POKERTHUMB

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club will have 1996-born defenseman Andrew Nielsen back as they kick off the 2015-2016 regular season on Friday after the Toronto Maple Leafs re-assigned the sophomore rearguard.

Nielsen, who hails from Red Deer, Alberta, was selected in the third round, 65th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Maple Leafs. As an 18-year-old rookie last year, the undrafted Nielsen put up 24 points (7g-17a) along with 101 penalty minutes in 59 games.

Nielsen played in one pre-season game with the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night as Toronto defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in overtime. Nielsen logged 14:22of ice time while going a minus-1 in the game.

The Hurricanes will open the 2015-2016 regular season on Friday night when they welcome the Medicine Hat Tigers at the ENMAX Centre in the Dairy Queen Home Opener. There will be a tailgate party beginning at 5:00pm with a by donation Bar-B-Que providing burgers and water courtesy of Mr. Mikes SteakhouseCasual – all proceeds of the BBQ will go to the United Way.

Individual game tickets and flex packs for the 2015-2016 season are now available by calling (403) 329-SEAT. Tickets for the Home Opener are also available at any Dairy Queen location in Lethbridge.

Catch up on all the latest on the Lethbridge Hurricanes by visiting the team’s website at www.lethbridgehurricanes.com, and/or follow on Twitter @WHLHurricanes.