Ben Green

2019-20 WHL Season Previews: Lethbridge Hurricanes

Last season record: 40-18-5-5, finishing 2nd in the division, 4th in the Eastern Conference

Story of the 2018-19 season:

After going to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals, the Hurricanes were hungry to push over the top. Expectations for the season were set high — WHL Final high. The season started slower than expected, before GM Peter Anholt pulled the trigger on a couple of trades, including a blockbuster trade that saw him bring in Jake Leschyshyn and Nick Henry from the Regina Pats. Once the new arrivals settled in, the season took off for the Hurricanes.

Carl Tetachuk  (photo-Erica Perreaux)

Early January saw Anholt make another move, acquiring 19-year-old goaltender Liam Hughes from the Seattle Thunderbirds for a couple players and a pick. After the Hughes trade, Reece Klassen was shipped to the Spokane Chiefs. Hughes seemingly was the missing piece, but there was a plot twist. Just 20 days after joining the Hurricanes, Hughes announced he was leaving the team to go back home for personal reasons. This left the Hurricanes short handed in goal, and rookie Carl Tetachuk became the go to number one goalie. Tetachuk was a pleasant surprise in goal for Lethbridge, holding down the fort with respectable numbers. He appeared in 37 games, posting a 24-9-1-1 record with a 2.88 goals against average and save percentage of .909.

The Hurricanes were a very steady team, never having an extended losing streak and faring very well against their own division. They finished the season winning nine of their final ten to secure the second spot in the division. Henry paced the team with 94 points including 29 goals. Leschyshyn topped the goal list with 40.

Playoffs:

After securing home ice in round one, the Hurricanes welcomed the Calgary Hitmen in the opening round. This series between the division rivals quickly became heated and highly contested. The Hurricanes jumped out to a 2-0 series lead, winning both on home ice, but the Hitmen responded, winning the next two at home to make the series a best-of-three headed back to Lethbridge.

Games 5 and 6 of the series saw the visiting team win, including a comeback overtime win for the Hurricanes in Game Six. This series went the distance, with Game 7 played at a secondary location because the Enmax Center was hosting the World Curling Championships. Whether that played a role in the series, we will never know. The Hurricanes fell short in a 4-2 loss — a disappointing end to the season.

Team Losses:

The Hurricanes face a number of departures from last season. While not all of the following players have left, their status for the 2019-20 season remains to be seen. Of course, three overagers have graduated from the WHL, and that is where we start:

Igor Merezhko, the import defencemen, had 35 points in 55 games. Having graduated from the WHL, he is currently playing in the VHL in Uzbekistan for Humo Tashkent.

Igor Merezhko-Noah Philp (photo-Brian Liesse)

Jake Elmer, an overager, had a breakout season, scoring 81 points in 68 games, including a career high 39 goals. Elmer signed an ELC with the New York Rangers at the season’s end. He is currently at Rangers main camp and likely headed to play for their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack.

Taylor Ross also had a breakout season as a 20-year-old. Ross finished sixth in team scoring, collecting 69 points in 68 games. Ross has signed a deal in the ECHL with the Fort Wayne Komets.

Scott Mahovlich, who was in line to be an overager in the WHL this coming season, has elected to stay home and play in the BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers. Mahovlich only appeared in 21 games for the Hurricanes, tallying just one goal.

Zachary Cox, the speedy forward, was released by the Hurricanes and found his way to the Swift Current Broncos. Cox had 11 goals and 15 points for the Hurricanes. He has since been released by the Broncos.

Jackson Shepard appeared in 66 game, collecting 22 points for Lethbridge. He was traded this offseason to the Vancouver Giants for a bantam draft pick

Nolan Jones, a promising defencemen, saw time in 49 games and, like Shepard, was traded this offseason to the Victoria Royals for Dino Kambietz.

There are a trio of players that currently have ELC with NHL teams, and their returns are still unsure. If any are returned, they would be entering their 20-year-old seasons, which adds another wrinkle. The Hurricanes could see none of these players back or potentially all three though it is far more likely they see none return:

Jordy Bellierve signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins and is currently at their NHL camp.

Jake Leschyshyn is a Vegas Golden Knights draft pick and saw time in the AHL at the end of last season. He is attending Vegas’ training camp.

Nick Henry signed an ATO with the Colorado Avalanche farm team, the Colorado Eagles. His ELC kicks in this season, and Henry finds himself at Avalanche camp.

Team Additions:

With this roster turnover, there are a lot of new faces on the team this season, including a number of players trying to crack the team as a rookie or find full-time WHL time. We will highlight a few of the bigger names:

Dino Kambeitz / Connor Zary  (photo-Allen Douglas / Kamloops Blazers)

Kambeitz was acquired in an offseason trade with Victoria. The 19-year-old had a respectable season with the Royals last season, totaling 25 points in 67 games. The Parker, Colorado, product is set for a breakout season and is showing well in the preseason for the Hurricanes.

Oliver Okuliar was selected in the CHL Import Draft. Okuliar spent last season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL, where he tallied 14 times and put up 42 points over 66 games played. He will be a welcome addition offensively.

D-Jay Jerome is another player brought in via the trade market. Jerome is entering his overage season. The local product was over a point-per-game player with the Royals last season with 42 points in 68 games played. Although his spot on the team could depend on others coming back from NHL camp, Jerome could add some much needed leadership to what is bound to be a younger Hurricanes team.

Tyson Phare, who was acquired from the Prince George Cougars, spent only 14 games in the WHL last season, going pointless. He will be looking to crack the lineup full-time.

Other additions will depend on rookies and/or any other trades. Names to watch include: Jett Jones, Chase Wheatcroft, Alex Thacker, and Nick Dorrington.

Logan Barlage (photo-David Zammit)

Three Storylines to watch:

  1. Roster Turnover.  As outlined previously, there are plenty of questions about the Hurricanes lineup heading into 2019-20. With as many as eleven spots up for grabs, training camp battles have been highly contested. With departures in key areas of the roster, there is no shortage of opportunities for others, such as who will play on the power play or who will center the third line. These aren’t just opportunities for rookies. Players like Logan Barlage will be given the chance to take on a bigger role. The roster changeover also begs the question of who will score goals this season. Five of the top six point producers may not return, leaving only Dylan Cozens, who right now is with the Buffalo Sabers. The timetable for his return is out of the Hurricanes’ hands. That leaves guys like Barlage, Kambietz, Okuliar, and Noah Boyko to pick up the slack or take the next step. Any way you cut it, head coach Brent Kisio has his work cut out for him.

    Noah Boyko (photo-Brian Liesse)
  2. Goaltending. Carl Tetachuk was thrust into the starter’s role after the unexpected departure of Liam Hughes. While he filled in admirably, Lethbridge will need him to take another step forward to help keep the team in the hunt. Backup Bryan Thomson is still an unknown at the WHL level, appearing in only five games last season. There is no one else available unless a trade is made, after the Hurricanes released newly signed 16-year-old netminder Jared Picklyk to return to a lower level team. Goaltender development will be key to the success or failure of the team in the Windy City.
  3. Dylan Cozens. Cozens is coming off a career year that led to him being drafted seventh overall in the NHL Entry Draft by the Sabers. He is currently at Sabers training camp, and it’s uncertain when or if he will be returned to the WHL. The two-way centerman will be the focal point of the Hurricanes upon returning from NHL camp. The Yukon native will be counted on in a leadership role as well, whether or not he will wear a letter. He would definitely be in consideration for the captain’s “C” if current captain Jordy Bellerive sticks with the Penguins or in the AHL.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes’ season is all about rebuilding and roster turnover, but they should remain competitive in a tight Central Division. The Hurricanes will open the season on September 20th when they host the rival Medicine Hat Tigers at the Enmax Center in Lethbridge. Those same two teams meet again on September 21st in Medicine Hat.