By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Hurricanes set for series against top-ranked Regina

Apr 20, 2017 | 12:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE – It’s a chance to avenge last year’s playoff exit. But Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio doesn’t see it that way.

The Hurricanes departed the ENMAX Centre Thursday, April 20 for the Saskatchewan capital, ahead of Friday’s game one of the Eastern Conference final against the Regina Pats. It was the Pats who upset the ‘Canes in 2016, eliminating them in the first round.

But Kisio says that’s in the past.

“It has nothing to do with last year,” he told reporters. “Our team is basically completely different from last year.”

Kisio said the team is taking away a lot more from the first two rounds, both seven-game series that Lethbridge won against Red Deer and Medicine Hat.

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Captain Tyler Wong, who scored the short-handed overtime winner against the Tigers in game seven, agreed that they will have to try to carry that momentum forward.

“We can’t hang our hats on that and say, well we had a good run, made it to the conference finals and that’s it.  We’re in this series to win it,” Wong said.

There’s no question the rivalry between these two teams is heated. Regina head coach and general manager John Paddock singled out Wong this week, quoted in the Regina media as saying Wong jumps “a couple feet” when making hits and doesn’t get called.

Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt had his own words for Paddock.

“John looks at the other teams through his eyes, and then he throws on the rose-coloured glasses with his own team. I think our top players better be wary and watch because their team has a history of taking runs at top players,” Anholt said.

The Pats finished first overall in the WHL regular season standings, but just like the Hurricanes in the first round, Regina had to battle back from a 3-games-to-1 deficit against their second round opponent, the Swift Current Broncos.

The team finished the regular season number one on the power play, and has the fourth best percentage in the playoffs. Kisio said discipline is something to focus on against Regina.

“In playoffs there’s not as many penalties usually called. When we do take penalties they’re going to get a lot of looks if we’re not careful and not sticking to our structure.”

Now that they’ve reached the final four, the Hurricanes may be getting even more attention in the larger hockey world. In fact, Wong’s overtime goal was shown by Don Cherry on his Coach’s Corner segment Wednesday.

“The attention’s great, but if it gets to your head it’s obviously a distraction,” Wong said. “I think that we’re just trying to stay focused on the task at hand.”

Kisio doubted any of their injured players would be able to return for the Regina series, adding “our roster’s our roster.”

Game one is Friday, April 21 at Regina’s Brandt Centre, with game two set for Saturday. The series moves to Lethbridge Tuesday, April 25 and Wednesday, April 26.