Tetachuk hits half-century mark

By Dale Woodard on May 7, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDsports@lethbridgeherald.com

Even in a shortened season, Carl Tetachuk managed to hit a statistical milestone before it ended.

For the third-year goaltender for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, that involved hitting the half-century mark as the hometown boy made good, backstopping the Canes to a 6-3 win over the Medicine Hat Tigers last Saturday in Medicine Hat for his 50th career win.

“That meant a lot,” said Tetachuk, 20, who is now 50-28-5-6 in his WHL career with a .901 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average and five shutouts. “Playing here in my hometown has been a great three years. I have to give a lot of credit to the coaches and the players for always having my back and giving me that time to play.”

As was the case for every WHL player, the past season was anything but a normal one as the COVID-19 pandemic relegated the Hurricanes and their Central Division opponents to 24-games.

That made for changes on and off the ice as Tetachuk and his teammates adjusted to life in the bubble.

“There were a lot of changes,” said Tetachuk. “But I think with the boys hanging around in the apartments, we had a good bond and got along pretty well. We have a lot of memories we can reflect back on.”

Tetachuk went 5-7-3-0 this year with a 4.11 goals against average and a .878 save percentage.

“It was a tougher season, for sure,” he said. “But I think I can learn from it and be better for next year. There were some bumps in the road this year, a little bit of a younger team, but I have to have their backs, so I think I can learn from this year and be even better next year.”

Despite having the start of the season delayed three times with attempted starts in October, December and January, Tetachuk said he managed to settle into a groove once the season did get underway.

“We had practices every day,” he said. “We do some drills, so I can get my rhythm going and it was usually three (games)-in-three (days) on the weekend. They get lots of pucks at me, so I usually felt pretty good.”

With his third year complete, Tetachuk gears up for the 2021-22 season which will see him as one of the team’s overagers.

“The team has come a long way from the beginning of the year,” said Tetachuk, who plans to train in the off season with Hurricanes strength and conditioning coach Trevor Hardy, assistant coach Matt Anholt and former Canes head coach Mike Dyck. “We were a pretty young team, but I think we’ve all come together and I’m looking forward to helping lead the group next year and hopefully make a good playoff race.”

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