Hurricanes edge Brandon

By Lethbridge Herald on February 17, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes Dustin Renas tries to muscle the Brandon Wheat Kings’ Caleb Hadland off the puck while back checking during Western Hockey League action on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Blake Swetlikoff led the way with two goals for the Lethbridge Hurricanes in a 3-1 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

Brayden Edwards opened the scoring in front of the 4,200 plus fans at the 5:43 mark of the first period from Logan Wormald and Miguel Marques.

That was Edwards’ fifth goal of the campaign.

Calder Anderson tied the game with his 12th of the season for the Wheat Kings at the 10:59 mark of the first period on the powerplay from Nate Danielson.

Swetlikoff pulled the Canes ahead 2-1 just 1:29 into second period from Nolan Bentham and Logan McCutcheon.

Swetlikoff scored his second of the game and 11th of the season at  10:40 of the middle frame from Cole Shepard and Joe Arntsen.

The two goals by Swetlikoff could perhaps start a new streak for himself after going pointless in his last three games.

However, it was prior to those games that Swetlikoff had a hot streak of  five straight games where he had seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) and 21 points in 14 of 18 contests.

Swetlikoff now has 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 51 games this season,

Bryan Thomson saved 30-of-31 Wheat King shots and Brandon netminder Nicholas Jones stopped 22-of-25 Canes shots.

Brandon went 1-for 4 and Lethbridge went 0-for-4 on the powerplay.

Lethbridge hit the 30-win mark with the victory.

The Hurricanes will now hit the road for a mini two-game Saskatchewan  trip, beginning against the Regina Pats in a Family Day matinee on Monday at 1 p.m.