Game day thread: Calgary at Wheat Kings, 7:30 PM
11/14/2008 at 10:38 AM
Calgary Hitmen: 1st in Eastern Conference, 19-4-1-0
Top Scorers: Brett Sonne (11+23=34), Brandon Kozun (17+14=31), Kyle Bortis (11+15=26), Carson McMillan (10+10=20)
Probable starting goalie: Martin Jones, 12-2-1, 1.99, 0.918.
Manitobans: Carson McMillan (Brandon), Brendan Rowinski (Winnipeg), Alex Plante (Brandon), Michael Stone (Winnipeg)
Brandon Wheat Kings, 7th in Eastern Conference, 12-7-1-0
Top Scorers: Jay Fehr (7+16=23), Brayden Schenn (9+11=20), Scott Glennie (8+11=19), Matt Calvert (7+11=18)
Probable Starting Goalie: Andrew Hayes, 7-4-1, 3.30, 0.891.
* * * * * * * *
After losing three of their top four scorers as well as all-star defenceman Karl Alzner, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Calgary. Thanks to the emergence of a number of players as legitimate WHL scoring threats and the stepping up of a number of defencemen the Hitmen come into tonight's game as the league's top team with 39 points. Not only that but they lead the Eastern Conference in goals scored (95) and have given up the least amount (51)!
Brandonite Alex Plante appears to be back in form after an injury plagued 07-08 season. Plante has 12 points in 20 games, compared to just two in 36 games last season. Plante is part of what appears to be an active group of defenceman, with Paul Postma (19 points), Michael Stone (17 points) and Keith Seabrook (12 points) all racking up more than the average amount of points from the blueline.
With three other Manitobans in their lineup, expect another boistrous Calgary cheering section.
Martin Jones is now Calgary's starting goalie. His 1.99 GAA and 0.918 save percentage are among the best in the league. We'll find out tonight, but I suspect those numbers are somewhat of a reflection of the system played by the team in front of him.
I will post scratches and line combos approx 45 minutes before game time and pics after the game.
Here's the Luber's Lounge preview:
http://luberslounge.blogspot.com/2008/11/wheat-kings-host-hitmen-friday.html