The Lethbridge Hurricanes are taking on the Calgary Hitmen in the first round of the 2019 Western Hockey League playoffs.
It’s that time of the year again where crowds are going wild, team’s lighting up the goal light and hoisting a championship trophy by the end of it- it’s playoff hockey season.
Last time these two teams faced off in the playoffs was in the second round in 2009 where the Hitmen would sweep the Hurricanes 4-0.
Now, the Hurricanes will be looking for some revenge.
It’s been a good start so far for the Hurricanes, as they are up 2-0 in the series
The ‘Canes have won five out of the six games played against the Calgary-based team in the 2018-2019 regular season, but Head Coach Brent Kisio said those five wins don’t matter in the post-season.
“It’s just a new season and we are facing off against probably one of the best hockey clubs in the second half of the season. But we have also been pretty good so we will see how it goes.”
Currently, the Hurricanes are riding an eight-game winning streak after a 3-2 victory in Medicine Hat against the Tigers on March 16.
Calen Addison, a ‘Canes defenceman, said going into the playoffs on a win streak is huge for the team’s confidence
“The last stretch of the season is kind of like the playoffs. We understand what it takes to win so we will just take that into the first round.”
Addison is one of many Hurricanes who is a veteran when it comes to playing in the playoffs and he believes this will help him and his team keep playing well into the spring
“The more playoff games you have been a part of, the more you understand what it takes to win in the playoffs and the difference it takes to win in the playoffs compared to the regular season.”
Addison added failing to move past the third round in the last two seasons is motivation to the team to go one step further and possibly win the WHL Championship.
If the Hurricanes want to make a deep playoff push, they will have to do so with Carl Tetachuk, a rookie goaltender.
Tetachuk is only 18-years-old and doesn’t have any WHL playoff experience under his belt.
He started the season as the backup to Reece Klassen, a former Hurricanes goalie, but later earned the starting role as Liam Hughes, a goaltender they acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds decided to leave the team after only playing six games.
The Lethbridge native will now be relied upon to help the team to a possible championship.
Kisio is very confident in his young goaltender.
“He’s been great for us all year long and doesn’t seem to get nervous or caught up in the moment. He just goes and plays well for us.”
On top of the confidence he is receiving from his coach, the players are also confident in Tetachuk in between the pipes.
The young goaltender has been good so far stopping 60 out of 63 shots he’s faced and has a 1.50 goals-against-average in the first two games.
The Hurricanes will now be looking to sweep the Hitmen as they travel to Calgary for games three and four.