Headwater Hurricanes get one back on the Avalanche

By Lethbridge Herald on November 3, 2021.

The Lethbridge U16 Headwater Hurricanes scored a win and some payback last weekend.

They also secured a 1-1 weekend following a 5-2 win over the AC (Airdrie/Cochrane) Avalanche in Alberta Elite Hockey League play Sunday at the Logan Boulet Arena.

Following a 4-1 road loss to the Calgary Bulls Saturday, the Canes salvaged a .500 weekend with their win over the Avalanche.

The win came eight days after the Avalanche downed the Canes 7-3 Oct. 23 and improves the Canes to 2-4-0 on the season and into sixth place in the South Division.

On Sunday, the Hurricanes rallied from a 2-0 deficit after 20 minutes with five unanswered goals en route to the win.

Alex Westlund scored his third and fourth goals of the season and Connor Chapman, Deegan Kinniburgh – with the game-winner 37 seconds into the third – and Kasey Jr. Russell added the other Lethbridge goals.

Russell added two assists for a three-point afternoon and Kinniburgh added one helper for two points. Adrien Fox had two assists for the Hurricanes.

Harrison DeJong stopped 24 of 26 shots to earn the win as the Canes outshot the Avalanche 45-26.

In Saturday’s loss in Calgary, Aidyn Law opened the scoring on the power play 4:24 into the second period, but the Bulls replied with two goals in the second and third periods to notch the win.

Kahil Wright was busy in goal, turning aside 48 of 51 shots.

The Hurricanes are back on the road for a pair this weekend.

They’re in Red Deer to face the North Stars Saturday at 4:45 p.m. and stop in Calgary Sunday to take on the Flames (NWCAA) at noon.

The Hurricanes are back home for three in a row after that, starting Nov. 13 when they host the Okotoks Oilers at 3 p.m. at Logan Boulet Arena.

The Lethbridge U18 Hurricanes managed one point in their only game last weekend, dropping a close 3-2 overtime decision to the Calgary Northstars Saturday at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

The OT loss puts the Canes at 6-2-1, good for a tie for third in the South Division with the 6-4-1 Calgary Buffaloes, one point back of the Airdrie CFR Bisons (6-2-2) and tow back of the South Division leading Calgary (NW) Flames (6-3-3).

John VandenElzen paced Lethbridge to a 1-0 lead after the first period with his third of the season, but the Northstars replied with one in the second and another 8:13 into the third for a 2-1 lead before the Hurricanes forced overtime with Ty Fraser’s 12th goal of the season with 3:31 remaining in regulation.

But Calgary grabbed the extra points in the extra session when Jackson Rowland scored 3:32 into overtime.

Erick Roest stopped 38 of 41 shots. His save percentage of .933 is fifth overall among goaltenders in the U18 division.

Fraser’s 12 goals are tops in the U18 Division and his 15 points in nine games is good for second in the league, two back of Cooper Brown of Airdrie, who has 17 points in 10 games.

The Hurricanes are on the road to Calgary this weekend, taking on the Royals Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and the (NW) Flames Sunday at 3 p.m.

The Canes are back home Nov. 13 when the Edmonton Maple Leaf (MLAC) Beverly Optimists pay a visit to Nicholas Sheran Arena at 1:30 p.m.

It’s the first of six straight at home for the Hurricanes.

The Lethbridge U15 Val Matteotti Golden Hawks were 0-2 on home ice last weekend.

The Hawks were topped 8-5 by the Edmonton Knights of Columbus (KC) Squires Saturday afternoon at Nicholas Sheran Arena and dropped a 4-1 decision to the Calgary Bisons (CBHA) Sunday, also at Nicholas Sheran Arena,

The Golden Hawks are 1-10-0 on the season with the losses.

On Sunday, Kayson Christian netted his sixth of the season to open the scoring 3:49 into the game, but the Bisons tied it before the first period was over and added three more in the second to post the road win.

Brylin Noble stopped 31 of 35 shots for the Golden Hawks.

In Saturday’s high-scoring loss, Lethbridge held a 3-1 lead after the first period before the Squires tied it at 3-3 after 40 minutes before burying five unanswered goals in the third to register the win.

Hayden Iron Shirt, Christian, Kobe Urasaki, Briggs Olson and Rylan Ng were the Golden Hawks goal scorers.

Iron Shirt and Christian each had an assist for two points. Gugyelka, Jager chipped in with two assists.

Seth Bird-Goodstriker stopped 24 of 32 shots in the loss.

The Golden Hawks are back home for two more games this weekend.

On Saturday they host the Edmonton Maple Leaf (MLAC) Scott Pump at 1:30 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena and are back at their home rink Sunday when the Medicine Hat South East SEAC Tigers pay a visit at noon.

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