Lethbridge Hurricanes 2013 2014 Season To Remember

New DRAKE BEREHOWSKY Culture INSTALLED!

The Lethbridge Hurricanes will have the greatest number of balls in the lottery drum giving them the greatest chance to win the opportunity for the first overall Bantam Draft pick in 2014.

2013-14 Regular Season - Final Standings 

Rank	Eastern Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	STK	P10	PIM
1	y * - Edmonton Oil Kings	72	50	19	2	1	103	0.715	290	179	0-1-0-0	6-4-0-0	1191
2	x * - Regina Pats	72	39	26	4	3	85	0.590	257	247	0-1-1-0	5-4-1-0	1240
3	x Calgary Hitmen	72	48	17	3	4	103	0.715	287	207	4-0-0-0	7-2-0-1	1082
4	x Medicine Hat Tigers	72	44	24	3	1	92	0.639	260	196	2-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	906
5	x Swift Current Broncos	72	38	25	3	6	85	0.590	248	229	4-0-0-0	8-1-1-0	1016
6	x Kootenay Ice	72	39	28	2	3	83	0.576	235	209	0-3-0-1	4-5-0-1	826
7	x Brandon Wheat Kings	72	34	29	6	3	77	0.535	271	269	3-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	876
8	Red Deer Rebels	72	35	32	1	4	75	0.521	214	224	1-0-0-0	6-3-0-1	1144
9	Prince Albert Raiders	72	35	32	3	2	75	0.521	243	258	2-0-0-0	6-3-1-0	824
10	Moose Jaw Warriors	72	21	42	3	6	51	0.354	202	283	0-2-0-0	5-5-0-0	1236
11	Saskatoon Blades	72	16	51	2	3	37	0.257	207	317	0-12-0-0	0-10-0-0	984
12	Lethbridge Hurricanes	72	12	55	2	3	29	0.201	171	358	0-14-0-0	0-10-0-0	1372
Rank	Western Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	SL	PTS	PCT	GF	GA	STK	P10	PIM
1	y * - Kelowna Rockets	72	57	11	0	4	118	0.819	310	182	3-0-0-0	8-2-0-0	1094
2	x * - Portland Winterhawks	72	54	13	2	3	113	0.785	338	207	7-0-0-0	9-1-0-0	1194
3	x Victoria Royals	72	48	20	1	3	100	0.694	238	181	0-3-0-0	6-4-0-0	1003
4	x Seattle Thunderbirds	72	41	25	2	4	88	0.611	238	249	1-0-0-0	4-6-0-0	1315
5	x Everett Silvertips	72	39	23	7	3	88	0.611	218	206	11-0-0-2	9-0-0-1	816
6	x Spokane Chiefs	72	40	26	3	3	86	0.597	244	213	0-1-0-0	5-5-0-0	1166
7	x Vancouver Giants	72	32	29	7	4	75	0.521	234	248	0-2-0-0	3-6-0-1	1138
8	x Tri-City Americans	72	29	33	4	6	68	0.472	178	224	0-1-0-0	2-5-1-2	1055
9	Prince George Cougars	72	27	37	3	5	62	0.431	238	305	1-0-0-0	2-8-0-0	1139
10	Kamloops Blazers	72	14	53	2	3	33	0.229	175	305	0-1-0-0	1-9-0-0	1044

I thought that the Canes would have had a better effort against their most hated rival in their last game of this record setting season.  So much disappointment all year.  Maybe because of this I expected that every one of the players would have felt motivated; that despite their "record setting season," some sort of small consolation and redemption was available with a win.  I guess, understandably, their lack of confidence overshadows their competitive natures and desire to win.

 We might have found our Highway 3 opponent less willing to compete and risk injury in a meaningless pre-playoff match if the Canes played more physically.  We didn't go to the net hard.  The guys seemed to start the game expecting and willing to lose.   I looked at the bench and saw no motivational coaching.  

 I looked to the play of the guys playing their final WHL game and expected to see more from them also.  Many guys made good selfless team plays, but a few individuals still played selfishly; a disappointing effort falling way short, overall.

 To me, it looked like Wong, Khenkel, Sayers, & Hackman played their hardest for sixty,  but no other player (for me) played to his capabilities, for the logo, or for the fans.  The score reflected this against a coach and players that prefer and expect to win.

 The "skate through" centre ice with sticks in the air was a pretty good indication of how little the fan support (or lack of) has meant to the team this year.

It was nice to see Khenkel physically get the best of Doty a couple of times (Though, too bad Folk wasn't dressed to send the neanderthal into the playoffs with a broken nose; which is what it looked like Doty was cowardly trying to give to Tyler Wong).

It is truly impressive to me that Lenny played all 72 games (again) this year, that he played as much as he did within the Drake's brutal systems which predestined all players and team for failure, yet he came out at only minus-24 in this pathetic 12 win season.  It may seem sarcastic, but that is 60/72 games that the Canes LOST, many of these by many goals, yet this player that played EVERY game, on AVERAGE, was only -1 every THIRD game!!  TREMENDOUS  personal performance amidst complete team concept failure... All with no fanfare, and very little recognition or press until winning the well deserved Top Defenceman award tonight! Congrats LENNY, and THANK YOU for your HARD WORK!

When you scan the roster comparatives and consider the ice time he has logged, Hackman's 72 game amazing achievement is accentuated.

Drake left the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL after his first year as a Head Coach and after he cultured them to the second worst record in their Conference.  For reasons known to only the (unqualified) Board and (rookie GM) Robson, he was hired and signed to a three year contract to lead the team in a season that the Hurricanes absolutely needed to make the playoffs to prevent losing money (again).  (Incidentally, this first season after Drake left the team, with two games in hand, the ORLANDO SOLAR BEARS are currently only 3 points out of first place in their conference - It would appear that the "activation" of the "Culture Change" only occurs AFTER Drake LEAVES the organization)

He arrived in Lethbridge and told us he was going to be creating a new winning culture here and competing for a spot in the Memorial Cup.  He told us that our new brand of hockey was going to be fast, exciting, and that we were going to be competitive every game. 

I must have missed the part of the interview where he revealed that he was going to redefine FAILURE and obliterate the previous 16 win season with his 46 year old franchise record setting 12 win entry.  Now THAT is Culture Change!

The pre-season looked hopeful.  Some initial success in the games that didn't matter.  We saw what appeared to be in-game teaching.  We saw "hand on shoulder" what appeared to be positive feedback.  As a hopeful fan, it was unfamiliar and promising.

 Then the REAL season started, and the fluff appeared.

 The glass never saw so many pucks.  The Canes set records for number of icing calls.  "Off the Glass" was no longer a last choice option, it was the plan.  For most of the year, this was the ONLY distinguishing feature of the "Drake's system," and it became quickly apparent that every opponent new what to do to counter it effectively.

 Under his new Culture and "teaching," the team started the season 2-12 (They got the two wins BEFORE players fully understood how to play the systems properly).  They had players leave the team in understandable frustration, other players demand trades, still others left their favourite lifetime pursuit of hockey entirely for school mid-season.  Drake's system must be the most difficult LEARNING CURVE in hockey.    I offer that with 12 wins to show for it, it is clearly  not a system worth learning.  If it is SO difficult to learn, it does not suit the careers of junior hockey players.  Even after replacing all but 7 players from last year with his choices,  the team got worse as their record of 0-14 proves undeniably.

 Q:  How do you instill a "winning culture," then turn a 28-win roster into a 12-win one?   [A:  You hire Drake Berehowsky]

 Even more ridiculous, is the fact that the GM and the board supported their man through to the end.  Their man NOT ONCE took a bit of blame for the utter failure this year produced.  He instead held steadfast to the players being at fault for not "sticking to the systems for sixty minutes."  He also wrote a nice letter to the Lethbridge Herarld thanking the fans for their patience as he continues to find the solutions.

 Board, GM, Head Coach - All CONVINCED we are on the right track.  The only guy that seemed to recognise the train wreck as it was on one rail (Brad Lukowich) was "terminated with cause."  .... Which, in hindsight could be paraphrased to say, "terminated, 'cause he wanted to be better, and challenged the leadership to rethink their course."

 "We were going to play .500 hockey for the remainder of the season" - It was just going to start next game.  Next game.  Next game.

 "Accountability" was the pre-season buzz word.

 We finished the season 0-14.  (Despite whatever useless sixth dimension metrics HE is using, the team didn't get better, things are clearly NOT improving under Drake Berehowsky. 0-14 tells a pretty clear story).

We finished in the STANDINGS as the worst team in the 22 team league.

In 2013-14, we learned how Drake Berehowsky defines "Exciting, competitive, hockey every game."

All that remains is how he defines, "ACCOUNTABLE."

Not that you asked, but here is my definition.

ACCOUNTABLE = BOARD RESIGNATION (For hiring 2 unproven leaders in a critical season for the organization)

ACCOUNTABLE = ROBSON RESIGNATION (For hiring a losing Head Coach, and for inept season-long player/coach conflict management)

ACCOUNTABLE = DRAKE RESIGNATION (12-60) - Be realistic, Drake.  If you want to coach at all at this level, you should have learned this past TWO seasons that you are not ready  (Consider some additional assistant coaching under a strong and competent leader to develop your extremely weak system and motivational skills?) 

ACCOUNTABLE = Heckler's Row didn't heckle enough

ACCOUNTABLE = Me.  I didn't CHEER loudly enough and I didn't seek out the players EVER to congratulate them for personal successes, nor did I ever ENCOURAGE them privately to continue to strive for their best.  I got what I deserved; to finish the season as a fan without playoff hockey and to be a fan of the team with the WORST record in the league.