Hurricanes blast the Rockets

By Lethbridge Herald on March 5, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Hurricanes Leo Braillard battles for a loose puck in front of Kelowna Rockets goalie Rhett Stoesser with defenders Jackson Gillespie and Rowan Guest during WHL action at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Wednesday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened up a six-game homestand with a 7-4 win over the Kelowna Rockets on Wednesday night at VisitLethbridge.com Arena.

Caden Price and Trae Johnson were playing their former team on the night.

“He always plays pretty well but  I think he had a little extra juice tonight,” said Matt Anholt, Canes associate head coach to Dustin Forbes of 106. 7 rock on Price.

“And good for him to score a huge goal, that was a great shot.”

Johnson had three points on the evening and a fight.

“(He is) maybe fighting a guy who maybe  is a little  above his weight class,” said Anholt.

“But he sticks in there and he does what he does and excellent to see.”

The Rockets got on the board first when Levi Benson’s slap shot from the point beat Koen Cleaver 8:36 into the game.

Jackson Gillespie assisted on Benson’s eighth goal of the year.

It was just over a minute later that Hayden Paupanekis capitalized on a big rebound that was kicked out by Cleaver to give the Rockets a 2-0 lead.

Nate Corbet and Dawson Gerwing got the assists on the goal.

Brayden Yager wired a wrist shot passed Rhett Stoesser on the powerplay 14:31 into the first period to cut the Rockets lead to 2-1.

Caden Price and Logan Wormald assisted on Yager’s 25th goal of the year.

Tristen Doyle took a nice pass from Leo Braillard and deked to the backhand and lifted the puck top shelf to tie the game 1:18 into the second period.

Yager also got an assist.

Kash Andresen tipped in his eighth of the year from Trae Johnson and Shane Smith on the powerplay at 3:29 of the second period to give the Canes a 3-2 lead.

The Rockets Benson tied the game 4:15 into the second.

Johnson gave the Canes a 4-3 lead 4:16 into the third period from Vojtech Port and Anthony Wilson.

Price blasted a goal in on his former club 9:44 into the third from Johnson and Doyle to give Lethbridge a 5-3 lead.

Owen Folstrom scored his third goal of the season 12:09 into the third to cut the Canes lead to 5-4.

Connor Pankratz got the assist.

Smith and Brayden Edwards each scored empty net goals late  to preserve the win for the Canes.

Kelowna outshot Lethbridge 41-34 in the game.

The Canes went 2-for-5 on the powerplay.

The Canes (39-18-2-2) host the Brandon Wheat Kings (33-20-4-3)g on Friday night.