Hitmen continue dominance of Canes

By Lethbridge Herald on November 1, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan Wormald and Logan McCutcheon battle for the puck with Keets Fawcett of the Calgary Hitmen during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes are now winless through  three games this season to the Calgary Hitmen after a 5-3 setback on Friday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

“I think they’ve kind of outcompeted us (and) outskated us in the simplest terms to put it,” said Ryan Aasman, Canes assistant coach, on Calgary having their number so far this season.

“They’ve had the puck the majority of the way. I think that shows with us (with) the penalties being 5-0, it’s hard to draw penalties when you don’t have the puck as much or you’re not putting them into vulnerable spots where they’re having to take a penalty.”

While  the team  had a plan going into the game, forward Logan Wormald thought when the team  didn’t stick to their plan they were either  scored on or spending time in the defensive zone.

“I think that’s on us for not staying with our plan the whole game,” said Wormald.

 Lethbridge product  Rylan Ng opened the scoring just 4:09 into the first period to give the Hitmen a 1-0 lead.

David Adaszynski and Maxim Muranov assisted on Ng’s second goal of the year.

Wormald got the Canes back on even terms over two minutes later with his eighth goal of the year from Brayden Edwards and Miguel Marques.

Calgary got their second lead of the game when Chase Valliant converted on  rebound past Brady Smith for his first of the year to give the visitors a 2-1 lead 15:47 into the first period.

Ethan Moore and Hunter Aura assisted on Valliant’s goal.

Adaszynski ripped it over the glove of Smith to give Calgary a 3-1 lead 8:16 into the second from Ng and Muranov.

Connor Hvidston one-timed the puck in the net to give the Hitmen a 4-1 lead at the 16:45 mark of the second from Brandon Gorzynski and Oilver Tulk.

Landen Ward scored his first of the season to cut the Hitmen’s lead in half with 36 seconds left in the second period.

Kooper Gizowski and Carsen Adair notched the assists.

Miguel Marques squeezed his sixth of the season past Eric Tu to bring the Canes to within one at the 13:03 mark of the third from Edwards.

Adaszynski converted a one timer  for his second of the game off a nice pass from Muranov at 13:36 of the third period  to give Calgary a 5-3 lead.

Calgary outshot the Canes 41-22.

The Hitmen went 0-for-3 while the Canes had no powerplays.

The Canes play on the road against the Red Deer Rebels tonight.