Hurricanes hang on to defeat Rebels in a close contest

By Lethbridge Herald on March 24, 2023.

Justin photo Lethbridge Hurricanes Blake Swetlikoff attempts to turn away from the check of Red Deer Rebels Jhett Larson during Western Hockey League action on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes held on for a 6-4 victory over the Red Deer Rebels in their last regular season home game on Friday night at the Enmax Centre.

Dustin Renas tipped in his sixth goal of the season  off an Anton Astashevich shot just 3:13 into the game to give Lethbridge an early 1-0 lead.

Noah Chadwick had the other helper on the goal.

Hayden Smith gave the Canes a 2-0 lead when he scored on a shorthanded breakaway at the 7:13 mark of the first period.

Brayden Edwards  provided him with the outlet pass on the goal.

The Rebels made the score 2-1, when Kai Uchacz one-timed the puck past Canes goalie Bryan Thomson for his 50th goal of the season at 18:02 of the first period.

Craig Armstrong and Jace Isley assisted on Uchacz’s goal.

Chase Pauls snuck in from the point and his wrist shot bulged the twine to give the Hurricanes a 3-1 lead with 26 seconds left in the first.

Smith and Edwards assisted on Pauls’ seventh goal of the season.

Tyson Zimmer picked up the puck off a faceoff win and ripped it home for his 18th goal of the season just over a minute into the second period from Edwards.

Tristen Doyle’s wrist shot deflected up and over  Rebels goalie Chase Coward for Lethbridge’s fifth goal of the contest at 2:23 of the second period.

Edwards and Tristan Zandee assisted on Doyle’s fourth goal of the season.

Talon Brigley tipped in the Rebels second goal of the game at 7:38 of the third period from Hunter Mayo and Dwayne Jean Jr.

The Rebels made it interesting within in the last ten minutes of the game as Armstrong scored his 11th of the season with under seven minutes to go and Isley found the back of the net with just under six minutes to go to pull the visitors within a goal.

However, Canes defencemen Joe Arntsen snuffed out any Rebels comeback with an empty netter with 32 seconds to go to preserve the win for the home side.

Thomson faced 34 Rebel shots, while 27 Canes shots were fired at Coward at the other end.

Lethbridge scored a goal on five powerplays and did not allow any Rebel goals on their eight chances.

Both teams will battle again tonight in Red Deer  to wrap up the regular season.

The Hurricanes got the point they needed  to clinch fifth place with the win and will face the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round of the WHL playoffs.

Thomson  earned first star, Jett Jones with second star and Cole Shepard with third star honours.