Two goals by captain Jordy Bellerive, a goal and assist from Brad Morrison and two assists from Jake Elmer led the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the Kootenay ICE in an important WHL Central Division matchup Saturday.
The ICE entered the contest trailing the Hurricanes by seven points for second place in the division, and tied with the Red Deer Rebels for third spot. The loss drops them out of a playoff spot, while the win keeps the Hurricanes three points out of top spot behind Medicine Hat.
Things looked promising for the ICE, who came out strong in the opening minutes of the game. Goals by Cameron Hausinger at 2:57 and Gillian Kohler at 5:04 staked them to an early lead.
It didn’t hold up, however, as the Hurricanes took control by the midpoint of the period. Dylan Cozens cut lead in half at the 13:17 mark, burying a rebound off a Calen Addison point shot.
The Canes followed that up just over two minutes later, when Brad Morrison one times a pass from Zane Franklin through Matt Berlin to tie the game after one period.
The two teams settled things down in the middle frame, with neither squad wanting to make a mistake. That changed late in the period when Martin Bodak took a five minute major and game misconduct for kneeing Bellerive.
The Canes captain got the ultimate revenge, scoring the eventual game winner, and his 40th of the year, ripping a shot from the top of the circle between Berlin’s pads.
Following the game, Bellerive was happy to have made the ICE pay after the dangerous hit.
“It definitely forged the fire to get that one back,” said Bellerive.
Jadon Joseph added an insursance goal at 14:44 of the third period before Bellerive added his second of the game with one second remaining on the clock.
Logan Flodell stopped 29 of 31 shots in the Lethbridge net for the win, while Berlin blocked 37 of 41 in the Kootenay net.
Bellerive credited the entire team for working their way back into game following the quick start by their opponents. He said the goal by Cozens lit a spark back under the Hurricanes bench.
“They got a couple of weird ones, but once Cozens scored we gained the momentum from that.”
The win was a big one for the Hurricanes who gain some much need breathing space over the ICE and Red Deer.
“That’s a huge win for us,” said Bellerive. “The division is getting tighter so it’s important to get that separation. Now we need to go out and do it again tomorrow.”
Indeed, the two teams have a short turnaround, playing the back half of a home and home series Sunday afternoon in Cranbrook. Game time at Western Financial Place is 4 pm.
