Lethbridge Hurricanes close out regular season, look to lock up playoff opponent
The Lethbridge Hurricanes are wrapping up their regular season with a home-and-home series against the Red Deer Rebels.
It's the final test for the Canes before they head into the post-season.
Friday night's game is the fifth meeting between the two clubs this year.
The Canes have posted a 2-1-1-0 record against the Rebels.
"We've played Red Deer hard this year" said Brent Kisio, head coach.
"The last time didn't go our way but I think it's good preparation for us heading into the playoffs to play a team like Red Deer."
For the seventh straight season, the Hurricanes have secured a spot in the WHL Playoffs.
In 2020 and 2021, the post-season was cancelled because of the COVID pandemic.
The Canes were swept by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the first round last season.
"We're super pumped," said Cole Shepard, Canes forward.
"I think it's what you look forward to all year and I think we're really ready."
The Hurricanes still don’t know who they’ll face in the playoffs.
They need a single point either Friday or Saturday night against the Rebels or for the Regina Pats to lose one of their weekend games to lock up fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
A fifth-place finish will see them meet the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round.
"Moose Jaw is a good team and we want to play them and we want to beat them in the first round," said Miguel Marques, Canes forward.
"We just have to win one game and then take it from there to the playoffs."
"We're playing for fifth place, which is important," Kisio said.
"So we have a big task at hand with Red Deer. We know how good they are and they're one of the best in the league, so it's a great challenge for us."
Either way, the Canes will start the playoffs on the road.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PWHL Minnesota defeats Boston to win inaugural Walter Cup
Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
B.C. mortgage broker ran $270-million Ponzi scheme, then fled Canada, bankruptcy trustee says
The trustee appointed to manage the bankruptcies of a Victoria mortgage company and its owner has concluded that they committed "numerous offences" and operated as a "massive Ponzi scheme."
Oilers rally to beat Stars, tie Western Conference Final
With the Edmonton Oilers down two goals late in the first period of Game 4, Rogers Place was quiet, fans seemingly bewildered at the early, quick scoring of the Dallas Stars and the slow start by the home team. Ryan McLeod's marker with six-and-a-half minutes in the opening frame left changed all that.
McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and their prices haven't risen that much
McDonald’s is fighting back against viral tweets and media reports that it says have exaggerated its price increases.
'Targeted again': Montreal police investigate after gunshot fired at Jewish school
Police are investigating another building in Montreal's community was struck by gunfire.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.