Hurricanes Drop Second Straight to Broncos
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes rounded out their 2021 portion of their schedule on Tuesday with a 5-2 loss to the Swift Current Broncos at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes had a strong start to the game hemming the Broncos in their own zone for the first four minutes but despite good pressure the ‘Canes couldn’t solve goaltender Isaac Poulter to open the scoring. Swift Current struck first on a power play when Carter Stebbing buried a loose puck in front for his third of the season at the 11:24 mark to make it 1-0. Lethbridge had a five-minute power play after Daylan Weigel was assessed a game misconduct for a hit to the head of Ty Nash but on the ensuing man advantage the ‘Canes just mustered three shots and couldn’t tie the game as the Broncos held a 1-0 lead after twenty minutes of play. The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 15-7 in the first period.
Early in the second period the Hurricanes pulled even as Miguel Marques scored his first WHL goal on a partial break ripping one low glove side on Poulter to make it 1-1; Joe Arntsen and Tristan Zandee picked up the assists on Marques’ first goal. The ‘Canes appeared to take the lead when Noah Boyko beat Poulter over the glove; it was ruled a goal on the ice but after review it rang off the crossbar as the game remained tied. Swift Current pulled back ahead when former ‘Cane Kayden Sadhra-Kang beat Bryan Thomson with a wrist-shot over the glove to make it 2-1 before a power play goal by Connor Hvidston made it 3-1 Swift Current after forty minutes.
In the third period, the ‘Canes pressed down two. Just 2:04 into the frame, the Hurricanes pulled to within one when Boyko did score his 11th of the season after a centering pass by Logan Barlage to make it 3-2. Lethbridge continued to press peppering Poulter with 14 shots in the period but could not solve him again. Swift Current added two late goals as Josh Davies struck for his seventh of the year to make it 4-2 before Cole Nagy sealed the win with an empty-net goal to make it a 5-2 final.
The Hurricanes outshot the Broncos 41-24 in the game while going 0/2 on the power play and 2/4 on the penalty kill.
Three stars of the game were:
1) Broncos – #1 Isaac Poulter (39-saves)
2) Broncos – #21 Connor Hvidston (1 goal, 1 assist)
3) ‘Canes – #14 Miguel Marques (1 goal)
The loss for the Hurricanes was their second straight defeat as they are now 0-3-0-0 against Swift Current this season. The defeat dropped the ‘Canes overall record to 12-13-2-0 on the season and 8-5-2-0 on home-ice this year.
The Hurricanes will return to action on Saturday as they kick off 2022 with a matinee in Calgary against the Saddledome at 2:00pm before returning to the ENMAX Centre on Sunday to once again welcome the Swift Current Broncos at 4:00pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, the Yates Memorial Theatre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com.
