Lethbridge, AB – The Hurricanes returned home after a 2 game swing through Saskatchewan to open up their second 6-game home stand of the season. Tonight’s opponents were the Regina Pats and both the Canes and Pats entered the game with identical 6-7-1-0 records. Tonight’s starters for the Canes were Russ Maxwell, Jaimen Yakubowski and Axel Blomqvist up front, while Spencer Galbraith and Albin Blomqvist controlled the backend and making his 15^th straight start in goal for the Canes was Ty Rimmer.

The Canes have rarely scored first in a game, but they did tonight when Reid Duke picked up the puck along the half wall and made a nice pass to Jamal Watson who scored his 3^rd of the year just 2:59 into the game. Lethbridge took complete control of the game from there as they controlled the zone, got pucks on net and dominated play. The quick start to the game resulted in 3 more goals being scored in the period. The Canes would take a 2-0 lead on their first powerplay of the game when Maxwell scored his team leading 10^th goal of the season. The Canes kept up their first period attack over the Pats just 30 seconds later when Jay Merkley (Craig Leverton) tipped home his 5^th of the year. That goal by Merkley extended his point streak to 7 games (5G, 3A) and again made it 3-0 Hurricanes. The Pats only had 4 shots on goal in the 1^st period and they did manage to beat Rimmer when Colton Mayor got one by the Canes netminder after Regina took a timeout after the Hurricanes 3^rd goal. Not long after Lethbridge would get their 4^th goal of the period when Sam McKechnie (Brady Ramsay, Graham Hood) made it 4-1 and that’s how the period would end as the Canes dominated from start to finish and also took a 20-4 lead on the shot clock.

After Teagan Sacher gave up 4 goals on 20 shots in the first, the Pats went with Matt Hewitt in goal to start the 2^nd. Regina had a chance to cut into the 3 goal deficit less than 2 minutes into the period but even with a wide open cage for Dyson Stephenson, he couldn’t bury it. 2 minutes later Watson (Yakubowski, Albin Blomqvist) scored his 2^nd of the game to give the Canes a 5-1 lead, it was also the first multi-goal game for the 2^nd year Hurricane. The Canes with just the one goal in the 2nd, but much like the first period they continued to dominate play as they outshot Regina 24- 9 to lead the game 44-13 overall.

In the third, the Hurricanes would get one more on the man advantage when Ryan Pilon scored his first career WHL goal when his shot went off Colton Jobke and in to give the Canes a 6-1 lead and that would be the final as the Canes improve to 7-7-1-0 on the year. Lethbridge not only won the game in convincing fashion but for the first time this season they posted 55 shots on goal. Lethbridge was 2/7 on the power play and Regina was 0/5.

Dickie’s Hardest Working Player of the Game: Axel Blomqvist

3 Stars: 3) Jay Merkley 2) Russ Maxwell 1) Jamal Watson

The Hurricanes 6 game home stand continues tomorrow night (October 27^th) when they host the Swift Current Broncos for the second time this week. Game time is 7:00pm and you can tune into the pregame show on 94.1 CJOC with Pat Siedlecki and Fred Jack. It’s also the B93 Halloween Howl night. Fans are encouraged to dress up and win some prizes. As well, between 6 and 8pm, head down to the Haunted House, the Dungeon of Doom …if you dare!!

(Photo Courtesy: CanesCast)