Hurricanes edge Pats for an eighth straight win

By Lethbridge Herald on January 22, 2025.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Brayden Yager attempts to get a shot off while being checked by Connor Bear and Cohen Klassen of the Regina Pats during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday night.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes extended their winning streak to eight games after defeating the Regina Pats 4-2 on Wednesday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

The Hurricanes had to be persistent in Wednesday’s victory.

“Great word for it,” said Ryan Aasman, Canes assistant coach, on  persistence.

“We needed to find ways to like you said be more persistent and at the end of it we did.  Even though our powerplay doesn’t find a way to score, … we find a way to score a really huge shorthanded goal for the winner.”

  Zach Pantelakis scored his ninth goal of the year to give the Pats a 1-0 lead at the 10:17 mark of the first period.

Logan Wormald swept in his 26th goal from Brayden Edwards and Tristen Doyle 14:56 into the first period to tie the game.

Jordan Gustafson deposited a quick pass into the net from Brayden Yager to give the Canes a 2-1 lead 2:48 into the second.

Leo Braillard also assisted on Gustafson’s fifth goal of the year.

The Pats capitalized on the powerplay 12:54 into the second period when Matt Paranych’s one timer from the blueline found its way passed Jackson Unger for his fifth of the season from Cameron Kuzma and Cohen Klassen.

Edwards carried the puck down the right wing and shot the puck top corner while the Canes were shorthanded at 8:05 of the third period to give Lethbridge a 3-2 lead.

Brayden Yager added an empty net goal with 17 seconds to go in the game.

Lethbridge outshot the Pats 52-20 in the contest and went 0-for 6 on the powerplay.

“I mostly feel for the guys,” said Aasman.

“(I)felt like we had a lot of looks to score but you got to give a lot of credit to (Pats goalie Ewan) Huet. He was really good tonight. I felt like not only did he make big stops but he didn’t have much for desperate saves.”

Lethbridge (27-14-1-1) hosts the Red Deer Rebels  (15-22-4-2) on Friday night.