Hurricanes excited to get on the ice for a new season

By Lethbridge Herald on September 20, 2024.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan Wormald attempts to tip a puck on goalie Koen Cleaver during practice on Thursday. Herald photo by Justin Seward

Justin Seward – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – sports@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are set to dig themselves into a new Western Hockey League season tonight feeling prepared with what they’ve got for players on their roster.

“It’s been an exciting week,” said Bill Peters, Hurricanes head coach.

“It’s a fun time of year and guys are looking forward to getting started on the weekend.”

Peters wants to see the team playing to their identity in order to get entrench themselves into the season right away.

“We’re going to get everybody out on the ice early, make sure (we) get rid of the butterflies and just dig in and play,” said Peters.

While there are players still at NHL camps, Peters thinks the roster is good to open the season as they have 13 forwards, six defencemen and two goalies.

“It’s (a) real simple roster at this time, there’s not a lot (of) roster decisions,” said Peters.

“We’d like to get everybody in on the weekend, whether it’s at home or in Red Deer.”

The Canes were working on systems during the week and doing so with the understanding that they’re going to have to repeat them again once players return from NHL camps.

“That’s the way it is for everybody in the league,” said Peters.

“Everyone’s got guys away at NHL camps and our guys are doing well at their respective NHL camps and that’s what we’d like to see continue on. Then the guys here get an enhanced opportunity, so take advantage of it.”

Peters said it’s tight, when it comes to the locker room relationship.

“It’s a real hard working group and a little bit of (an) iron sharpens iron mentality and they push each other hard and hold each other accountable,” said Peters.

“I like the intensity of the group and the direction it’s headed.”

Forward Chase Petersen feels the team got to know one another more in preseason.

“We work together every day at practice, work on the little things and then we just built the chemistry up and it’s been good,” said Petersen.

Defenceman Carsen Adair said the team is energized.

“In the locker room, everybody’s excited and that’s kind of the spot we’re in and it should be fun,” said Adair.

Adair sees the team’s identity as speed.

“I think we got a ton of speed; I think we got a lot of size too,” said Adair.

“So we’re going to use both of those to grind teams down.”

 The Canes host the Edmonton Oil Kings for their home opener tonight at VisitLethbridge.com Arena before hoping on the bus to play in Red Deer on Saturday night.