Links - Lethbridge Hurricanes - North River Minor Hockey Association

Lethbridge HurricanesHome News News ArchiveHurricanes Member StatementSchedule Tickets ATCO Gas Community CornerHurricanes Fundraising Merchandise Board Committee DutiesContact Us HistoryThe Lethbridge Hurricanes compete in the Eastern Conference (Central Division) of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and play their home games at the ENMAX CentreThe Hurricanes may be entering their 24th season in the Western Hockey League (WHL) but the 20092010 season is the 43nd for the franchise The franchise began in Winnipeg in the 1967 season known as the Winnipeg Jets The franchise stayed in Winnipeg until the conclusion of the 19761977 season Prior to the 19731974 season the team name changed to the Winnipeg Clubs They were known as the Clubs until the 19761977 season their last season in Winnipeg until they changed their name to the Winnipeg MonarchsFollowing the 19761977 season the franchise relocated to Calgary where they became the Calgary Wranglers The franchise moved prior to the 197778 season to Calgary to replace the Calgary Centennials who became the Billings Bighorns The Wranglers played at the Stampede Corral for the next 10 seasons before relocating to their current home in Lethbridge as the Hurricanes The Hurricanes first season in Lethbridge was in 19871988 seasonAlthough the Hurricanes were new in Lethbridge it was not the first WHL franchise to call Lethbridge their home The Swift Current Broncos moved to Lethbridge where they were known as the Lethbridge Broncos from 1974 to 1986 The Broncos franchise relocated to Swift Current leaving Lethbridge without a WHL team However it only took one season until Lethbridge received the HurricanesAlthough the Hurricanes missed the playoffs in their first season in Lethbridge the Canes managed their first playoff series win against the Prince Albert Raiders in the 1989 playoffs They were eliminated by the Saskatoon Blades in the East Division SemiFinalThe Hurricanes used their momentum from the playoffs the next season as they won their first division title in franchise history The Hurricanes marched to the league championship series but were eliminated in the final by the Kamloops Blazers in the 1990 playoffsAfter winning the East Division for the second consecutive season the Hurricanes once again stormed through the playoffs to the WHL championship series Unfortunately the end result of this series was much the same as the previous season as the Canes were swept by the Spokane ChiefsThe Hurricanes made the playoffs five of the next six seasons before making their first run at the Memorial Cup The 19961997 Hurricanes won their first WHL championship with series victories over the Prince Albert Raiders the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Red Deer Rebels before sweeping the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL finalThe 1997 Memorial Cup tournament was the first in franchise history The Canes first game of the tournament was on May 11 1...