Hurricanes return tonight with new faces on board

By Lethbridge Herald on January 21, 2022.

Dale Woodard LETHBRIDGE HERALD sports@lethbridgeherald.com

With the Western Hockey League trade deadline passing earlier this week, a few addresses were changed.

Two of those changes of address were rerouted to southern Alberta as Corson Hopwo and Brayden Edwards get ready to make their Lethbridge Hurricanes debuts tonight as the Red Deer Rebels pay a visit to the Enmax Centre at 7 p.m.

Of course, in Hopwo’s case, it was a change of address from one southern Alberta location to another as the former Medicine Hat Tiger trekked down Highway 3 to his new team.

For Edwards, the move spanned a pair of provinces as the 17-year-old forward who hails from Abbotsford, B.C. joins the Canes from the Winnipeg Ice.

On Thursday morning, the two newest Canes ran through one more practice and settled into their surroundings ahead of tonight’s game and what is going to be a jammed and demanding schedule right into March as Lethbridge looks to claw their way into the playoff picture.

“It’s been good, just meeting all of the staff and the players, everybody has been really welcoming,” said Edwards. “I’m still putting a few names to faces, but it’s going well.

“The practices are really fast. A lot of big, strong players out there, too.”

Three days removed from the trade deadline as of Thursday, Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio likes what he’s seen from the newest duo after a few practices.

“I think they looked awesome. They’re skating well and Hopwo’s leadership has already shown through. He looks like he’s going to be a really solid player for us and is going to be a big part of our team.

“With Edwards coming in, he has some speed. He’ll work his way up and we’ll see what we have there. But we’re an excited group. We had a great day on the ice (Thursday) at practice and we’re ready to go.”

With 11 games under his belt with the nationally top-ranked Ice, Edwards knows what he’ll bring the Lethbridge.

“I think I can bring relentlessness and my work ethic, that and some offensive skill.”

Playing on the highly offensive Ice, whose 168 goals-for leads the league, can bring a lesson or two as well for a young player.

“I learned a lot. Those players are first-round draft picks or draft picks in the NHL,” said Edwards. “You get to see their routines and how they prepare for games. It was good to learn from them and I enjoyed my experience in Winnipeg.”

Where the duo will fit into tonight’s lineup remains a game time decision.

“We have so many new guys in and some moving parts, so we’re just trying to find some chemistry,” said Kisio.

Hurricanes starting goaltender Bryan Thomson sat out Thursday’s practice with some lower body soreness.

“He’s day-to-day and we’ll see where he’s at,” said Kisio.

Thomson was in goal for the Hurricanes 5-4 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings Sunday night.

The Hurricanes called up goaltender Harrison Meneghin as backup for tonight’s game.

Meneghin signed a WHL Standard Player’s Agreement with the Hurricanes in September.

He has been playing with the Delta Hockey Academy U18 Prep this season.

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