HURRICANES
The Hurricanes returned to the ice the next day in Regina where they settled for a 2-2 draw against the Regina Vics.
Swift Current led 2-0 on first-period goals from Carlson and Cowie but Regina got goals from Donovan Hall and Randen Schmidt before a scoreless third period.
Dylan Rossiter, Riley Couch, Wall, and Wittmier all picked up assists for the Hurricanes, while Blade Roh earned the tie in goal.
The Hurricanes played their third game in as many nights Saturday when they scored the final six goals in a 6-1 win over the visiting Weyburn Wings in a penalty filled contest. Carter Tangen led the attack with two goals, while Wall and Gauthier each had two assists.
Knelsen, Couch, Josh Nimigeers, and Kouri also scored. Evans, Nolan Cox, Jonas Sadden, Carlson, and Wittmier all added assists and Zinger added another win in goal.
Sunday, the host Hurricanes outscored the Notre Dame Bantam Hounds 7-1 over the final 40 minutes in a 7-3 win. Kouri and Josh Nimigeers each had two goals and an assist, while Couch continued to put up points with a goal and two assists and Jonas Sadden and Gauthier both added goals. Evans, Rossiter, and Tangen all had two-assist outings, while Wall and Wittmier added single helpers.
Blade Roh earned the win with 22 saves in goal as the Hurricanes fired 57 shots at Notre Dame's Jordan Schmuland.
"It is almost the same pattern every game with us. We have a slow start and it is like we have to feel out our competition. Then we had I think a few bad calls against us in the first period. We showed character by coming out in the second and we won the second period 4-1 and then carried the momentum all the way through," said coach Scott Cassidy.
He agreed that the Hurricanes simply wore the smaller Bantam Hounds down as the game wore on.
"I think our style of play is just so aggressive and our forecheck is so strong in their end. They only had five D and nine forwards and they are of course smaller guys playing bantam. That was our game plan coming in was we just wanted to wear them down and grind them down all game and it worked for us."
The Hurricanes finished with three wins and one tie over a grueling four-day stretch.
"The players take care of themselves. You have to keep hydrated and eat the right things and then just come in with the right mindset. I think we kept our shifts short for the most part and played a smart game for the most part. We called it a 12-period weekend with the four games going in there. I am happy with it," said Cassidy.
It has now been over two months since the Hurricanes have lost, 16 games and counting.
"It just goes back to the kids' work ethic and the way they buy into the system. Sometimes they drift away from it and we readdress it after a period or something. We really need to play that system game, team-first mentality. When they do that we haven't lost a game when they have played that way," said Cassidy.
The Hurricanes will play four games in as many days again this week, beginning tonight when they visit the Moose Jaw Warriors. They will also host the Lumsden/Bethune Lions on Friday at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Fairview West Arena. Sunday they will head to Estevan for game two of their provincial playoff series.
"We just have to keep doing exactly what we are doing here. Again the kids' work ethic just shines through after every game. They just put their heads down and go to work even if we get down a couple goals. It is gut-check time and we come out and they just pepper the goalie and keep scoring and so that's how they win."