PLAYOFFS BEGIN TONIGHT
Canes feeling good about their young goaltender heading into playoffs
The vote is in. The Lethbridge Hurricanes kick off the second season tonight as they host the Calgary Hitme in Game 1 of the teams’ Western Hockey League opening-round series at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.
And as for the guy who will be in the crease as the Canes begin their foray into the post season?
Well, they feel pretty good about him.
And Carl Tetachuk has given them good reason.
It was also exactly two months ago the local netminder in his first WHL season became the official goto man between the pipes when Liam Hughes — acquired New Year’s Day from the Seattle Thunderbirds — left the team for personal reasons.
Eyebrows and question marks alike were raised, wondering if the goaltender who had just turned 18 earlier that month would be up to the task.
As January turned into February and the regular season headed down the stretch drive, Tetachuk answered those queries in spades.
The former goaltender for the Lethbridge Midget AAA Hurricanes went 14-4-1-1 after taking over the starter’s role, posting his first career shutout Feb. 23 in Medicine Hat and adding another goose egg one week later again in Medicine Hat.
As the Canes head into the post season on an eight-game winning streak, Tetachuk has gone 24-9-1-1 with a 2.88 goalsagainst average and a .909 save percentage.
That adaptability after getting the starter’s reins hasn’t been lost in his teammates.
“It’s special to see him do so well,” said Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison. “We’re proud of him to see how far he has come from being a back up to being thrown right into the starting role, it’s huge. The way he has run with that role has been unreal. He’s our last line of defence and he has been our best player every night.
“Anytime you have confidence in your goalie and you have a goalie that can stay calm and be good under any situation, it’s huge. I think that’s big going in the playoffs for us and we have so much confidence in him.”
For his part, the last two months as the go-to man have been enjoyable.
“It’s been good,” said Tetachuk, who was 10-5-0-0 at the time of Hughes’ departure at the end of January. “Our team has been playing really great in front of me and I’m feeling really comfortable in the net now. I’m just trying to do the best I can for our team and moving forward into the playoffs.”
Tetachuk brings a deep playoff run to the table, albeit at a different level.
As member of the midget AAA Hurricanes last season he helped backstop the team to an Alberta Midget Hockey League title and ultimately a bronze medal at the Telus Cup in Sudbury, Ont.
“I’ve got some experience in the playoffs, for sure. Obviously it’s different in this league, but I can take what we did there, move it here and see how it goes.”
Known as more a a quiet player around his teammates, veteran defenceman Koletrane Wilson noted even that’s coming along from the start of the season.
“At the beginning of the year he was definitely more of a shy guy on the team, he would kind of keep to himself around the room and didn’t talk a lot,” said Wilson. “He’s blossomed over the last few months, but he’s definitely not a guy who is going to be a yeller or a screamer in the room. But he cracks us some jokes now and he’s a pretty funny guy.”
At least until he gets into the crease, puts on his game face and comes up with a few saves that pumps up the team in front of him.
“He’s definitely been really good for us. He’s a huge part of where our team is now,” said Hurricanes forward Dylan Cozens. “He was thrown in as a starter out of nowhere and he’s adjusted really well to it. We’re confident with him going into the playoffs.
“Having him on the back end definitely makes us really confident. We know he’s going to be really big for us and we know he’s going to play well. He’s played well almost every game so far this season and he's been consistent. He’s already put up a couple of shutouts. So we’re definitely confident in him.”
Tetachuk looks to carry that into the second season as the Canes eye another deep playoff run after two trips to the Eastern Conference final the previous springs.
That gets going with Games 1 and 2 tonight and Saturday.
“I’m really excited,” said Tetachuk. “The fans are going to be great. It’s going to be a packed house and it should be fun.”
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