Hurricanes Earn First Pre-Season Win with 3-2 OT Victory in Calgary
Calgary, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes earned their first victory of the 2023 ENMAX Pre-Season on Thursday with a 3-2 overtime win over the Calgary Hitmen at the Seven Chiefs Sportsplex.
The Hurricanes had a great start to the contest which saw them outshoot the Hitmen by a healthy 18-7 margin in the first period. The ‘Canes kept Calgary on their heels early in the game and were able to capitalize just 6:56 into the game when Miguel Marques banged home a rebound for his second of the pre-season to make it 1-0 Lethbridge; Tyson Zimmer and Kooper Gizowski earned the assists on the goal. The Hurricanes continued to press with a pair of good looks, including a Trae Wilke goal post, but they couldn’t solve Alex Garrett in the Calgary goal. The Hitmen had a great chance to tie the game when Keets Fawcett had a breakaway but Brady Smith made a large save to keep the Hurricanes in front as the they held the 1-0 lead after twenty minutes of play.
Early in the second period, the Hitmen drew even as Matteo Danis lifted a wrist-shot over the glove of Smith to make it 1-1 just 2:22 into the middle frame. Just under eight-minutes later, the Hurricanes pulled back in front as Gizowski had a centering pass bank off a Calgary defender and into the net at the 8:02 mark to put the ‘Canes up 2-1; Marques and Will Sharpe earned the assists on the goal. Lethbridge made a goaltending change at the midway point of the second period as Koen Cleaver replaced Smith, who made 11 saves on 12 shots. The Hitmen were able to beat Cleaver for an equalizing goal with 3:53 remaining in the period when Chase Valliant scored his first of the pre-season to make it a 2-2 tie after forty minutes of play. The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 16-11 in the middle frame.
In the third period, the Hurricanes and Hitmen continued to trade chances but both goaltenders stood tall. The ‘Canes had another good look when Dustin Renas grazed the outside of a goal post midway through the period but couldn’t jam home the rebound for a go-ahead goal. Lethbridge outshot Calgary 8-7 in the third period but neither team could find the net as the game went to overtime tied at 2-2.
In the overtime session, the Hurricanes found a winner as Tristen Doyle centered on a two-on-one to Anton Astashevich and the former Hitmen snapped home his first of the pre-season to give Lethbridge the 3-2 victory.
The Hurricanes outshot the Hitmen 43-26 in the contest. Lethbridge went 0/1 on the power play while Calgary was 0/2 with the extra man.
The victory improved the Hurricanes record to 1-2-0-0 in the ENMAX Pre-Season as they went 1-1-0-0 in their two road exhibition games.
Lethbridge 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.
