Canes ready for second-half challenge

By Lethbridge Herald on January 2, 2025.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Herald photo by JUStin SEWARD Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan McCutcheon attempts to fend off Chase Valliant of the Calgary Hitmen from getting to the puck during WHL action at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena last week. McCutcheon thinks the team has to stick to its foundation to have success in the second half.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have kicked off the second half of the Western Hockey League season with plenty areas to clean up and are embracing the challenges ahead.

“There’s always things to clean-up,” said Matt Anholt, Canes associate head coach.

“Our special teams needs to be better right now and good thing our goaltending’s been as good as (it) has been. But I think our PK’s (penalty kill) been giving up a …  bit too much, and I know our powerplay would like to probably score a little bit more.”

The Canes will look to improve their road record as they sport a 5-10-0-1 record away from VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

“It’s real important that we understand like I was just saying,what a greasy road win is supposed to look like,” said Anholt.

“Our special teams needs to be better and those are very important when it comes to road games because you (have) got to maybe go (a) clean sheet on the PK and maybe pop a powerplay goal here (and) there.”

Defenceman Logan McCutcheon agreed the team will break out and find success on the road.

“I think that once we kind of get our line-up established here in the second half that we’ll definitely take some strides and be a lot better on the road for sure,” said McCutcheon.

The coaching staff have liked how the team’s ability to not give up much heading into the second half.

“I think five-on-five, specifically, we’ve been really stingy,” said Anholt.

“Our defensive game has been great and our defencemen have been playing excellent. But they’ve specifically been moving the puck really well or we haven’t been playing in our d-zone very much.”

The ultra-tight Central Division is separated by six points from first through fourth place going into Friday’s games and Anholt was asked how the Canes are going to try and separate themselves.

“It’s going to be really challenging,” said Anholt.

“I think our division is as good as it’s ever been … But this weekend starts off with a huge three-in-three with Edmonton and we’re neck-and-neck in the standings, so the little details are going to matter.”

“There’s a lot of good teams in it,” said McCutcheon.

“So I think we just got to establish ourselves. We know how good we can be, … so we just got to build, play our game, and trying and get as many points as possible.”

The acquisitions of Brayden Yager, Jackson Unger, Vojtech Port and more recently Jordan Gustafson will likely give the Canes the push they need in the second half.

“All four of those guys have won league championships and that speaks for itself,” said Anholt.

“They’ve been through the trials and the tribulations of a playoff run and they know what it takes to win.”

McCutcheon thinks the Canes success needs to come from building off of the foundation that was set the first half.

“We know how good we can be when we’re playing our best, so it’s just about trying to hit that high as consistently as possible,” said McCutcheon.