Hurricanes reflect on a season of growth and success

By Lethbridge Herald on May 2, 2025.

Lethbridge Hurricanes Logan McCutcheon attempts to fight off a check from Misha Volotovskii of the Medicine Hat Tigers during Game 4 of the WHL's Eastern Conference final on Wednesday night in Lethbridge. McCutcheon thought a winning mindset was instilled with the players coming in this season.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes have a wrapped up another Western Hockey League season with the feeling of  seeing success and growth.

The Canes  completed a season where they finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with 89 points  and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference final where they were swept by the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday night in Game 4.

“I think, personally, I was really happy with how it went and then from a team stand point, it was the best group of guys I’ve been a part of and obviously we had really good success, ” said outgoing forward Brayden Edwards , during media availability at exit interviews on Friday.

“We beat a really, really strong team in Calgary, so I was really proud of the team for doing that. Obviously we came up a little short but nothing to be mad about, we had a good season and we’re happy about it.”

Edwards said it was just  a whole bunch of little things added up, when asked about what led to team success this season.

“Our coaches put together a good plan from the start of the season (and) got us really ready starting from training camp,” said Edwards.

 “Then  I’ll say the bond  we had as a team. Everyone was really supportive of each other; everybody  was trying to push each other every day (and) making each other better.”

Captain Noah Chadwick was proud of the team and what they were able to accomplish.

“We haven’t made it passed the first round in a long time,” said Chadwick.

“So I think it was great for the fans and they were very appreciative of that from us and  it sucks to lose but I’m proud of what we accomplished here, that’s the main thing.”

Chadwick spoke about what it meant to go on a deep run in the playoffs.

“It’s good now to have that experience and we know how difficult it is, and I think that only helps some of these guys that are 17, 18, (who are) continuing on to next  year,” said Chadwick.

“They know the challenges that they’re going to face in the future and how difficult it is to make it this far.”

It was the first year that Chadwick captained the team and he talked about what that experience was like.

“It definitely forced me out of my comfort zone and pushed me to grow as a human being first and foremost for sure and as a player as well,” said Chadwick.

Logan McCutcheon thought the buy-in was there with the players as they came in.

“We made a lot of moves this year but I think that guys really adjusted to the culture really fast and we all got into that winning mindset,” said McCutcheon.

The acquisitions of Brayden Yager, Jackson Unger and Vojtech Port  from the last year’s WHL championship-winning  Moose Jaw Warriors  helped the team in the right direction.

“Those guys know how to win, they’ve done it before, so I think they were a big help in kinda pushing us in the right direction,” said McCutcheon.

“Good year,” said Canes head coach Bill Peters.

“A lot of growth individually (and) collectively for the team.”

Peters saw the success coming from the contributions up and down the roster  from every player and growth on an individual level from players.

“You gotta continue to get better and be open-minded and our guys were really opened to being coached and did a good job,” said Peters.

While the Canes season maybe over, it isn’t for forward Brayden Yager as he was called up to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday for their playoff run. He did not dress in Friday’s Game 6.

The Jets lost Game 6 to the St. Louis Blues and the series is tied at three with Game 7 on Sunday in Winnipeg.