Hurricanes take Game 1 against Wheat Kings

By Lethbridge Herald on March 28, 2025.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan McCutcheon attempts to check Roger McQueen off the puck during Game 1 of the WHL playoffs at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes opened up the 2025 WHL playoffs with a 6-3 statement win over the Brandon Wheat Kings at VisitLethbridge.com Arena on Friday night.

“A lot of emotion in the building early and then it settled in,” said Bill Peters, Canes head coach.

“I thought we were better once it settled down a little bit. But we were good. We got off to a nice lead, and then we gotta a little loose and then put it away in the third.”

Canes forward Shane Smith said it was a great start.

“We came out hard, heavy (and) stuck to our structure and A long way to go still  for sure but yeah it’s  a good start to the playoffs, said Smith.

Leo Braillard tipped in a Brayden Yager shot to get the crowd up and waving their playoff towels 4:28 into the opening frame on the powerplay to give the Canes an early 1-0 lead.

Brayden Edwards also assisted on Braillard’s goal.

Wojtech Port took a pass in the slot and his wrist shot went shelf on a sprawling Carson Bjarnason to give the Canes a 2-0 lead 13:22 into the first period.

Braillard and Noah Chadwick assisted on Port’s goal.

Noah Flamand got the Wheat Kings on the board 18 seconds later from Quinn Mantei and Giorgos Pantelas to cut Lethbridge’s lead to 2-1.

Smith’s one timer at the side of the net found the back of the net 1:50 into the second period to give the Canes a 3-1 lead.

Kooper Gizowski assisted on Smith’s first goal of the post season.

Anthony Wilson beat Bjarnason from the side wall 13 seconds later to give the Canes a 4-1 lead.

Brandon’s Roger McQueen beat Jackson Unger on the powerplay at the 5:19 mark of the middle frame to make the score 4-2.

Mantei and Jordan Gavin assisted on the goal.

Dylan Ronald got the Wheat Kings to within a goal at the 14:15 mark of the second from Flamand.

Kooper Gizowski took a drop pass from Smith and ripped it passed Bjarnason with 13 seconds to go in the second to give the Canes a 5-3 lead going into the intermission.

Jordan Gustafson.

Braillard doubled the Canes lead with his second of the night 7:24 into the third from Yager and Tristen Doyle.

Lethbridge went 1-for-2 on the powerplay on the night.

Final shots were 46-35 for the Canes.

The Canes will look to take a 2-0 series lead  tonight as they host Game 2 tonight at 6 p.m.

“There’s gonna be some good video out of tonight that we can use to make sure we’re prepared for (tonight),” said Peters.