Canes double up the Oil Kings

By Lethbridge Herald on January 30, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Trae Wilke chases down Rhys Pederson of the Edmonton Oil Kings during WHL action on Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes edged the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-2 on Tuesday night at the Enmax Centre.

It was just when you wouldn’t think anyone would find the back of the net in the game,  that Canes forward Kash Andresen changed all that when he scored his first of the season and WHL career with 2:53 to go in the second to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead heading into the final frame.

“It’s a special one for sure,” said Andresen, on his first WHL tally.

“Just filled with emotions right now.”

Luke Cozens and Kooper Gizowski assisted on the goal.

“On a Tuesday night there wasn’t a lot of fans, so the energy was a little bit low for sure,” said Andresen.

“And I think (that) got the boys fired up a bit.”

Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters saw Andresen’s goal as a huge one in the game.

“I think it had a big impact on the momentum shift of the game and just how excited his teammates were for him,” said Peters.

Andresen’s goal  jumpstarted  the Canes offence as 3:57 into the third period Logan Wormald found the back of the net on the powerplay to give Lethbridge a 2-0 lead.

Miguel Marques and Brayden Edwards assisted on the goal.

Hayden Pakkala one timed in a nice little pass from Gizowski at 11:18 of the third to make it 3-1.

The Oil Kings broke Harrison Meneghin’s shutout bid with 6:20 to go in the game as Marc Lajoie scored his 16th of the season.

Roan Woodward and Marshall Finnie got the assists.

The Oil Kings’ Gavin Hodnett brought Edmonton to within one goal at 15:42 of the third from Gracyn Sawchyn.

Roan Woodward and Marshall Finnie collected the assists.

Pakkala scored an empty net goal with just over a minute to go to solidy the win.

“We stayed with it,” said Peters.

“We knew we were in one a little bit and we just couldn’t stop turning it over and we made it real hard. But our best 20 was the final 20 and that’s what we needed to do in order to secure two points.”

The Canes (23-19-2-0) play on the road at the Swift Current Broncos (22-18-3-2) tonight at 6 p.m.