From Last to First

As of this current writing, the WHL season sees the Lethbridge Hurricanes as the top team in the WHL, standing three points clear of Kelowna. At this time last year, the Hurricanes were cleaning up the mess left behind from the Brad Robson/Drake Berehowsky era.

It was thought that when Peter Anholt took over as General Manager and head coach, the latter role relinquished prior to this season, things could only go up from there. Just how far they've gone up this season was not what anyone expected, as Anholt and Brent Kisio, who was Anholt's hand-picked coach, have put Lethbridge not only in position to end a playoff-free streak that has spawned three regimes, but also a chance to claim the Scotty Munro Trophy for best regular season. Having a +63 in goal differential this season in contrast to a -102 goal differential last season is a big part of it, but now, we're seeing what talent such as Giorgio Estephan, Tyler Wong, and Stuart Skinner can do when competent people behind the bench and in the front office are present.  It's a new day in Lethbridge, and they're not finished yet, as they could be a team that makes a deep playoff run even in a tough Central Division that features Calgary and Red Deer.