Hurricanes lose to Pats in front of sold out crowd

By Lethbridge Herald on February 3, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward- Regina Pats Connor Bedard tries to drive wide around the check of Lethbridge HurricanesÕ Tristen Doyle for a shot attempt during Western Hockey League action at the Enmax Centre on Friday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

 The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft,Connor Bedard, and the Regina Pats came out with 3-2 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

The Hurricanes had a 2-1 lead going into the third period and a couple mental lapses played a big factor in the loss.

“Well, I think we did some good things,” said Brent Kisio, Hurricanes head coach.

“(We) played hard in certain moments but just a couple mental lapses in the third.”

Defenceman Chase Pauls said, “Obviously  that can’t happen,” when it came to those mental lapses.

“When you go into the third period with a lead, we (have)  just got to lock it down and manage the puck,” said Pauls.

“And obviously the mental errors, we made a couple, and it cost in the end.”

Bedard was held to three shots and was a minus one on the night.

“Well it doesn’t matter, we lost the game,” said Kisio.

“I think we had a top line that  did a good job against him and a couple of defenceman that did a real good job against him but we still lost.”

Kisio thought more guys needed to step up.

“You know we had one line going tonight and we had three lines that were way too soft and not playing the way they had too.”

The Pats’ silenced the sold out crowd of 5,378 at the 7:32 mark of the opening frame for the first period.

Sam Oremba took a pass from Alexander Suzdalev, who was behind the net, at the side of the goal and one-timed in his sixth of the season to give Regina the 1-0 lead.

Tyson Laventure got the Canes fans out of their seats as he tied the game with a tip-in just 38 seconds into the second period.

Blake Swetlikoff drew the assist on Laventure 16th goal of the season.

It was a short time later that Logan Wormald took a pass from Brayden Edwards and beat Pats goalie Drew Sim stick side for his 19th of the season at 1:46 of the second period.

Defenceman  Tristen Doyle had the other assist on Wormald’s goal.

Suzdalev scored his 27th of the season from Braxton Whitehead at 4:36 of the third period to tie the game at two.

Lethbridge product Zack Stringer pulled Regina ahead 3-2 just 1:08 later from Zane Rowan and Stanislav Svozil.

“The crowd was awesome,” said Kisio.

“That’s why I’m disappointed … Our level of compete and our energy level didn’t match the crowd size.”

“Unfortunately we didn’t come out as engaged as we should have for the full house tonight,” said Pauls.

“But it was cool. It was my first time ever playing in a sold out barn here in Lethbridge. So it was an awesome experience.”

Lethbridge outshot the Pats 35-25.

The Hurricanes (27-17-3-2) will head to Medicine Hat to play the Tigers tonight at 7 p.m.