By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Hurricanes post first loss of regular season in game heavy on penalties

Sep 25, 2016 | 1:18 AM

MEDICINE HAT –  The Lethbridge Hurricanes split a home-and-home with Medicine Hat.  After winning their home opener against the Tigers 4-2 on Friday night, the Canes took a 9-3 loss against their Highway-3 rivals on Saturday night in the ‘Hat’, in a penalty laden match-up.

The Tigers’ Zack Fischer netted the lone goal of the first period and action picked up in the second frame.

Medicine Hat tallied their second goal on a power play five minutes into the second period. A minute and a half later, Kord Pankewicz netted the Canes’ first goal on another power play, assisted by Calen Addison and Jordy Bellerive. 

From there, the wheels came off the bus for the Canes as the Tigers slapped in four goals in succession.  The action included James Hamblin’s short-handed, game-winning goal at the 12 minute mark. Zach Fischer and Matt Bradley added two more power play goals before the end of the period, leaving the Tigers ahead 6-1.

Medicine Hat continued their onslaught, scoring their 7th goal 30-seconds into the third. Hurricane Centre Zane Franklin planted his team’s second goal on a Power Play at the three-minute mark, assisted by Kord Pankewicz and Brady Reagan.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 26, 2024

9h ago

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

The Tigers didn’t let up, adding two more goals before the Canes’ Josh Tarzwell finished off the scoring 14-minutes into the third, assisted by Calen Addison and Jayden Davis.

The Tabbies not only out-scored Lethbridge but also more than doubled their shots-on-goal (48-20).  However, the main focus of the game was penalties. The Hurricanes logged 100-minutes to the Tiger’s 92, with the majority coming during a fight in the third period.

Jaydon Joseph levied a five minute major for fighting and a game misconduct for a brawl at the 8:50 mark of the third period.  The same incident saw Igor Merezhko sited a 5:00 major for roughing and instigating a major fight, as well as a 10-minute misconduct. Five minute penalties for major fighting and game misconducts were also handed to Canes’ Tanner Nagel and Ryan Vandervlis.

The penalty action wasn’t the sole domain of the Canes, as five Medicine Hat players were also penalized with major fighting and game misconducts.

The Hurricanes’ next game is Friday (Sept 30), as they take on the Kootenay Ice at the Enmax.