot Lethbridge 41-34 in the game. The Broncos posted a 18-13-0-3 record on home during the 2022-2023 season last year.
Tonight will be the second of eight meetings on the season between the Hurricanes and Broncos. Lethbridge is 1-0-0-0 this season against Swift Current after going 5-2-0-0 against the Broncos last year. Tonight game can be streamed on WHL Live, watched at Browns Socialhouse in Lethbridge or heard on 106.7 ROCK.
DOWNLOAD GAME NOTES/STATS HERE: 2023-09-23 – LET at SC
VS. BRONCOS: Tonight will be the second of a season-opening home-and-home set between the Hurricanes and the Broncos. The ‘Canes have posted a 1-0-0-0 record against the Broncos this season. Lethbridge will face Swift Current a total of eight times during the 2023-2024 regular season. Last year, the Hurricanes posted a 5-2-0-0 record in seven meetings while going 2-2-0-0 in Swift Current.
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
September 22nd/2023 – at Lethbridge (3-1 LET)
September 23rd/2023 – at Swift Current
December 8th/2023 – at Lethbridge
December 9th/2023 – at Swift Current
December 27th/2023 – at Lethbridge
January 3rd/2024 – at Lethbridge
January 31st/2024 – at Swift Current
February 14th/2024 – at Swift Current
2022-2023 REGULAR SEASON SERIES:
October 22nd/2022 – at Swift Current (3-2 LET)
October 26th/2022 – at Swift Current (5-4 SC)
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 (1) – Three Players
Assists (2) – Kale Tipler
Points (2) – Logan McCutcheon & Kale Tipler
PIMS (5) – Landen Ward
Plus/Minus (+3) – Kale Tipler
Wins (1) – Harrison Meneghin
Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.976) – Harrison Meneghin
Goals Against Average (1.00) – Harrison Meneghin
2023 ENMAX Pre-Season Schedule:
Game 1 – Tue, Sept. 5th – Lethbridge vs. Medicine Hat – 7:00pm (ENMAX Centre) – 7-3 Loss
Game 2 – Sat, Sept. 9th – Lethbridge at Medicine Hat – 7:00pm (Co-op Place) – 5-4 Loss
Game 3 – Thu, Sept. 14th – Lethbridge at Calgary – 7:00pm (Seven Chiefs Sportsplex) – 3-2 OT Win
Game 4 – Fri, Sept. 16th – Lethbridge vs. Red Deer – 6:00pm (ENMAX Centre) – 4-3 OT Win
2023 PRE-SEASON STATS LEADERS:
Goals (4) – Miguel Marques
Assists (5) – Miguel Marques
Points (9) – Miguel Marques
PIMS (4) – Three Players
Plus/Minus (+6) – Miguel Marques
Wins (1) – Brady Smith & Koen Cleaver
Shutouts (0) – N/A
Save % (.894) – Koen Cleaver
Goals Against Average (3.30) – Koen Cleaver
REGULAR SEASON MILESTONE WATCH:
– Logan McCutcheon is 27 points away from 100 career points
– Chase Pauls is 4 points away from 50 career points
– Joe Arntsen is 18 points away from 100 career points
– Noah Chadwick is 20 games away from 100 career games
– Logan Wormald is 17 points away from 100 career points
– Tyson Zimmer is 3 games away from 150 career games
– Hayden Smith is 9 games away from 150 career games
– Blake Swetlikoff is 15 points away from 100 career points
NEWS & NOTES:
Thru 1: The Hurricanes enter tonight with a 1-0-0-0 record (2 points) on the season after one game. The ‘Canes are 1-0-0-0 at home while they will play their first road game tonight in Swift Current. In 2022-2023, the Hurricanes had posted an 0-1-0-0 record after one game.
Home Opener Win: The Hurricanes earned a 3-1 victory against the Broncos on Friday at the ENMAX Centre. Lethbridge has posted an all-time record of 22-12-0-1 with two ties in the previous 36 home openers at the ENMAX Centre.
Tune Up Done: The Hurricanes played a total of four ENMAX Pre-Season games in 2023, posting a record of 2-2-0-0 during the exhibition schedule. The ‘Canes lost the first two games but won the final two games of the pre-season in overtime. Lethbridge averaged 3.50 goals per game.
Pre-Season Leader: Draft eligible forward Miguel Marques had a great pre-season collecting nine points, including four goals and five assists, in four games. Marques finished tied for second in WHL pre-season points while finishing tied for first in the Eastern Conference. He had 20 points (8g-12a) in 59 regular season games in 2022-2023.
Harry’s Back: Hurricanes netminder Harrison Meneghin returned to the team after attending the Minnesota Wild’s Rookie Camp. The South Surrey, BC, product attended Minnesota’s development camp in the summer. The undrafted goaltender went 19-12-2-2 last season with a 2.83 goals against average and a .905 save percentage with one shutout while being named a Central Division second-team all-star.
Double Dare: Lethbridge acquired 2004-born forward Carter Dereniwsky on Tuesday from the Victoria Royals in exchange for an eighth-round draft pick. Dereniwsky has appeared in 76 career regular season games totaling 23 career points (10g-13a) along with 36 penalty minutes with the Royals. He recorded 18 points (8g-10a) and 22 penalty minutes in 51 games in 2022-2023 with Victoria.
Still Campin’: The ‘Canes are missing three defenceman – Joe Arntsen, Chase Pauls and Noah Chadwick – all of whom are still attending NHL Training Camps. Arntsen is with the New York Rangers, Pauls with the Los Angeles Kings while Chadwick is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. All three were named to Main Camps.
Gone Pro: On August 10th, the Hurricanes announced that Brent Kisio resigned as head coach after eight years at the helm to accept an assistant coaching job with the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League. Kisio left the ‘Canes as the winningest coach in team history posting a 267-176-44 regular season record while qualifying for the playoffs each season.
New Bench Boss: The Hurricanes announced Bill Peters the 15th head coach in team history on August 30th. Peters, who has served as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames, returns to the WHL for the first time since 2008. He helped guide the Spokane Chiefs to a WHL and Memorial Cup Championship in 2008 before going to professional hockey. He has posted a 111-92-13 record in the WHL.
