The Hurricanes hosted the Edmonton Oil Kings Wednesday and came out on the losing end of a 3-0 game. Edmonton opened up the scoring just 1:24 into the game on a goal by Curtis Lazar and the rest of the period it was Goalie Ty Rimmer’s show. He made a number of key saves on the OK’s to keep it a 1-0 game after Lethbridge was outshot 22-6 in the first. Lethbridge had a chance to bury the equalizer early in the 2^nd on a 3 on 2 chance, but Craig Leverton fanned on the one-timer keeping it a 1-0 game. Lethbridge with just one powerplay goal through their first 3 games and missed a chance when they had a 2 man advantage in the middle frame. Another chance came later in the period when Jamal Watson sped into the offensive zone but rang a shot right off Tristan Jarry’s mask. Rimmer continued to deny everything Edmonton threw his way as the period ended with the shots 43-14 for the Oil Kings and the fans burst into chants of “Rimmer Rimmer” and gave the veteran netminder a standing ovation heading into 2^nd intermission. Edmonton added a pair of goals in the 3^rd period as Lethbridge was outshot 60-20 in the game with Rimmer making a staggering 57 saves.

vs. Kootenay: Tonight marks the first of 6 meetings between the Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes. Last season Lethbridge had a record of 2-4-0-0 against the Ice. Against the Ice, the Hurricanes are led by Jamal Watson and veteran Defenceman Dan Johnston who both have 5 points. Watson leads the way with 2G, 3A while Johnston has 5 assists. Russ Maxwell and Captain Graham Hood both have 4 points (1G, 3A) against Kootenay.

The teams did meet once in the preseason at the “Thunder Challenge” with the Ice skating to a 5-4 win. Brady Ramsay had a pair of goals in the game while Reid Duke and Tyler Wong scored the other goals. Christopher Tai split the goaltending duties in that game with Tanner Kovacs (who’s since been reassigned to the AJHL) and they combined for 26 saves in the loss.

2011 – 2012 Season vs. Ice

September 27^th: Lethbridge (0) Kootenay (2)

October 14^th: Lethbridge (1) Kootenay (2)

October 17^th: Lethbridge (2) Kootenay (4)

December 27^th: Lethbridge (2) Kootenay (4)

January 2^nd: Lethbridge (7) Kootenay (2)

January 25^th: Lethbridge (5) Kootenay (4)

Powerplay: Lethbridge -  7/34 

                   Kootenay - 4/26

Shots:        Lethbridge – 161

                   Kootenay – 188

2012 – 2013 Stats:

Goals (2) – Sam McKechnie                   

Assists (1) – 5 players tied                     

Points (2) – Sam McKechnie

PIM’s (19) – Spencer Galbraith                              

Plus/Minus (+1) – 5 players tied

Powerplay: 1/19 (5.3%)                          

Penalty Kill: 5/18 (72.2%)

Top Scorers – Lethbridge:

Sam McKechnie: 2G, 0A – 2 points

Brady Ramsay: 1G, 0A – 1 point

Jamal Watson: 1G, 0A – 1 point

Jaimen Yakubowski: 1G, 0A – 1 point

(5 others with 1 point each)

Top Scorers – Kootenay:

Sam Reinhart: 2G, 1A – 3 points

Brock Montgomery: 2G, 0A – 2 points

Joey Leach: 0G, 2A – 2 points

Jonathon Martin: 1G, 0A – 1 point

(7 others with 1 point each)

COMMUNITY CORNER:

Every Friday home game throughout the season is also “Food Bank Fridays”.  Be sure to bring a non-perishable food item for the Lethbridge Food Bank. Also look for the Food Bank on the concourse and be sure to enter your name into draw for a weekly prize (winners announced during the game)

EXCLUSIVE for Season Ticket Holders: This season we’re introducing the Perfect Attendance! We want to reward our Season Ticket Holders for their perfect attendance. If their season ticket is scanned for every home game during the Hurricanes 2012-2013 regular season, they will be entered in a draw to win a free season ticket in 2013-2014.

DID YOU KNOW?:

- Leading the Way: The Lethbridge Hurricanes were proud to name overage forward Graham Hood the 22nd Captain in Hurricanes history this week. Hood follows in the footsteps of three of his former teammates – Brody Sutter, Cam Braes (2011-2012), Mike Reddington (2010-11) and Carter Bancks (2009-10) who have worn the “C” during his time in Lethbridge.

- According to the CSS:  Central Scouting released its “preliminary watch list” for 2012 and two Lethbridge Hurricanes will be heavily scouted this season. Defenceman Adam Henry (who is sidelined until January with a heart condition) and rookie Forward Axel Blomqvist are in the preliminary rankings. Henry finished with 21 points (4G, 17A) in 60 games last year while Blomqvist had 46 points in 38 games with Rogle J18 last season. 

- By the numbers: The Canes current roster is made up of 14 forwards, 10 defensemen and 2 goaltenders going into the WHL Opening Weekend. This group includes 10 WHL rookies (Ax. Blomqvist, Duke, Wong, Harper, Hackman, Sutton, Pilon, Topping, Laurencelle, and Tai)

- Family Ties – Oh brother: Axel Blomqvist (acquired 17^th overall in the Import Draft) joins his brother Albin Blomqvist on the Hurricanes roster. Axel is a towering Forward at 6’5 and close to 200 lbs. Both are the younger brother of Anton Blomqvist.

Next up: The Hurricanes have a few days off before hitting the road for a brief 2 game in 2 night road trip south of the border. The Hurricanes will play the Tri-City Americans on October 5^th and the Chiefs on October 6^th before returning home. Game time both nights is 8:00pm MT and the pregame show with Pat Siedlecki on the home of the Hurricanes – 94.1 CJOC can be heard at 7:30pm. Home or on the road follow your Lethbridge Hurricanes with news and team headlines on Twitter @WHLHurricanes, play by play analysis @CanesCast or by checking out our website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.  Fans can also follow us on our Official Facebook Fan Page at facebook.com/WHLHurricanes or check out the game live on WHL Web TV - log on to whl.ca for details and pricing. Fan can also drop by Pop's Pub South to watch the WHL Webcast live as they present all 36 Hurricanes road games this season.