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Deadline addition standing out for Hurricanes

Feb 24, 2017 | 3:08 PM

LETHBRIDGE – When the Lethbridge Hurricanes announced a series of moves heading into the WHL trade deadline on Jan. 9, one deal in particular stood out as a clear sign that the organization was committed to reaching the playoffs for a second straight year.

The club dealt Colton Kroeker, Brett Davis and a fourth round draft pick in 2018, in exchange for 20-year old forwards Zak Zborosky and Matt Alfaro, along with a sixth-round pick.

While Alfaro has certainly been impressive in a Hurricanes jersey — putting up 12-points in 12-games since the trade — Zborosky has taken his game to another level. Prior to the deal, the right winger from Regina registered 44-points in 41-games for the Ice. Since then, he has 24-points in 17-games, jumping from a points per game rate of 1.07 to a standout 1.33.

Following practice at the ENMAX Centre, Zborosky met with Lethbridge News Now to discuss the trade and what life is like in a new city.

“A little bit windy here and there,” he said of his first impression of Lethbridge, in what may go down as the understatement of 2017. “But I like the city, it’s nice to live here.”

With the Ice sitting second last in the WHL at the time of the trade — they have since dropped to last — Zborosky admitted that news of the swap was welcome, especially considering he’s in his final WHL season.

“Pretty exciting, especially getting a trade with my teammate, Matt Alfaro, to kind of finish off our careers together on the same team, it’s kind of nice,” he explained. “Obviously with the players here, you know, to get a chance to play with some good players is exciting as well.

“It’s a little bit different than being in Kootenay,” Zborosky continued. “A little bit of an older group, kind of more mature. In the dressing room, winning games, everyone’s happy.”

Having said that, he did note that it was bitter-sweet leaving his WHL home of three-and-a-half seasons. He called it a special experience playing his first game as a visitor in Cranbrook on Feb. 12, a game in which he erased a 2-0 deficit — established by Kroeker — with a pair of goals just over a minute apart in the first period.

“It was kind of funny, scoring those goals in front of the crowd, they actually started cheering, and then getting the first star [of the game] they started cheering as well,” he said with an appreciative nod. “It was nice to go back and have a night like that, and it was nice to get support from the fans as well.”

Playing with Alfaro and having developed strong on-ice chemistry with Canes captain, Tyler Wong, Zborosky is third in team scoring with 68-points — just two shy of Giorgio Estephan — and second in goal scoring with 38 — five below Wong. He sees that production as his calling card, but noted that he brings another asset to the table, when asked how he can help the team build on what was a disappointing first round playoff exit last season.

“I have playoff experience,” he stated, having appeared in 15 post-season games with Kootenay over two seasons. “Playoffs can get pretty emotional, so being an older guy, showing some leadership in there too.”

As for what comes after playoffs, when Zborosky’s time is over in the WHL, he does have a couple of options.

“Hopefully try to play pro-hockey, and then, if not, probably do the scholarship thing and go to school and get an education.”

If the Hurricanes can continue at anywhere near their current pace heading into the post-season — just two regulation losses in their last 20 games — Zborosky should still have plenty of time before he needs to consider what comes next.

Into the Hurricane
(Check back every Friday during the regular season for a look at the players you cheer for)

Calen Addison – (Feb. 17, 2017)

Stuart Skinner – (Feb. 10, 2017)