There’s nothing like a dose of the Lethbridge Hurricanes for what ails you in the Western Hockey League. In that sense, they are sort of like the WHL’s version of the current Edmonton Oilers.
The Hurricanes, a league-worst 12-55-5 last season, spiraled to 1-7-1 this season following Friday night’s 4-2 victory by the Victoria Royals in the southern Alberta city.
The result assured the Royals, 3-2 on their six-game road trip through the Central Division of the WHL’s Eastern Conference, no worse than a break-even record on the trek. It concludes tonight in Cranbrook against the Kootenay Ice, 1-0 winners Friday night over the Regina Pats.
The Royals (5-6-1) reversed a trend in which they have fallen behind early in recent games, having to rely on rallies to salvage wins or at least come close.
Goals by Axel Blomqvist, with a minute remaining in the first period, and Jack Walker, on the power play at 3:59 of the second period, gave Victoria a 2-0 lead. The Canes tied it with second-period power-play goals by Giorgio Estephan and Tyler Wong, the latter on a two-man advantage.
But on this night, the Royals had the necessary reserves left in the bank because of their early deposits. That was enough of a foundation as third-period goals by Tyler Soy and Blomqvist sealed the deal for Victoria.
“We had a good first period but ran into penalty trouble in the second period,” said Victoria head coach Dave Lowry.
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The Victoria bench boss, who will coach the WHL all-star team against the Russian junior all-stars in the Subway Super Series next month, added that the game almost got away from the Royals in the middle frame and that perhaps they were fortunateto get out of it tied.
But Lowry, assistant coach for Canada at the upcoming 2015 world junior hockey championship in Montreal and Toronto, liked the way his club responded in the third and thought his club controlled the final period.
Former ’Canes player Blomqvist, signed by the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL and a prospect for the Swedish world junior team, had a big night against his former team by notching his second and third goals of the season.
“I might tell Axel that maybe we should play all our games in Lethbridge,” quipped Lowry.
The other crucial Royals’ performance of the night was provided by mobile blue-liner Joe Hicketts, who has been chosen to play for the WHL team against the Russians. Hicketts had two assists and was plus-1 to be named the game’s first star with Blomqvist selected second star and Estephan the third.
“Joe is playing with confidence and poise and he’s healthy [compared to last season, in which he was hindered by injury],” said Lowry.
Soy and Walker finished the game with two points each.
Coleman Vollrath made 22 saves in goal for Victoria and Zac Robidoux blocked 29 shots for the ‘Canes.
