Plenty left to play for in remaining Canes games

By Dale Woodard on April 23, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDsports@lethbridgeherald.com

Earlier this week, the Lethbridge Hurricanes received their updated Western Hockey League schedule, outlining their final seven games of the season.

So with the Memorial Cup axed due to COVID-19 for the second straight year and WHL playoffs meeting the same fate due to the same pandemic, it’s safe to say these final games are mean-nothing matches to be sleep walked through with a hopeful eye to a more normal season in the fall, right?

Guess again.

As the Canes get ready for the Calgary Hitmen starting this afternoon with a 2 p.m. matinee match in Calgary, there is still plenty to play for.

“We still have seven games left,” said Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio. “The playoffs, we knew that was going to be hard to get in. We were hoping for it, but we’ll just have to end it the way it is. But for a lot of guys these seven games are going to be big games. We have (Dino) Kambeitz fighting for a contract right now and a bunch of other guys that want to get drafted. Cots (Detroit Red Wings draft pick and Canes defenceman Alex Cotton) is fighting for a contract. So there are a lot of things to play for through our lineup. These are important games for a lot of guys.”

Which holds true for the players even if there isn’t a WHL title or a Memorial Cup berth on the line.

“There is a lot of motivation for each player and when combined we need each other to play hard for each other to get the things we want,” said Kisio. “For example, Dino needs (Ty) Nash and (Chase) Wheatcroft to play hard and they need to play hard to have a chance to be drafted. We’re all fighting for each other. It’s a different year with a different stretch run, but there’s a lot to play for still.”

After taking one of six points off the Central Division-leading Edmonton Oil Kings last weekend, the Hurricanes look to grab some late-season points off the Hitmen, who were sidelined two weeks ago when someone from their cohort tested positive for COVID-19. As the team that played the Hitmen the weekend before, that affected the Medicine Hat Tigers, whose operations were also suspended.

Hurricanes forward Noah Boyko is coming off a four-goal weekend against the Oil Kings that included his first career WHL hat trick in a wild 6-5 shootout win over the Oil Kings Saturday night in Edmonton. The product of Fort Saskatchewan now has nine goals and 11 points in 16 games.

“It was definitely exciting,” said Boyko. “The Oil Kings are a really solid team and it was really good to get that three. I’ve had a couple multi-goal games and it was definitely challenging to get that third, but it feels good.”

The Canes 6-5 shootout win was sandwiched between 4-0 and 5-3 losses to the Oil Kings last Thursday and Sunday, respectively, at the Enmax Centre, but Kisio liked what he saw from his team against the Central Division leaders.

“We really liked our first game, we outchanced them and played a hard game and worked hard,” he said. “In the second game we found a way to win. We had a lot of adversity after the game and just couldn’t find a way to get back up for that third game. But two out of three I thought we played really well against a good hockey club.”

With Hurricanes goaltender Bryan Thomson out of the lineup as the Moose Jaw, Sask. product returned home due to the death of his father last weekend, first-year goaltender Jared Picklyk backed up starter Carl Tetachuk in Sunday’s game against the Oil Kings.

The goaltender from Kelowna, B.C. who turned 18 last month came into the game in the third period with the Hurricanes trailing Edmonton 5-2.

Picklyk stopped all seven shots he faced, including a dazzling pad save to rob Edmonton’s Carter Souch.

“Good on him,” said Kisio. “I thought Tets was playing fine, but it was just a matter of giving a young kid a chance to play a game. He’s come in here and worked hard and got a little bit of time in the crease and he did a great job. He came in killing a penalty, made some big saves and gave us a chance to win a game. A credit to him for coming in and doing what he did, it might earn him a start this weekend at some point.”

Still, there were heavy hearts on the Canes as the team rallied the best they could against the Oil Kings Sunday after learning of the passing of Thomson’s father Saturday night.

“It just puts everything into perspective pretty quickly when you win a game like we did and then find out that Tommy’s dad had passed away, it was a pretty emotional moment for our whole team and not something you want to experience again,” said Kisio. “You just want to be there for him. It took a lot out of our group, as it should have. Perspective was put in place right away. We think about Tommy lots and hoping he’s doing OK. We’re more worried about him than hockey in that case.”

The Hurricanes now turn their attention to the 6-6-2-0 Hitmen.

Like Kisio, Boyko stressed the importance of a big finish to the abbreviated season.

“Confidence is pretty high,” said Boyko. “I think at 18-years-old there are still going to be some challenges and whatnot, but for the most part I’m feeling really good right now and playing well. Hopefully I can continue that forward the next seven games.”

Kisio anticipated facing a Hitmen team eager to get back on the ice after their COVID layoff.

“We’re going to have to work hard and get on them early,” he said.

“We would expect a bit of rust there, but they’ll be healthy and ready to go. They’ll be energized. I’m sure they’ve been wanting to play hockey for a long time and haven’t been able to, so it’s going to be a good test for us. We’ve been playing games, so we should be in better shape, I hope, and be ready to battle and compete the way we have to.”

“It should be good,” added Boyko. “Obviously, they had that two-week shutdown due to COVID. But I’m excited. It should be fun. This is our second-last weekend, so I think we’re going to put it all out there.”

After this afternoon’s game, the teams go at it in the rematch Saturday night at 7 p.m. at the Enmax Centre before wrapping up the series Sunday at 7 p.m. in Calgary.

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