Canes rookies embracing playoff preparation

By Lethbridge Herald on March 17, 2025.

Herald Photo bny Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Carsen Adair battles with Carson Birnie of the Calgary Hitmen in front of Jackson Unger on Saturday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricane rookies are well into preparation mode for playoffs in hopes of capitalizing on their opportunity once the postseason rolls around later next week.

Rookie rearguard Carsen Adair thinks for him it will be important to be dialled in with every play and practice.

“Because when it comes time to compete and to make plays in the playoffs, it’s gonna take everything you got and everybody on the team,” said Adair.

Adair has placed a focus on gap control and defensive zone pressure so he doesn’t feel overwhelmed once playoffs start.

Adair is getting to learn off of former championship defenceman of last year and defensive partner Wojtech Port.

“He takes it serious,” said Adair.

“He knows what it takes to make it all the way. And kind of just learn off (of) him and seeing what he does it super important to me.”

Canes associate head coach Matt Anholt sees the duo as an important pieces to their penalty kill and shutting other team’s top players down.

“I think when you have the mindset of we’re just gonna be effective, and we’re gonna play simple and we’re gonna be efficient, that’s what makes those guys a lot better,” said Anholt.

“I think Wojtech plays that way and plays it very effectively, but I think Carsen can learn from that and he has a lot this year from him.”

Rookie Chase Petersen spoke about what it’s like learning off a championship calibre centremen  in Brayden Yager.

“He’s a top guy in the league, of course, and just being able to see what he does to prepare every day, you really gotta just soak it in and see what he does and just learn off him,” said Petersen.

Petersen has, according to Anholt, been learning off of guys like Yager and Brayden Edwards throughout the course of the season.

“He’s … able to watch a lot of older centres and older forwards (to) see how they operate, how they are away from the rink, how they are on the ice after practice and how they go about their business and I think that’s not gonna stop,” said Anholt.

Petersen thinks a key thing for him to be successful as rookie when he gets the opportunity in the postseason is coming  in and working  hard in the gym and on the ice.

“Just being ready and just never give up,” said Petersen.

Petersen wants to become stronger in the faceoff dot and cleaning up defensive zone details.