Innisfail, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes hit the road for their second game of the preseason and were looking for a win as they faced the Red Deer Rebels in Innisfail. The Canes were coming off a 6-1 loss to Calgary while the Rebels had dropped a 4-2 decision to the Hitmen a night earlier.  Just like the Canes first pre-season game a number of the vets were out of the lineup giving the rookies a chance audition and it was the same again Saturday night. Graham Hood, Jay Merkley, Jaimen Yakubowski, Jamal Watson, Brady Ramsay, Albin Blomqvist, Spencer Galbraith, Connor Sutton and Tanner Kovacs all sat this one out while Ty Rimmer made his debut along with first round (4^th overall) draft pick Giorgio Estephan.

The Rebels would get some early chances to score but Rimmer denied everything Red Deer would throw his way including a glorious chance when Charles Inglis made a cross crease pass to Colten Mayor but he couldn’t bury it. The Canes would go on their first powerplay of the game but it was Red Deer with a shorthanded chance that would also be denied by Rimmer. Lethbridge also had their chances but they couldn’t find a way to put the puck past Patrick Bartosak and the first period would end in a scoreless tie while shots would be even at 7 apiece.

Both sides would continue to get their chances, both 5 on 5 and on the powerplay, but again the goalies would stand their ground to keep the game scoreless through 40 minutes. Lethbridge outshot the Rebels by a 2 to 1 margin (22-11) and had a 29-18 edge in shots overall.  The Hurricanes would start the third period with a 5 on 3 powerplay after a roughing and cross check penalty to the Rebels in the final 30 seconds of the 2^nd period and it didn’t take long for the Canes to convert. Russ Maxwell who had a few chances to bury one earlier in the game, finally gets Lethbridge on board just 49 seconds into the final frame with Dan Johnston and Joel Topping drawing the assists. Red Deer looked to tie things up just moments later but their celebration was short-lived as the goal was waved off. It was a steady parade to the penalty box for Red Deer but 5 on 4 or 5 on 3 the Canes couldn’t score although they generated plenty of opportunities in just their second game of the pre-season. The Rebels would pull Bartosak late in the game looking for the equalizer, but Rimmer held on to preserve the 1-0 win and the shutout thanks to his 27 saves. Lethbridge outshoots Red Deer 38-27 and goes 1/7 on the powerplay while the Rebels were 0/3. The Canes get their first win of the exhibition season and are now 1-1 and on Sunday they will travel down the highway to face their Medicine Hat Tiger rivals at 6:00pm. The Canes next “home” pre-season game is Wednesday, September 12^th when they host those same Tigers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association office with proceeds going to support Minor Hockey.