Hurricanes looking to get back in the win column

By Dale Woodard on April 9, 2021.

UPDATE: The Lethbridge Hurricanes will now be playing the Red Deer Rebels this weekend after a positive COVID-19 test within the Calgary Hitmen club deemed the Medicine Hat Tigers a close contact, having played Calgary earlier this week. See the Lethbridge Herald  for coverage as Red Deer hosts the Canes Friday night before the series moves to Lethbridge on Saturday and Monday. All games set for 7 p.m.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDsports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are looking to get back on the winning side of the ledger, a place they haven’t been for five games.

They almost got back there March 28 before falling 4-3 to the Medicine Hat Tigers in overtime in Medicine Hat and now the 3-6-2-0 Canes look to stop the skid when they square off against those same Tigers in another three-game set this weekend, starting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre.

“I think we can build off that just by realizing we were right in that game,” said Hurricanes overage defenseman Mitch Prowse of the weekend closer two weeks ago.

“We realized as a team we were able to compete with those guys. Medicine Hat is a great team with a lot of skill and speed on their team. We had a couple of weeks off to work on some details and sort some things out and I think we’re really excited going into this weekend.”

After taking one point of a possible six off the Tigers at the end of last month, the Hurricanes had last weekend off.

“I think it helped us,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “The guys seem energized. We had a good team builder to get closer. It was a good break for us to get re-organized again and really establish our game. It’s been a quick season. Guys came in and had challenges and quarantines and getting in shape and we have a feeling it’s all coming together now. Somewhat of the training camp-style is over and we can really start to play hockey now.”

Prior to last weekend’s break, the Hurricanes battled through three consecutive three-games-in-three-days weekends.

“We were going pretty heavy and playing a lot of games (with) not a lot of time to get away from the rink,” said Hurricanes captain Dino Kambeitz.

“I think it was nice for our group to get away and just spend some time with each other away from the rink and do some fun activities. We had a really good two weeks of practice and built off a lot of good things and I think it’ll be good for us for the rest of the season.”

Kisio noted the importance of some team bonding away from the ice.

“Any time your team can get closer through team building, it helps,” he said. “It has been a grind. Three-in-threes aren’t easy and everything has been so quick and a short season as well. There’s a lot of pressure on these guys. So there are a lot of different aspects going on and away from hockey as well. The challenges are what they are and the same for everybody and we feel like we’re getting a better handle on it right now and our guys have handled it better. We’re a young team, so the main focus for us is getting better and better and I think we’re doing that right now.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 24-game season that began at the end of February and features only weekend games against Central Division opponents, it’s been a different season for sure, said Prowse, who has two assists in nine games in Lethbridge this season.

“The shortened season, only playing on weekends and not staying at billets is different. But when we come here for practice every day it’s kind of similar. You come in here and put your work in, prepare for games and do all of the necessary things to get ready to play and when it comes to game time you’re ready to give it your all.”

The product of Kelowna, B.C. who will turn 21 in June will hit a milestone in Saturday’s game when he plays his 250th career WHL game.

That has made him the elder statesmen on a young Hurricanes blue-line the moment he arrived in Lethbridge.

“There are definitely a lot of young guys on the back end this year, but they’re all great players and great people,” said Prowse.

“They make it really easy to try and teach them some things and pass down some of the knowledge I’ve gained from older guys throughout my career. I try my best to help those guys out and give them some pointers. For my role, I’ve been in the league longer, so I have to play some harder minutes.”

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