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nivek_wahs
04-26-2007, 01:32 AM
http://www.lethbridgehurricanes.com/index.php?newsid=1432

State of the Hurricanes
April 25 2007

Lethbridge, AB – Lethbridge Hurricanes General Manager Roy Stasiuk made his ‘State of the Hurricanes address” today at the Enmax Centre, speaking on many of the high points of the 2006/2007 season.
Community

- The Lethbridge Hurricanes continued to leave their mark on the Lethbridge community with their continued involvement in programs such as: Operation Christmas Child, the Park Place Mall Reading Program, The Lethbridge Herald and Lethbridge Hurricanes “Reading… Make It Your Goal Program”, the AMA Safety Patrol Skating Party and the AADAC Spit Tobacco Education Program

- In total Hurricanes players and staff totaled over 600 hours of community service and made nearly $70,000 worth in charitable donations this season alone.


Team Accomplishments

- Competing in the tough Central division Hurricanes registered a 300% improvement in our record against Medicine Hat and achieved an above .500 rating against both Calgary and Red Deer

Individual Accomplishments

- Zach Boychuk quashed any rumors of a sophomore jinx this season finishing a stellar second season with an incredible 8 point performance against Red Deer in the final regular season game. The 17 year old, who is not draft eligible until the 2008 NHL draft, finished his 2006/2007 campaign in a tie for second in the WHL scoring race with 91. He participated as the youngest player in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, he joined Dwight King and Justin Leclerc on the gold medal winning Team Canada at the U-18 Junior World Cup, was selected as the Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week twice and represented Team Canada at the World Men’s Under-18 Championships in Finland in April. Boychuk finished third in scoring for Team Canada, behind his line mates Steven Stamkos (OHL) and Jesse Arniel (OHL) and one point ahead of highly touted 2007 NHL Draft prospect Angelo Esposito (QMJHL).

- Hurricanes Trainer Tyler “Slim” Broderson won a Gold Medal as Head Equipment Manager for Team Canada World Junior Hockey Championships in Sweden over the Christmas break with Hurricanes imports Tomas Kudelka and Lukas Vantuch also in attendance representing their home country of the Czech Republic. Kudelka was reassigned by the Ottawa Senators at the end of this season to their AHL affiliate in Binghamton where he was able to notch his first goal as a professional and three points (1G, 2A).

- Young defenseman Travis Bobbee brought home a Silver medal from the Canada Winter Games as a member of Team Manitoba. The native of Arborg, MB finished his rookie season with 10 points (5G, 5A) in 41 games.

- ‘Canes Captain Kris Hogg truly led by example this season. Hogg, posted a career high season in which he tallied 69 points. His 39 goals led the Hurricanes and tied for fourth amongst the league leaders. He remained in the WHL top ten for goals scored for nearly the entire season and was the team’s longest serving WHL veteran with 339 WHL regular season games in his career.

- Mitch Fadden was a sparkplug for the Hurricanes offence all season. Fadden earned WHL Player of the Week honors by recording seven goals and 12 points in four games. His back to back hat tricks against Regina and Brandon gave him three hat tricks for the month of January. His breakout year was also enough to earn him an invitation to the 2007 NHL draft combine. The combine is a gathering of the top 75 European and North American prospects for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. His 5 goal night March 17 vs. Red Deer earned him CHL player of the week honors proving his place on the top 75 list as no accident.

Team Arrivals this Season: Sam Huston (Moose Jaw), Nicolaus Knudsen, (Tri-Cities), Jesse Craig (Rookie), Todd Panchyson, (Saskatoon), Kyle Lamb (Vancouver), Drew Todd (Rookie), Derek Werenka, (Drumheller), Adam Chorneyko (Kamloops), Lucas Vantuch (Calgary), Josh Gionfriddo (Red Deer), Kyle Bailey (Portland), Mitch Versteeg (Rookie), Adam Matlock (Rookie), Travis Bobbee (Rookie), Michael Maniago, (Kamloops).

Departures: Colton Yellow Horn, (Tri Cities), Michael Kaye (Tri Cities), Mitch McColm (Tri Cities), Andrew Bentz (BCHL), Mike Wuchterl (Vancouver), Sam Huston (BCHL).

Next Season:

20 returning players with a strong group of 1990’s (5F, 3D, 1G). Also contending for a spot on the roster are three -1991 born players, including Carter Ashton from Saskatoon, son of former NHL winger Brent Ashton.