Veteran Canes set tone for WHL opener

By Lethbridge Herald on September 18, 2025.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes drop the puck on a new Western Hockey League season tonight and will rely on their older members to lead the way early in the campaign to help an abundance of younger players get comfortable with the WHL.

The 20-year-oldsLogan Wormald, Matteo Fabrizi and Shane Smith are expected to take the lead early.

“All of our 20-year-olds have played a lot of games in this league,” said Matt Anholt, Canes head coach.

“Most teams would probably say that their strength is their older guys, especially (to) begin with. They (have) got to let their younger guys come through a little bit and ease the tension early.”

Anholt identified starting goaltender Koen Cleaver as a strength, too.

“Koen could be one of the best goalies in the league this year.”

Cleaver will be backed up by Leif Oaten, who won the back-up battle last week over Brody Rotar.

The Canes have gone through training camp and exhibition season with many 16- and 17-year-olds. Anholt said patience and structure with the young ones can have a positive impact.

“It’s going to be important that we are patient with them and we just keep chipping away (and) help them get better each and every day.

“It’s going to be a slow burn for pretty much all those guys but the biggest thing is having older guys who they can lean on at tough, critical moments.”

Fans can expect to look for young guns, such as American-born Enzo DiDomenicantonio, to be exciting players to watch this season.

“I see a guy (in DiDomenicantonio) who is going to be able to bring us a lot of energy and a lot of speed and he can make plays,” said Anholt.

Forward Easton Daneault looks poised for an expanded role this season. He a taste of the WHL last season after getting called up from the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Drumheller Dragons.

“He came up with us in playoffs and learned how to maybe compete a little harder, how important it is in certain areas and how we handle business up in Lethbridge,” said Anholt.

Six-foot-five winger Gavin Lasiuk is another player who’s caught Anholt’s eye after having a strong second half at the South Alberta Hockey Academy last season.

“He’s one of those guys that I think can be a little bit of a pest at times, too, in front of the net and bug those goalies,” said Anholt.

When it comes to the back end, Anholt is optimistic about unsigned free agent Carson Olsen, who stepped up in camp.

“He looks like an older guy who’s played years of junior that understands the grind and how hard he needs to practice and the little intricacies of playing defence.”

Anholt also thinks returning defenceman Carsen Adair has stepped up his confidence level and should have a strong season. Defencemen Nathan Maloney signed in the spring from Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Calgary Canucks.

“He looks like a guy who can really run a powerplay, he can skate, he’s a great kid,” said Anholt.

He expects Fabrizi to be a player that in hard moments can be leaned on, be a shot blocker and a heavier player to battle against.