A Lethbridge Hurricanes jersey (Lethbridge Hurricanes)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge’s losing streak extends to four following 4-3 loss to Medicine Hat

Dec 6, 2019 | 10:23 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The teddy bears and toques went flying – along with fists – as part of the Canadian Tire Toque and Teddy Toss game Friday night at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge.

The Hurricanes welcomed Medicine Hat to town, looking for redemption after an 8-3 loss earlier in the week against the Tigers.

Unfortunately for Lethbridge, a win was not meant to be.

FIRST PERIOD

Before the scoring could get started, Medicine Hat’s Elijah Brown was called for tripping at the 4:35 mark.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

This was followed by a hooking call on Lethbridge’s Ty Prefontaine at 7:20, and then at 9:57, the teddy bears went flying onto the ice after the game’s first goal.

The score came from Oliver Okuliar, his 22^nd of the season off assists from Dylan Cozens and Koletrane Wilson.

Fans in attendance threw a multitude of teddy bears and toques to the ice.

A tradition started in 1993 by the Kamloops Blazers, teams across the WHL and other North American markets now take part in their own teddy bear toss games, with the collected bears being distributed to hospitals and local charities as a way to spread holiday joy.

Oliver Okuliar with a teddy bear (left). Okuliar joined by teammates Koletrane Wilson and Dylan Cozens (right) – Photo supplied by Nevin Sereda, Today’s Country 95.5

In total, 3568 teddy bears and 679 toques were collected as part of the initiative.

After that first period excitement, Eric Van Impe of the Tigers was called for slashing at 12:29. His penalty was followed by a high sticking call on Corson Hopwo, once again putting the Hurricanes on the power play.

The ‘Canes took advantage, with Alex Cotton scoring his eighth of the season to put Lethbridge up 2-0.

Before the buzzer sounded, Medicine Hat’s Nick McCarry was called for a minor penalty (too many men) at the 18:48 mark.

SECOND PERIOD

The second period began with a penalty call on Lethbridge’s Cotton, a minor for slashing at the 1:33 mark. The Tigers took advantage, with Cole Sillinger scoring on the power play to cut the home team’s lead to one at the 3:00 mark.

Sillinger didn’t have too much time to celebrate though, as he was called for a minor (too many men) penalty at 5:07.

Seconds later, Okuliar scored his second goal of the game to put Lethbridge up 3-1, off assists from Calen Addison and Alex Cotton.

It would be a while before the next goal was scored, but tensions were clearly high.

At 6:26, Medicine Hat’s Bryan Lockner was called for a minor instigator penalty, which was served by Hopwo.

Things got a little extra spicy in that moment, with Lockner and Lethbridge’s Trevor Thurston throwing fists at one another – earning each of them time in the box.

Lockner also received a 10-minute misconduct for his actions.

That wouldn’t be the last fight fans saw at the ENMAX. At 12:25, Parker Gavlas and D-Jay Jerome went toe-to-toe, each receiving five-minute major penalties.

This was followed by a roughing call on Lethbridge’s Dino Kambeitz at the 13:46 mark. At 14:31, Medicine Hat’s Ryan Chyzowski was handed a game misconduct and a 10-minute misconduct from game officials.

Ty Prefontaine was then called for boarding at 15:30.

Between all the penalty calls, Cyle McNabb of the Tigers managed to get one past Lethbridge’s net-minder Carl Tetachuk to bring the score to 3-2 at 18:21.

Daniel Baker (Medicine Hat) and Dino Kambeitz were each called for unsportsmanlike conduct at 18:29. At that same mark, Prefontaine was given a minor penalty for kneeing.

The Tigers took advantage of being on the power play and Elijah Brown tied the game at 3-3 seconds later at the 18:35 mark.

Additionally, earlier in the period, Justin Hall earned a penalty shot but couldn’t rip it past Medicine Hat’s Garin Bjorklund.

THIRD PERIOD, OVERTIME & A SHOOT-OUT

Following up on a fast-paced, intense second period, nothing too wild happened in the final frame of regulation, with no penalties called and no goals scored.

With that, the game was sent to overtime tied at 3-3. The extra five minutes didn’t lead to a final result, and the game was then sent to a shoot-out!

Zack Stringer was up first in the shoot-out, but couldn’t score. James Hamblin then put Medicine Hat on the board with a goal.

Lethbridge’s D-Jay Jerome responded accordingly, scoring for the ‘Canes. Brett Kemp then got one past Carl Tetachuk, which turned out to be the game winner.

Dylan Cozens was the final shooter for the Hurricanes, but was stopped by Garin Bjorklund – resulting in a 4-3 loss for the host team, their fourth in a row.

Lethbridge sits in last place in the Central Division, behind the Tigers and the Edmonton Oil Kings leading the pack.

The ‘Canes travel to Swift Current, Saskatchewan for a game against the Broncos tomorrow, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. while the Tigers go back home to the Canalta Centre for a matchup with Everett tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.