Hurricanes Drop See-Saw Battle with Tigers
Medicine Hat, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes continued the 2023 ENMAX Pre-Season on Saturday with a 5-4 loss to Medicine Hat Tigers at Co-op Place.
The game started with a bit of fire as the Miguel Marques and Cayden Lindstrom were assessed roughing minors just 22-seconds into the game. Neither team struck while four-on-four, but the Hurricanes opened the scoring at the 8:54 mark as Brayden Edwards rifled home his first of the pre-season with a shot over the blocker of Beckett Langkow to make it 1-0 Lethbridge; Landen Ward and Chase Pauls earned the assists. The ‘Canes doubled their lead just 27-seconds later as Will Sharpe buried his first of the exhibition season to make it 2-0 – Marques and Tyson Zimmer were credited with the assists on the goal. Medicine Hat cut the lead in half with a power play goal as Brayden Boehm slapped home his third goal at the 13:13 mark to make it a 2-1 game. The Tigers had a glorious opportunity to tie the game with a shorthanded two-on-nothing but Harrison Meneghin – who made his first start of the pre-season – made a terrific glove save to keep it a Lethbridge lead after twenty minutes of play. The shots favoured the Tigers 9-7 in the first period.
Early in the second period, the Tigers struck to tie the game 2-2 when Cayden Lindstrom beat Meneghin over the glove on a partial three-on-two just 3:19 into the middle frame. The Hurricanes almost retook the lead as the top line of Marques, Zimmer and Logan Wormald were buzzing before Zimmer clanked a shot off the cross-bar but the game stayed 2-2. The ‘Canes hit another power on the very next shift as Edwards ripped a one-timer off a centering pass from Elias Knoester. Lethbridge continued to get good scoring chances in the middle frame and had another great look to pull ahead on a Marques breakaway but Evan May – who replaced Langkow at the half-way point of the second – made a blocker save to keep the game tied. The ‘Canes finally broke through and pulled back ahead with a power play goal by Zimmer to make it a 3-2 Lethbridge lead; Marques and Tristen Doyle picked up picked up the helpers. The lead was short-lived as the Tigers struck twice in just over a minute – both on the power play – as Markus Ruck and Josh Van Mulligen found the back of the net to give Medicine Hat a 4-3 advantage after two periods. The Tigers outshot the Hurricanes 16-9 in the middle frame.
In the third, the Tigers added to their lead with yet another power play goal as Haden Harsanyi scored his first of the pre-season at the 11:17 mark from Andrew Basha and Matt Paranych. The ‘Canes had a power play opportunity of their own when Owen MacNeil was assessed a roughing penalty and despite a couple of good chances for Zimmer, the ‘Canes were unable to get to within a goal. Late in the third period, the Hurricanes pulled Meneghin for the extra attacker and they would pull to within one as Joe Arntsen scored his first of the pre-season from Anton Astashevich and Chase Pauls with 31-seconds left making it 5-4. The ‘Canes pulled Meneghin again but could find the equalizer as the Tigers hung on for the 5-4 victory.
Threes stars of the game were:
1) Tigers – #22 Josh Van Mulligen (1 goal, 1 assist)
2) ‘Canes – #35 Harrison Meneghin (35-saves)
3) Tigers – #4 Matt Paranych (2 assists)
The loss for the Hurricanes drops their ENMAX Pre-Season record to 0-2-0-0. Lethbridge is now 0-1-0-0 at home and 0-1-0-0 on the road during the exhibition schedule with two games remaining. The ‘Canes will visit the Calgary Hitmen on Thursday at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex at 7:00pm.
The Hurricanes will return to the ENMAX Centre on Saturday, September 16th at 6:00pm when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels in the ENMAX Pre-Season finale. Tickets can be purchased for $10.00 cash in advance by visiting the Lethbridge Hurricanes Office at the ENMAX Centre, the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association Office at Cavendish Farms Centre or at any Gas King location in Lethbridge. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. A portion of the proceeds will support Lethbridge Minor Hockey.
