Longley embracing leadership role with Hurricanes

By Lethbridge Herald on February 12, 2026.

Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

For a young team like the Lethbridge Hurricanes, leadership has proven to be  especially important.

Since arriving in Lethbridge, Kayden Longley has provided a calming presence for the Hurricanes both on the ice and in the dressing room.

Longley was acquired via trade from the Kelowna Rockets in November in a deal that saw Lethbridge move Shane Smith and Vojtech Cihar to the Memorial Cup hosts.

In an interview with the Herald, Longley says he’s enjoyed the chance to put on a Hurricane sweater.

“It would have been an amazing opportunity, but I think the opportunity here is also amazing. We have a young team, and I think just the skills I can gain, just leadership and just kind of showing the younger guys what to do is an opportunity I wouldn’t probably have gotten in Kelowna. The opportunities are different, but I’m really glad I’m here in Lethbridge.”

The trade back to Alberta has allowed Longley to play in his home province. The 19-year-old forward grew up in Wainwright and says he always wanted to play in Alberta in the WHL.

“I was really excited and really happy. I grew up in Alberta, so you kind of hear about the Western Hockey League and just the Alberta teams kind of got brought up more than any other team. So knowing his Lethbridge and being close to home, I was really happy.”

In 32 games with the Hurricanes, Longley has posted four goals along with 19 assists. He was also given a letter by the Lethbridge coaching staff and wears an ‘A’ for the Hurricanes.

Hurricane head coach Matt Anholt says Longley is pretty even keeled which is a good aspect to have on a young team. 

“He’s just clearly a guy that’s been through the trials and tribulations of the Western League, understands the league, understands the players, is really well coached, or easy to coach.  When you’re talking to him, he’s one of those guys that looks you in the eye and he’s nodding and he’s paying attention, he’s really receptive, he’s been a really good leader, we gave him a letter for a reason, but I think I’ve liked him a lot with Tyden (Lafournaise) just because he’s got a good mannerism and knows how to deal with the 16-year-olds well. I think obviously there’s ups and downs as a 16-year-old, but I think Kayden does a really good job with (Lafournaise), not letting him get too high or too low.”

It was far from a guarantee that Longley would even play a game in the WHL. He was the final player to have his name called in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft when the Rockets took him in the 13th round, 281st overall. 

The WHL Prospects Draft is far from a perfect science as there have been players drafted late or undrafted that have gone on to become star players in the league. 

Last season, netminders Max Hildebrand and Austin Elliott were named to the CHL All-Star teams in their 20-year-old seasons. Elliott was taken by Saskatoon 261st overall in 2019 while Hildebrand was selected a round later at 286th overall by Prince Albert. Hockey Hall of Famer Shea Weber was never drafted into the WHL before being listed by the Kelowna Rockets.  

As a result of being such a late pick, every opportunity that Longley has gotten in the WHL has been earned, not given. 

“Probably not where I want to go in the draft, but things happen and everything happens for a reason.” Longley said. “I think it just reminds me to keep working hard and hard work takes you places. I think that’s just the model that I live by every day and that’s kind of an example of it.”

Anholt says Longley’s character is a major reason why he’s been able to break into and stay in the WHL.

“I think he’s an example of resilience. We’ve seen a lot over the years in Lethbridge with undrafted kids and when you’re the last pick of the draft, it’s similar in a way where you want to prove a lot of people wrong. The draft is so funny where as much as people get caught up in it, it doesn’t really matter at all where you get picked. It matters how you develop over the next five years of your life and clearly because of how coachable he is and how good of a kid he is and how hard he works, it’s worked out in his favour.”

When Longley arrived in Lethbridge, there was at least one familiar face to greet him. Going back to their days playing for the Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) program, Longley played on a line alongside Owen Berge. 

When asked about getting the chance to play alongside his former teammate with NAX, Longley says he was super stoked. 

“It’s obviously a very exciting opportunity as well. Me and Owen go back to the NAX days, and it’s just nice having a guy I used to play with. I know his game. I’m a passer. He’s more of a shooter. It kind of works out together pretty well. I was obviously very excited when I heard the news and knew Owen was here as well.”

Longley first broke into the WHL ranks in the 2022-23 season, getting into the eight games for the Rockets. He scored his first WHL goal on Mar. 24 2023 in a 3-2 Kelowna loss to the Vancouver Giants.

During that time, Longley said he took in as much as he could from the older players on the Rockets. Now that he’s in Lethbridge, he says he’s trying to pay forward what he was taught about the WHL by the veterans in Kelowna. 

“It’s awesome when you can help young guys. I was in that position not too long ago. I remember older guys were teaching me and helping me. It’s just kind of the way the sport is and the way junior hockey is. I’m obviously very excited that I can be an older guy and teach these young guys what to do and how the league is.”

Lethbridge returns to action on Friday night when they welcome Landon DuPont and the Western Conference leading Everett Silvertips. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.