Eliminated: Hurricanes lose Game 6 as Broncos advance to WHL Championship

For the second straight season, the Lethbridge Hurricanes have come up two wins shy of advancing to the Western Hockey League Championship.

Facing elimination at home on Monday night, the Hurricanes lost 5-1 to Swift Current, as the Broncos won the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final 4-2.

“They were the better team tonight,” Hurricanes Head Coach Brent Kisio said. “I thought we had a good first period, then they got the push back. But it’s tough because our guys played hard.”

The Hurricanes came out flying in the first period outshooting the Broncos 20-2, but managed just one goal in the period, scored by Calen Addison at the 16:36 mark.

Momentum shifted early in the second period, when Swift Current found the scoresheet three times in less than two minutes, with goals from Matteo Gennaro, Aleksi Heponiemi and Beck Malenstyn to lead 3-1 through 40 minutes.

“I think we just kind of got away from our game and stopped moving our feet,” Hurricanes Defeneman Calen Addison said. “When we’re moving our feet and work them down low and come with speed up the ice and make plays on the rush and capitalize on our chances and special teams is going, we’re definitely a better team than them I think and I think most people think.”

Former Hurricanes Captain Giorgio Estephan drove the dagger into the ‘Canes in the third period when he struck on the power play. Estephan deflected in a Glenn Gawdin pass to give the Broncos a 4-1 lead.

“It was definitely a grueling series. You didn’t really see a lot of friends out there. They want to beat you and you want to beat them. It’s a competitive sport and that’s the way hockey works,” Estephan said. “They showed a lot of class to me in the (hand-shake) lineup and I’m grateful for their friendships that I had when I was here. Obviously it was a little bit emotional and I wish them the best.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was definitely a grueling series. You didn't really see a lot of friends out there. They want to beat you and you want to beat them. It's a competitive sport and that's the way hockey works," Estephan said. "They showed a lot of class to me in the (hand-shake) lineup and I'm grateful for their friendships that I had when I was here. Obviously it was a little bit emotional and I wish them the best."

Broncos goalie Stuart Skinner proved to be the difference between the pipes, turning aside 33 of 34 shots. Hurricanes netminder Logan Flodell allowed four goals on 26 shots, including three in the first 15 shots he faced.

Skinner was taunted routinely in this series by Hurricanes fans and was again in game six, but Monday night the former ‘Canes goalie used the verbal barrage as motivation.

“I just decided to have fun with it. The fans are going to do whatever they’re going to do so instead of focusing on them I made the decision that I was going to thrive off that,” Skinner said. “Every time they did it I gained more energy and more focus. So honestly thanks to the crowd for giving me even more focus and making me want to win this even more.”

To really appreciate what the Hurricanes did this year, you need to look back. This was a team that made moves at the trade deadline preparing for the future.

The ‘Canes finished the year at the .500 mark at (33-33-6) and lost eight of their last nine games of the regular season.

Somehow the Hurricanes were able to wipe the slate clean and take their game to another level in the playoffs. The ‘Canes made quick work of the Red Deer Rebels and Brandon Wheat Kings, ousting both in five games.

Then, in the Eastern Conference Final the Hurricanes outplayed the Broncos for much of the series and took the powerhouse team to six games.

“That’s why we’re proud of this group we played hard in playoffs and did a lot of good things,” Kisio said. “Give Swift Current credit they’ve got a heck of a hockey team over there, that’s well coached and they’re a very good hockey team.”

In getting to the Eastern Conference Final for the second straight year the Hurricanes have given their young players the opportunity to play in big moments of crucial games.

Even as the sting of defeat is fresh in their minds, the ‘Canes know the future is bright.

“Oh you look around that room and you see guys like (Dylan) Cozens and (Logan) Barlage at 16 being impact players on our team and the experience for these younger guys is huge,” Addison said. “Moving forward I’m so excited. I think the future is going to be great. We’re super excited for next year.”

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Swift Current advanced to the WHL Final for the first time since 1993, where they will face the Everett Silvertips.