The playoff version of the Lethbridge Hurricanes looked nothing like the team ‘Canes fans were accustomed to seeing this season. They couldn’t seem to score, and they were run out of the playoffs in just five games by the Regina Pats.
“It’s playoffs, it’s close, it’s tight, and the difference is so small,” said Hurricanes coach Brent Kisio.
Whether it was inexperience, a bad match up, or simply not playing well, the Lethbridge Hurricanes were unable to make a deep playoff run. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have a successful season.
“I’m extremely proud of so many guys in that room,” said Kisio. “There’s so many things that guys did to change things around here. It was the step in the right direction, it was something that this organization needed.”
Their post season was abruptly cut short, but the Hurricanes have come a long way in the last year. Prior to this season, the club was the cupcake match up of the Western Hockey League, finishing second last in the league in 2014-2015. While in 2013-2014, the team hit rock bottom, placing last place in the league and winning just 12 games.
This season, the Hurricanes proved that after years of ineptitude they could once again compete with the WHL’s elite, as they won the central division title and made the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Hurricanes captain Tyler Wong. “To have a moment where you’re just kind of like, ‘wow, this is actually happening.’ Especially after the past few years we haven’t been anywhere near this. I think the city lost interest a bit with how bad we were doing, and this year it just turned around completely.”