Overtime heroics lock up playoff spot for U18 Hurricanes

By Dale Woodard - Lethbridge Herald on February 2, 2022.

Herald photo by Dale Woodard Lethbridge U18 Hurricanes Peyton Twigg battles for the puck with Edmonton South Side Athletic Club BP Athletics Jack Wieninger in Alberta Elite Hockey League play Saturday at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

The Lethbridge U18 Hurricanes put in a little overtime last weekend in Alberta Elite Hockey League play.
It ended with a tie Saturday afternoon at Nicholas Sheran Arena as the Canes skated to a 1-1 draw with the Edmonton South Side (SSAC) BP Athletics, but it ended with some overtime heroics courtesy of Caden Heins Sunday in Calgary as Lethbridge prevailed 4-3 in the extra period over the Calgary Northstars.
The OT win and tie puts the Hurricanes qt 17-10-5, keeping them in third place in the South Division and locking them up a playoff spot.
That also puts them three points back of the second place Calgary (NW) Flames (19-9-4).
On Sunday in Calgary, Heins scored 53 seconds into overtime after John VandenElzen forced OT with his 11th of the season – and second of the game – with 2:08 left in regulation.
Kade Duell, with his first of the season, scored in the first period for Lethbridge.
VandenElzen also had an assist for a three-point afternoon, while Duell added an assist for two points.
Carter Klippenstein chipped in with two helpers for the Hurricanes in the winning cause.
Beck Boiteau turned in a 21-save performance to earn the win.
Heins was the lone Lethbridge goal scorer in Saturday’s tie, while Erick Roest stopped 37 of 38 shots.
The Canes are back at Nicholas Sheran Arena this weekend for a two-game showdown with the 11-17-3 Red Deer Optimist Chiefs. Game time Saturday is 4:15 p.m. Sunday’s game goes at noon.
This weekend’s games are the Hurricanes final home games of the regular season as the team hits the road for their final four games.
The Lethbridge U16 Headwater Hurricanes lost a pair of one-goal games, but still came away with one point to sit at 13-12-0.
The Canes were edged 5-4 on the road by the AC (Airdrie/Cochrane) Avalanche Saturday and lost 4-3 in overtime to the Medicine Hat South East (SEAC) Tigers Sunday at the Logan Boulet Arena.
The Tigers win allowed Medicine Hat to move two points up on the Hurricanes and into fourth place in the South Division.
The Hurricanes remain two points ahead of the 12-14-0 Avalanche for fifth place as the regular season heads into the final month with seven Lethbridge games left on the slate.
On Sunday, the Hurricanes rallied from a 3-0 deficit to force overtime after Medicine Hat scored three goals in the second period.
Deegan Kinniburgh and Aidyn Law – on the power play – scored in the opening 2:44 of the third before another man advantage marker from Connor Chapman tied it at 3-3 at the 9:54 mark.
But the Tigers grabbed the second point when Makhi Carriere scored 2:17 into overtime.
Kinniburgh had an assist for two points and Kasey Russell Jr. and Nathan Hawkins added two helpers each.
Kahil Wright stopped 30 of 34 shots.
The Hurricanes led the Avalanche 2-1 early in the second period in Saturday’s game before the AC scored four goals in a span of 5:38 for a 5-2 lead after two periods.
Lethbridge scored twice in the third, but fell just short in their comeback bid.
Russell Jr. scored twice for the Hurricanes, while Nathan Hawkins and Alex Westlund scored in the last 2:23 of the third.
Hawkins also had an assist for two points. Kinniburgh and Law each had two assists.
Wright stopped 29 of 34 shots.
Lethbridge hits the road for five straight, starting this weekend in Calgary against the Northstars Saturday and the Royals Sunday.
The Hurricanes are back home at the Logan Boulet Arena Feb. 26 and 27 to round out the regular season when they host the Red Deer North Stars and the Royals, respectively.
The Lethbridge U15 Val Matteotti Golden Hawks went 1-1 last weekend, including a 5-2 home ice win over the Calgary Royals Sunday at Nicholas Sheran Arena that improves the Hawks to 5-21-0.
Dominic Grieco scored twice in Sunday’s win, including the first of three third-period goals that snapped a 2-2 and paced the hosts to the win.
Kobe Urasaki and Hayden Iron Shirt also scored in the third period.
Kayson Christian added the other Golden Hawks marker with a power play goal in the first period that gave Lethbridge a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Grieco added an assist for a three-point afternoon, while Christian and Urasaki added one assist each for two points.
Briggs Olson and Owen Stewart each had two assists.
Brylin Noble kicked out 26 of 28 shots to post the win.
The Golden Hawks were handed a 6-1 loss to the Okotoks Oilers Saturday in Okotoks.
Iron Shirt scored for the Golden Hawks, while Seth Bird-Goodstriker made 54 saves.
The Golden Hawks head north for three games in three days this weekend.
On Friday they’re in Lloydminster to face the Meridian Surveys Bobcats before heading to Sherwood Park Saturday to take on the United Cycle Flyers.
On Sunday, the Hawks are in Grande Prairie to face the (GPAC) Golden Arrow Storm.
The Golden Hawks are back home at Nicholas Sheran Arena Feb. 13 when the Airdrie Xtreme come to town at 2:45 p.m.
In Alberta Junior Female Hockey League play, the Lethbridge Eagles were victorious in their lone game of the weekend following a 4-3 decision over the Calgary Titans Saturday at Nicholas Sheran Arena as Kyra Greig scored the winner with 1:31 remaining in the game.
The win improves the Eagles to 17-7-1 and keeps them in second place in the South Division.
Brooklyn Palmer and Jayel Dovichak scored in the first period for Lethbridge before the Titans answered back with two goals in the second to tie it at 2-2.
Kendi Lundell restored the Eagles lead with 2:19 left in the second for a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
The Titans tied it up 7:59 into the third before Greig struck for the winner in the final minutes.
Greig and Dovichak also had an assist for a two-point game, while Juliana Gulayets chipped in with two helpers.
Hayley Whelen stopped 18 of 21 shots to record the win.
The Eagles are in Red Deer this weekend for the Showcase Weekend.
They take on the Lakeland College King’s Energy Group Rustlers Saturday and the Edmonton Wolves Sunday.

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