Hurricanes and Hitmen renew playoff rivalry
The last time the Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Calgary Hitmen faced each other in the Western Hockey League playoffs the oldest members of the current team were barely pushing double digits.
In fact, Hurricanes secondyear forward Dylan Cozens — touted to go high in the summer’s NHL entry draft — would have been an eight-yearold plying his minor hockey trade up in the Yukon in his hometown of Whitehorse.
Now, a decade after that last post-season clash in the 200809, the Hurricanes and Hitmen renew playoff acquaintances as Game 1 of the teams’ opening round best-of-seven series hits the Enmax Centre ice tonight at 7 p.m.
The names and faces have changed, except for one. It just changed teams as current Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio prepares to face the Hitmen team he was an assistant with in that series 10 years ago.
The current Canes look to reverse that result with Games 1 and 2 tonight at Saturday before Games 3 and 4 head to Calgary Tuesday and Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m. each night.
“I’m definitely excited to get going in the playoffs,” said Cozens. “With Calgary, it has been a while since the Hurricanes played them in the playoffs. We’ve done well against them this season, but in playoffs it’s a whole different game and the teams are different. Anything can happen. We just have to treat them like a new team and we can’t take them lightly."
The Hurricanes own the season series 5-1 over the Hitmen this season and ride an eight-game winning streak into the first round that allowed them to lock up second place in the Central Division at 40-18-55.
Calgary finished 12 points back in third place at 36-26-5-1.
“Going in on an eight-game winning streak is massive for your confidence, knowing what it takes to win,” said Hurricanes defenceman Calen Addison. “We know what we have to do and we know we have to shut them down early.”
The Hitmen are led by the 47goal output of Mark Kastelic and the 34 added by James Malm.
“They have some good players,” said Addison. “Kastelic can put the puck in the net and he’s a big body in front. They have guys like Malm, who can wheel around and make some pretty special plays. I think we just have to take away their time and space and I think we’ll be good.”
The Hitmen also have two 20plus goal scorers in Kaden Elder (27) and Carson Focht (26), but the Hurricanes bring in their own 40-goal scorer in Jake Leschyshyn,
As well, they boast four players who have cracked the 30-goal mark, led by Jake Elmer (39), Cozens (34), Taylor Ross (34) and Jordy Bellerive (33).
Cozens joined the Hurricanes just in time to take part in the past two spring runs all the way to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final.
“Those minutes I played at 15 (in the 2016-17 playoffs) were definitely big and then last year going all the way to the Eastern conference final again was pretty cool,” said Cozens. “With the team we had last year, not a lot expected us to make it that far and play the way we did. But we know you don’t need the best team to win, you just have to go out and play hard and stick to the game structure.”
Despite the decade apart and completely different rosters, Hurricanes defenceman Koletrane Wilson will expects the same playoff vibe.
“It’s funny with Calgary we haven't played them since 2009. So it's going to be a war, for sure,” he said. “But it’s good that every team has this week off to prepare, watch the video and dissect their opponents. So it should be a good one.”
The veteran blue-liner feels shutting down the Hitmen’s big guns and freeing up their own snipers in the process will be key once the puck drops tonight.
“They definitely have some offensive weapons,” said Wilson. “I think, being a D-man, if we shut those guys down and let our offensive guys have some success, I think this is our series to lose.”
If necessary, Game 5 comes back to Lethbridge at Nicholas Sheran Arena March 30 at 7 p.m. Game 6 will be March 31 at 4 p.m. in Calgary and Game 7 would come back to Nicholas Sheran Arena April 2 at 7 p.m.
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