CANES at home
Cozens nets first career hat trick, Hurricanes win third straight
The Lethbridge Hurricanes were back on home ice Saturday taking on the Kootenay Ice
Alittle youth was served and the new faces continue to contribute for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
The Canes upped their winning streak to three games following a 5-2 win over the Kootenay Ice during Western Hockey League action Saturday night at the Enmax Centre.
First-year forward Dylan Cozen struck for his first career WHL hat trick and the new blood in the lineup continued to pitch in as Keltie Jeri-Leon opened the scoring to start a two-goal first period.
With the win the Hurricanes improve to 20-19-3-0 and move up four points on the Ice for second place in the Central Division. The Canes are also 63-1 in their last 10 games.
The Hurricanes were first on the scoresheet and two new additions earned their first points as Jeri-Leon — acquired from the Kamloops Blazers at the WHL trade deadline Wednesday — opened the scoring 6:30 into the game, a goal that Owen Blocker drew an assist on for a 1-0 lead.
The Ice drew even midway through the first on a goal from Cameron Hausinger, but the Canes got that lead right back when Cozens intercepted a pass and broke in alone on Ice goaltender Duncan McGovern for his 14th of the season with 6:10 left to go in the first.
Kootenay pulled even for a second time 3:35 into the second period when Sam Huston tied it at 2-2, but that lasted a little less than two minutes when Cozens buried his second of the game for a 32 Lethbridge lead 5:30 into the second.
Cozens completed his hat trick bid and doubled the Hurricanes lead as well with his 16th of the season with 5:55 left in the second period.
After a mostly scoreless third period, Hurricanes forward Taylor Ross iced the win with an empty-netter with 1:47 remaining in regulation.
Veteran goaltender Logan Flodell, making his third consecutive start since being acquired from the Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday, stopped 23 of 25 shots to earn the win.
Cozens also added an assist for a four-point outing and Ross chipped in with a helper for two points.
Logan Barlage, another piece of the Swift Current trade, added two assists.
The Hurricanes kick off a five-game road swing through B.C. starting Tuesday in Kamloops against the Blazers.
The team is back home Jan. 24 when the Kelowna Rockets come to town.
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