Hurricanes fall in pair of division road games

By Lethbridge Herald on February 17, 2025.

MEDICINE HAT NEWS JAMES TUBB - Lethbridge Hurricanes forward Brayden Edwards chases down Medicine Hat Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie in the Lethbridge end in the first period of a 5-1 loss Monday at Medicine Hat's Co-op Place.

SOUTHERN ALBERTA NEWSPAPERS –

The Lethbridge Hurricanes hit a speed bump on the road this weekend.

After a thrilling, four-goal comeback win on Friday at home to beat the Regina Pats 6-5 in overtime, the Hurricanes ran into a rough patch on the road with a 4-3 loss Saturday at Edmonton to the Oil Kings and a 5-1 loss Monday at Medicine Hat to the Eastern conference leading Medicine Hat Tigers.

Saturday’s contest saw the Hurricanes carry a 2-1 lead into the second period with goals from Kooper Gizowski and Brayden Yager. The Oil Kings scored three times in the middle frame, with an early third period power play goal from Gizowski making it a 4-3 score, as close as the Hurricanes would get for the comeback bid.

Jackson Unger made 27 saves in the loss. Lethbridge lost forward Leo Braillard in the game due to injury, he did not play on Monday joining forwards Miguel marques, Logan Warmold and Jordan Gustafson on the Canes’ injured list.

In Monday’s matinee action in Medicine Hat, the Tigers scored five-straight goals to lead 5-0 halfway through the third period. Lethbridge snapped the shutout bid of former Hurricanes’ net minder Harrison Meneghin with a power play goal in the last 5:16 of the game. Trae Johnson knocked in a pass from Gizowski on the door step of the net for the solo tally.

Unger, starting a second-straight game in the weekend, made 23 saves. Meneghin, picking up his first win in two starts against his former club, made 20 saves.

Net minder Koen Cleaver, who was pulled after 40 minutes in Friday’s win, was scratched from both weekend games on the road with 16-year-old Brody Rotar serving as backup for Unger.

The Hurricanes (34-18-2-1) come out of the weekend in fourth place of the Eastern conference, third in the Central division. They trail the Calgary Hitmen (34-15-3-2) by two points, with the Hitmen having played one fewer game.

They return to action at the VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday, hosting the Saskatoon Blades for a 7 p.m. contest that will be featured as part of the WHL’s ‘Wednesday Night in the Dub.’ That game will be broadcasted for free on the league’s YouTube page as well as on WHL Live.

They’ll also host the B.C. division’s Kamloops Blazers on Friday before embarking Feb. 25 for the first of a four-game East division road trip.