LOOK WHAT I DID!
Hall’s first WHL goal also Teddy Bear goal in 3-1 Canes win
Lethbridge Hurricanes' Justin Hall helps load up piles of stuffed animals in the back of a truck after scoring the first goal on Teddy Bear Toss night against the Swift Current Broncos during Western Hockey League action Friday at the Enmax Centre.
Normally, when a player scores their first Western Hockey League goal they pick up the puck off the ice as a keepsake. Following Justin Hall’s first career tally in a 3-1 win over the Swift Current Broncos in WHL play Friday night at the Enmax Centre, a lot more had to be picked up and the delay was longer than simply retrieving the puck.
As it turned out, Hall’s first career goal that gave Lethbridge a 1-0 lead early in the second also doubled as the Teddy Bear goal as the Canes hosted their 23rd annual Canadian Tire Toque and Teddy Toss.
Then with the score tied at 1-1 later in the period, Hall set up Zachary Cox for what stood up as the game-winner to complete the warm and fuzzy night in a win that improves the Hurricanes to 12-83-2.
One of two of newest Hurricanes also factored in on the Teddy Bear goal as Jake Leschyshyn — making his Canes debut with Nick Henry — drew the assist that sprung Hall on a breakaway.
“I noticed we were on a 2-0 and Leschyshyn just gave me a pass,” said Hall. “I thought he would come with me, but he kind of slowed up so I had a breakaway on my own. I don’t know, I just put the puck on the net and a good thing happened. I just wanted to get it (first goal) out of the way and it’s good to get it out of the way.”
After the 3,868 teddy bears and 661 toques were trucked off the ice, the Broncos briefly pulled even when Max Patterson made no mistake sifting shot past Canes goaltender Carl Tetachuk right off a faceoff to make it 1-1 with 8:06 to go in the second.
But the fourth line of Hall, his twin brother Adam and Cox went to work late in the period as Hall fed Cox for a onetimer and 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.
“We’ve been building some chemistry the last couple of weeks and we’ve been play well,” said Hall of his linemates. “I think this game shows we can make a difference on this team.”
Jake Elmer added his 12th of the season for the Hurricanes in the third to round out the scoring.
Tetachuk stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn the his fourth win of the season, while Broncos goaltender Joel Hofer turned aside 39 of 42 shots.
In whirlwind past 24 hours since the blockbuster deal with the Regina Pats that brought Leschyshyn and Henry to Lethbridge in exchange for Jadon Joseph and Ty Kolle, the newest addition skated on the top line with Canes captain Jordy Bellerive.
“Honestly, I think the one word for that was ‘fun’,” said Leschyshyn. “I had a lot of fun out there. Playing in Regina and coming to this barn, it was always loud and always tough to play in. So it’s fun to be on the other side, for sure.”
Henry anticipated getting in a few more games with Bellerive.
“I think we had a good effort and as a line, Jake and I had the familiarity, but adding Jordy to the mix, he’s a heck of a player and has a really good shot and I think down the road in a couple of games we’ll build some chemistry.”
The Hurricanes head to Medicine Hat tonight to take on the Tigers.
They return home Sunday to take on a team that made their own big deal Friday when the Red Deer Rebels come to the Enmax Centre at 6 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the Rebels acquired former Hurricane Brett Davis and forward Cameron Hausinger from the Kootenay Ice in exchange for forward Austin Schellenberg, 17-year-old forwards River Fahey and Justin Svenson as well as 15year-old forward Chase Bertholet.