Discussions

Calgary Hitmen: 1st in Eastern Conference, 48-7-3-1  
Top Scorers: Brandon Kozun (34+54=88), Brett Sonne (39+41=80), Kyle Bortis (21+51=72), Paul Postma (20+49=69)  
Top Defenceman: Postma (20+49=69)  
Probable starting goalie: Martin Jones (36-3-3-1, 2.17, .910)  
Manitobans: Carson McMillan (Brandon), Alex Plante (Brandon), Michael Stone (Winnipeg)  
 
Brandon Wheat Kings, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 38-15-3-1  
Top Scorers (active): Brayden Schenn (26+45=71), Jay Fehr (26+44=70), Andrew Clark (35+32=67), Matt Lowry (12+53=65)  
Top Defenceman: Colby Robak (10+24=34)  
Probable Starting Goalie: Andrew Hayes (24-8-2-0, 0.898, 3.03)  
 
First place watch: Wheat Kings trail Saskatoon by six points with a game in hand. The Blades are on the road in Medicine Hat tonight.  
 
Expect the closest you will have seen so far to a playoff game. A large crowd is expected and both teams are at the top of their games, having just one regulation loss between them over each team's past ten games (Calgary: 9-0-1, Brandon: 9-1-0). The Hitmen will be hot to avenge the Wheat Kings' recent 7-6 overtime win in Calgary.  
 
The Hitmen have a very outside shot at beating the Wheat Kings 1978-79 record of 125 points in a season. A Wheat King regulation win tonight would put an end to that possibility. That said, the bigger worry for the 78-79 WKs will be the Vancouver Giants.  
 
Over the last six games, the line of Matt Calvert (5G, 9A), Brayden Schenn (6G, 6A) and Mark Stone (6G, 7A) have been as hot as any line can be. Here's to hoping that trend continues, as Schenn has scored four of Brandon's nine goals against Calgary so far.  
 
I'll post scratches and lineups approx a half hour before puck drop.