Swetlikoff embracing leadership role

By Lethbridge Herald on September 7, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes Blake Swetlikoff battles for a loose puck with Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman Dru Krebs during a game at the Enmax Centre on Feb. 10, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Hurricanes 20-year-old forward Blake Swetlikoff is preparing for his first full season with club.

“Yeah, I mean I’m still kind of  learning,” said Swetlikoff.

“Like you said, I came in halfway through last year and kind of got my feet wet. But now I’m looking forward to really getting in tight with this group and moving forward with a new head coach … It’s kind of an exciting time around here to start building something that will hopefully take us deep into the season.”

Swetlikoff said it is definitely different being a 20 year old.

“I still feel like I still have some of the nerves from when I was 16 or 17,” said Swetlikoff.

“But I’m looking forward to it. I’m always look forward to training camp and meeting all these new players, and like you said, kind of helping out some of the younger guys who are maybe a little bit more nervous like I was when I was their age. It’s a fun time for me and for all the other players and I think for our club as a whole.”

Swetlikoff, is using last year’s first round playoff sweep at the hands of the Moose Jaw Warriors as motivation.

“That’s something you never really forget,” he said.

“That’s something you think about lots over the course of the summer. (It) just keeps coming back and bugging you, at least I can say for myself. Yeah it’s something you remember and that’s something we really got to learn from. Everything we do from now until then is just preparing us for those moments. So it  just emphasizes how important this is.”

Swetlikoff tried to round out all areas of his game this off season.

“Things like maybe a little more offensive play, maybe some offensive creativity, things like that, where I can go back  and look at some of my old games from last season and see where I could improve in those kind of areas,” said Swetlikoff.

“And then just overall strength and speed. Things like that, that you can always improve on. Those were some of my main focuses.”

His hope in his last year in the league is to win a championship.

The Regina product amassed 43 points split between the Spokane Chiefs and the Canes last season.

The Hurricanes are back in preseason action tomorrow night in Medicine Hat against the Tigers.