Hurricanes return home
The Lethbridge Hurricanes return home this weekend looking to get back on the winning track. The Canes host the Prince George Cougars during Western Hockey League action tonight at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre and are back on home ice again Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Red Deer Rebels come town.
As the team plays its first home game since a 6-2 loss to the Regina Pats On Oct. 15, the 5-6-1-1 Hurricanes do so looking to get back to the .500 mark as well as snap a five-game winless skid.
That starts tonight with the Cougars as the Hurricanes head into the weekend minus the services of head coach Brent Kisio, video coach Andrew Doty as well as defenceman Calen Addison and forward Josh Tarzwell, all of whom are at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, which started Thursday and runs until Nov. 5.
“We’re trying to change the mindset a little bit,” said Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt, who will take over for Kisio behind the bench this weekend. “We have to think team-first as opposed. We got off of that a little bit in the first month. Brent and I talked a lot about that. This wasn’t a great time for him to be away and it’s killing him to be away, but we talked a lot about some of the things we need to do. I think our forwards have to help out D better, we just have to do a better job and play as a team, for the team and as a team. I think we have enough good players that if we play as a team we’ll be much better.”
The Hurricanes are coming off an 0-3 eastern road swing last week in which they were outscored 15-3.
“I think we made a lot of good strides this week, a lot of defensive strides,” said Hurricanes veteran forward Giorgio Estephan.
Getting a few bounces going their way that they weren’t getting early in the season didn’t hurt either.
“I think the first nine games or so it just seemed like we could never get a bounce and I think we finally got those bounces which allowed us to grow a little confidence and then we started scoring a bit and that was huge for us,”
said third-year midfielder Sean Gaiesky.
With the Thunderbirds beckoning tonight, the Pronghorns return to the focus that has earned them the right to play in the second season.
“It is one more game,” said Gaiesky. “Of course, the stakes are a bit higher, but if we just focus on what we can control, it’s in our hands and we can probably get that win.”
Tonight’s game will also be streamed live on