Teddy bear toss tally from the new duo?
Cozens altered the Teddy Bear goal prediction rules, choosing both Leschyshyn and Henry to combine for the team’s first goal to launch the plush toys which will then be distributed to local organizations.
“We have these two new guys coming in and we’re going to spark a little bit of chemistry right away and show what they can do and get a quick goal off the bat,” said the second-year Cane. “I’m not predicting which one. Maybe Nick Henry will get it. It’ll come down to a two-on-one or something, make a pass over and the other guy will tap it in. It just seems that’s how the hockey gods work, ya know?”
Hurricanes defencemen Koletrane Wilson, Nolan Jones and Alex Cotton also jumped on the new guys bandwagon.
Wilson’s pick was Henry, who has been filling the net nicely with the Pats this year with 15 goals in 25 games.
“I think he’s due in a Hurricanes jersey” said Wilson. “He hasn’t scored yet, so I think that’ll be big for his first. Watching his highlights, it’ll be an off-the-rush play. Maybe he’ll beat a guy wide and maybe a nice move in tight and bury it home.”
Meanwhile, Jones and Cotton went with Leschyshyn.
“He’s the new guy coming in and I feel he’s going to do really well, he’s going to have a lot of opportunities,” said Jones. “I think he’s going to step into one just above the circle, a snap-shot, top corner.”
Given Leschyshyn’s penchant for finding the back of the net with 16 goals in Regina this season, Cotton made the new addition his selection as well.
“He knows how to score goals,” he said. “He has 16 this season. It’s his first game and the hockey gods will be with him. I think it’s going to be a start-of-the-game kind of goal, first period for sure. (Jordy) Bellerive will set him up in the slot, top shelf or something like that.”
As the newest Hurricanes were welcomed to the fold with Teddy Bear goal predictions, Bellerive and rookie forward Noah Boyko kept their predictions on the roster in place rior to Thursday’s trade.
“I think (Jackson) Shepard, is going to get it on a greasy one,” said the Hurricanes captain of Shepard, who netted his first of the season in last Wednesday’s 3-1 win in Saskatoon. “He’s had so many good looks this year and sometimes holds his stick a little bit too tight. He broke out the other day with his first goal and I think he’ll get it.”
Boyko went with forward Logan Barlage.
“He’s had some puck luck this year and he’s working really hard,” said Boyko. “I think he’s going to pot one. It’s going to be a shot from the Dman and he deflects it in.”
After tonight’s game, the Hurricanes head to Medicine Hat to take on the Tigers Saturday night.
They’re back home Sunday when the Red Deer Rebels visit at 6 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.
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