Lethbridge’s only victory against Brandon came at home, so the 33-33-6 Hurricanes can only hope to get off to a good start in their barn Friday night.
The Wheat Kings and Hurricanes have only met in the playoffs upon three other instances. In all three past series’, the team with home-ice advantage has moved on. Most recently, the Wheaties and ‘Canes did battle in 2008. Brandon is 2-1 against Lethbridge in past playoff series.
Games one and two will be played at the Enmax Centre at 8:00 P.M. central on Friday and Saturday. The series will then shift to Brandon for games three and four – to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Both games will see 7:00 P.M. puck drops.
High-scoring offensive defenceman Calen Addison – who hails from Brandon – will team up with Hurricanes’ forward Owen Blocker of Winnipeg against Manitoba’s only Western Hockey League team. Alongside Addison and Blocker is WHL playoff leading scorer Brad Morrison – a threat the Wheaties will certainly want to neutralize.
The Wheat Kings will play their first home playoff game of the postseason at Westoba Place Tuesday, as the Brandon Winter Fair had occupied the venue during the timeframe of the opening round of the WHL Playoffs. Game five, six and seven will alternate provinces, beginning in Alberta on Friday – if needed.
By Carter Brooks
Photo by Jeff Miller
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