Brian Liesse

WHL recap: Hurricanes and Thunderbirds get wins in B.C.

Lethbridge 4 @Kamloops 2

It’s looking more and more like a fresh start in Lethbridge is just with the doctor ordered for Brad Morrison. The overage forward, who had previously played for the Vancouver Giants is having a great start to his time with the Lethbridge Hurricanes (21-19-3-0) since coming over at the trade deadline.

Morrison had underwhelmed in his time with the Giants to the tune of 35 points in 42 games. He was expected to have a career year in Vancouver while playing with Tyler Benson and Ty Ronning, but that just did not happen. 

Since coming over from the Giants, Morrison has taken off. After just 11 goals with the Giants, he already has four to go along with four assists in just four games with the Hurricanes. Lethbridge has won all four of those games.

He was at it again in Tuesday, potting a goal and adding two assists as Lethbridge double up the  Kamloops Blazers (18-23-1-2) 4-2.

Zane Franklin also added two goals and an assist, while Jordy Bellerive had two assists.

Logan Flodell turned away 37 of 39 in the win.

Taylor Ross and Morrison scored in the first period to open things up, before Franklin added a marker midway through the second. This made things 3-0 Lethbridge after 40 minutes.

Jermaine Loewen netted goals 8:15 apart in the third period to get the home crowd into the game, before Franklin netted his second into an empty net to salt the game away.

Dylan Ferguson stopped 24 of 27 in the loss.

Lethbridge is now four points up on Kootenay with two games in hand in race for second seed in Central.

The ‘Canes went 0/2 on the power play, while Kamloops was 1/4.

The Hurricanes, will head to Kelowna for a game Wednesday vs the Rockets. The Blazers, who have now lost three straight and are falling out of playoff contention fast, head to Alberta for a game with Calgary Friday.

Seattle 5 @Prince George 2

After three straight losses to two of the top teams in the Western Conference, the Seattle Thunderbirds (21-16-4-2) needed to take care of business against the team that is behind them in the standings and vying for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

They did just that on Tuesday night in Prince George as behind two goals from Donovan Neuls and a goal and an assist from defenseman Austin Strand, they beat the Prince George Cougars (17-21-4-3) 5-2.

The win was the third of the four-game season series for Seattle with the final game coming Wednesday evening at CN Centre.

Seattle now is seven points ahead in race for last wild card spot, with two games in hand.

Dorrin Luding stopped 28 of 30 in the win. Luding has had the starting job thrusted upon him with goalie Liam Hughes going down with an injury after a collision with Portland’s Skyler McKenzie last Saturday, Matt Berlin traded away to Kootenay last week and Carl Stankowski still not back from an injury that has seen him miss the entire season so far.

Cole Schwebius is up from the BCMML to tend to backup duties behind Luding for the time being.

Luding was only acquired a month and a half ago himself from Everett for a ninth round pick in 2018.

Max Kryski opened the scoring on the tip of a shot from Joel Laukusta, but Seattle would answer back with two of their own to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Neuls and Nolan Volcan had the markers. This was the 15th goal on the season for Neuls, which is a career high.

Strand added his 15th of the year 8:26 into the second and Neuls added to his career season with another marker just 34 seconds later.

Jackson Leppard gave the Cougars some life by closing the deficit to two with 1:30 left in the second, on the power play, but that is as close as they would get.

Blake Bargar netted his eighth this year into an empty net late in the third, to give us the 5-2 final.

Strand is all alone now in second in the WHL for goals from defensemen.

Seattle was 0/3 on the man advantage while P.G, was 1/4.

Tavin Grant turned away 29 of 33 in the Cougars net.