Former Vernon Vipers forward Brent Kisio & former Vernon Lakers/Vipers defenceman Josh MacNevin and the Western Hockey League Lethbridge Hurricanes advance to the Eastern Conference Finals after a 3-0 victory over the visiting Brandon Wheat Kings Friday in Lethbridge. With the win the Hurricanes won the best of seven series 4-1.
Kisio is in his third season with the Hurricanes, also coached at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2017 Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that won the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup in August.
In his first season with the Hurricanes, Kisio led the team to a 46-24-1-1 record, helping the team back to the post-season after a six year absence. Kisio also led the Hurricanes to their first Central Division Championship since 1996-1997 while being named the Eastern Conference’s nominee for Coach of the Year. Kisio guided the Huricanes last season to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference with a (44-21-4-3) regular season record. Kisio & the Hurricanes sit 2nd in the Central Division this year with a 26-24-6-0 record.
Kisio was an Assistant, Associate Coach & Assistant General Manager for eight seasons with the Western Hockey League (WHL) Calgary Hitmen before being named the Lethbridge Hurricanes Head Coach June 4th 2015.
Kisio played one season in Vernon (2002-2003) The Vipers acquired Kisio in August 2002 in a trade with the Alberta Junior Hockey League Ft. McMurray Oil Barons. In 59 regular season games with the Vipers Kisio collected (20-goals-46-assists-66-points).
Brent Kisio's Player-Coaches Profile:
MacNevin is in his third season with the Hurricanes after retiring from professional hockey in 2013.
After playing four years at Providence College, MacNevin spent parts of the next three seasons (2000-2002) playing in the ECHL & WCHL before spending the next twelve years playing overseas. From 2001-2013 MacNevin played with nine different teams (Fassa, EK Zell am See, Eisbaren Regensburg, ERC Ingolstadt, Vaxjo Lakers HC, HPK, AIK, SaiPa & TPS) in seven different leagues (Italy, Austria 2, Germany 2, DEL, Allsvenskan, Liiga & SHL). MacNevin retired from hockey after the 2012-13 season spent the 2013-14 season as an Assistant Coach with the University of Lethbridge before joining the Hurricanes in 2015.
MacNevin played two years in Vernon, one with the 1994-95 Vernon Lakers before finishing his final year of junior hockey winning a Royal Bank Cup with the 1995-96 Vernon Vipers. In 107 games with the Lakers/Vipers MacNevin collected (15-goals-63-assists-78-points). MacNevin was drafted 101 overall in Round 4 at the 1996 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
Josh MacNevins Player Profile:
This is posted on the Hurricanes website:
Hurricanes Advance to East Final
April 13, 2018
Brad Morrison Logan Barlage Logan Flodell
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes booked their ticket to the Eastern Conference Championship Series with a 3-0 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday in front of a sellout crowd at the ENMAX Centre.
The Hurricanes had a great opening shift in the hockey game but weren’t able to solve Dylan Myskiw in the first thirty seconds of the game. The ‘Canes had an early power play opportunity and once again failed to find the net. Brandon received a power play chance shortly thereafter and Taylor Ross would get away on a breakaway before being hauled down resulting in a penalty shot; Ross would be stopped. However, on the same penalty kill Brad Morrison continued to roll as he sniped home a shorthanded goal on a breakaway at the 10:09 mark to make it 1-0 Lethbridge; Jordy Bellerive and Ty Prefontaine earned the helpers. Shots were even at 11-11 after twenty minutes of play.
The ‘Canes continued to push in the second period as they had a plethora of chances to build on their lead but Myskiw stood tall. The ‘Canes eventually added to their lead as Logan Barlage snapped home his fourth of the post-season and third in as many games to make it 2-0 with a power play tally at the 10:53 mark; Tate Olson and Jake Elmer earned the assists. Brandon outshot Lethbridge 12-10 in the second period.
Brandon pushed hard in the third period in hopes of a getting on the board but failed to do so. Logan Flodell made countless great saves to keep the Hurricanes ahead by two. The Wheat Kings pulled the goaltender Myskiw with two minutes left as a last ditch effort to mount a comeback but Morrison rounded out the scoring with an empty net goal to make it 3-0 Lethbridge with 6.3 seconds left.
The shots were tied 9-9 in the third period while Brandon outshot Lethbridge 32-30 in the game. The ‘Canes went 1/4 with the power play while the Wheat Kings were 0/3.
Three stars of the game were the Brandon three overagers:
1) Wheat Kings – #32 James Shearer
2) Wheat Kings – # 25 Evan Weinger
3) Wheat Kings – #1 Logan Thompson
The win for the Hurricanes advances them to the Eastern Conference Championship Series for the second straight season as they will face either the Moose Jaw Warriors or the Swift Current Broncos.
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