Headwater Hurricanes battle to bronze at Sutter Cup
Thanks to a little overtime drama, the Lethbridge Headwater midget AAA 15's Hurricanes are bronze medalists at this year’s Alberta Minor Midget Hockey League Sutter Cup.
The Canes defeated the Red Deer North Star Chiefs 5-4 in overtime Sunday to earn third place at the tournament held in Okotoks as Easton Weasel Head provided the OT winner.
The Canes started the tournament off with a 3-1 loss to the Chiefs.
Tristan Kimmen scored the Hurricanes goal, while goaltender Brayden Peters stopped 26 of 29 shots.
Lethbridged earned a 3-3 tie in their second game of the weekend, skating to a 3-3 deadlock with the Calgary CNHA Blazers.
Luke Preddy, Blake Kondor and Kimmen — with the game-tying goal on the power play — were the Hurrianes goal scorers. Cole Tisdale made 28 saves in the tie. The Canes wrapped up round-robin play Saturday with a 4-0 win over the Calgary CBHA Blackhawks as Peters earned the shutout with 27 saves.
Kimmen upped his tournament goals total to four with two, while J.D. Hall and Tristan Miller added one each for Lethbridge as the Hurricane advanced to the semifinal against the Rockyview Raiders on Sunday.
In the morning semifinal, the Hurricanes were defeated 5-3 by the Raiders and relegated to the bronze medal game.
Lethbridge led 2-1 after the first period on goals by Derrien Tonin and Dawson Leroux and outshot the Raiders 17-5.
Rockyview tied it up at 2-2 on the power play in the second.
Kimmen gave Lethbridge a 3-2 lead 20 seconds into the third, but the Raiders went to the power play and scored their third man advantage goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Rockyview took the lead 1:48 later and added an empty net goal to seal the win and a berth in the gold medal game.
Tisdale stopped 18 of 22 shots in the semifinal.
In the bronze medal game Sunday afternoon and a rematch with the Chiefs, Weasel Head also scored in regulation for a two-goal game, while Luke Preddy, Kolby James and Brayden Kapty added singles for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes season isn’t over yet as the team gets ready to host the the Midget AAA Minor Provincials Wednesday to Sunday at the ATB Centre.
The Hurricanes start their provincial run against the St. Albert Flyers Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Lethbridge faces the Leduc Oil Kings Thursday at 9 a.m. and are back on the ice at 4:30 pm against the Raiders.
The Canes start Friday with a 9 a.m. game against the Calgary CBHA Rangers.
On Friday at 7 p.m. the Hurricanes take on the Lloyminster R'ohan Bobcats.
The semifianls are Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
The bronze medal game is slated for 11 a.m. Sunday with the gold medal game to follow at 1:45 p.m.