Cozens OT winner lifts Hurricanes past Swift Current

By Lethbridge Herald on January 2, 2026.

Nathan Reiter
Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Hurricanes started off the new calendar year on the right foot picking up a 4-3 win in overtime over the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night.

“I liked our response in the third.” Hurricanes head coach Matt Anholt said in a postgame interview. “I think for the most part, just kind of liked spurts in the first from certain individuals. I thought we got a lot from certain guys, not from everybody, which we would have liked. I think there were some individuals that weren’t playing their best overall, probably in the first 40, but really happy with our special teams. Obviously, the kills in the third were massive, and then good on our guys to pop on a power play late.”

Jayden Oleskiw’s first goal of the season would open the scoring for Swift Current at the 2:53 mark of the opening frame. The 17-year-old would fire a shot from a sharp angle, nearly even with the goal line that snuck its way past Hurricane netminder Leif Oaten. Brennan Hocher and Brennan Brown had the assists.

Owen Berge would respond for Lethbridge with his ninth goal of the campaign at the 6:11 mark. Carsen Adair and Will Scott provided the helpers.

Trae Wilke would bite his former team as the 19-year-old would find twine for the ninth time this season to put the Broncos ahead with just under six minutes to go in the opening frame. Easton Laplante and Nathan Gray assisted on the play.

Will Scott would pull the Hurricanes even with just over a minute to go in the opening frame with his second goal of the campaign. A point shot from Scott found its way past Swift Current rookie netminder Archer Cooke. Berge and Tyden Lafournaise received credit for the assists on the play.

For Scott, he recorded his third multi-point game of the season with the goal. His other multi-point efforts this season have both been of the two assist variety back on Oct. 29 and Nov. 18.

In a post game interview with the Herald, Scott said he was glad to see the team get in the win column.

“We haven’t had a win since before Christmas. It’s good to get that one out of the way. It’s a big two points we needed for a team similar to us in the standings when it comes to the playoffs, that’s really huge for us.”

Shots favoured the Broncos 11-6 after the opening twenty minutes.

Just over five minutes into the second period, Wilke would double dip with his 10th goal of the season coming on an odd man rush to restore the Bronco lead. Oleskiw and Brown provided the helpers on the play.

Swift Current outshot Lethbridge 16-12 in the second period.

The Hurricanes would knot up the score with a goal in transition 6:17 into the third period. Kai Anderson would pick a corner and fire a shot over the blocker of Archer Cooke for his seventh goal of the season, coming unassisted.

In the dying seconds of regulation, Lethbridge forward Hudson Kibblewhite was tripped by Broncos forward Parker Rondeau on a partial breakaway sending the Hurricanes to the power play that carried over into overtime.

Just 24 seconds into the extra frame, Luke Cozens called game for the Hurricanes, blasting a shot over the glove of Cooke for his 17th goal of the season. Nathan Maloney and Easton Daneult assisted on the winner.

“(It felt) really good.” Cozens told the Herald postgame. “I think I’ve been a bit snake bitten recently with myself when it comes to goal scoring. To get one to break the streak and and in a big moment in a must-win game in overtime. It’s a pretty good feeling.”

Leif Oaten earned the win in net for the Hurricanes making 31 saves in the victory and earning third star honours on the night. Archer Cooke made 24 saves for the Broncos in goal.

With the win, Lethbridge now sits two points back of the Regina Pats for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Lethbridge and Swift Current will face each other again on Saturday night at the InnovationPlex in Swift Current, the second half of a home-and-home weekend series.

The Broncos are now winless in their last 16 games, going 0-15-1-0 in that stretch. Anholt says Lethbridge can’t overlook Swift Current.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in the league that we should be overlooking. I think even if you’re Edmonton or the PA Raiders, why would you overlook teams like us and Swift Current right now? We need these points. If we want to be in a playoff mix come March, we need to beat the Swift Current Broncos of the world because they’re a team that we compete with maybe over some of the other teams in the league. I think our guys have the right mindset tonight.”

Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. Alberta time.

ICINGS:

Hurricanes prospect Liam McFadden made his WHL debut for Lethbridge on Friday night. THe 15-year-old was selected in the third round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft 54th overall. See Tuesday’s Herald for a full story.

Around The WHL:

Kamloops 3 @ Kelowna 2 (SO)
Moose Jaw 3 @ Medicine Hat 6
Regina 2 @ Prince Albert 9
Vancouver 2 @ Spokane 3
Portland 2 @ Wenatchee 6