Discussions

The matchup is now set and series schedule released... the Wheat Kings get a chance to avenge last year's 4-0 Hitmen sweep in the Eastern Conference finals.  
 
Brandon in my opinion is a very different team coming into this series compared to last year's club that had an easy road to the conference finals. They're battle-tested and the Blades gave them just enough adversity to force them to get better.  
 
Calgary has had a bit of different playoff run than expected, having nearly lost to the Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round and then coming within a bounce of going to seven games with the Medicine Hat Tigers.  
 
Although the Wheat Kings went 3-0-1 in the regular season series, one shouldn't be fooled into taking a Hitmen team that finished first overall in the WHL very lightly. Calgary of course made a number of moves at the trade deadline and took a while to gel before finishing the regular season on fire. They are blessed with top-end players are all positions, not the least of which are WHL scoring champ Brandon Kozun and all-star defenceman Michael Stone.  
 
SEASON SERIES TOP SCORERS  
 
CALGARY  
Kris Foucault (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points)  
Tyler Shattock (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points)  
Ben Wilson (0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points)  
Cody Gross (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points)  
 
BRANDON  
Scott Glennie (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points)  
Matt Calvert (5 goals, 1 assist, 6 points)  
Brayden Schenn (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points)  
Jay Fehr (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points)  
 
SEASON SERIES GOALIES  
CALGARY  
Michael Snider (1-0-0, 2.77 goals against avg, 0.909 save pct)  
Martin Jones (0-3-0, 4.77 goals against avg, 0.851 save pct)  
 
BRANDON  
Andrew Hayes (1-0-1, 2.40 goals against avg, 0.918 save pct)  
Jacob De Serres (2-0-0, 2.50 goals against avg, 0.912 save pct)  
 
SEASON SERIES GAME-BY-GAME  
 
Oct. 7: Calgary 4 @ Wheat Kings 3 (shootout)  
http://whl.ca/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1006213  
 
Nov. 20: Calgary 2 @ Wheat Kings 5  
http://whl.ca/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1006408  
 
Jan. 29: Wheat Kings 6 @ Calgary 3  
http://whl.ca/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1006698  
 
Feb. 15: Wheat Kings 4 @ Calgary 2  
http://whl.ca/stats/official-game-report.php?game_id=1006789  
 
VARIOUS COMMENTARY & FACTS  
 
- All eyes will be on goaltending in this series (aren't they always this late in the playoffs). In this case, the Wheat Kings have have had Calgary goalie Martin Jones' number in 09-10. Per above, Jones is 0-3 with some pretty unspectacular numbers in those games. Brandon didn't hesitate to switch goalies last series when either Jacob De Serres or Andrew Hayes had so-so starts, so the pressure will likely be every bit as much on them to perform. Brandon may also have the advantage in that neither of their goalies should be tired.. whereas Jones has played a lot of hockey already this year.  
- If the regular season was any indicator, expect the lion's share of scoring in this series to be done in the second and third periods. Out of 28 total goals scored by both teams in the four games, just five were scored in the first period compared to 12 in the 2nd and 11 in the 3rd. Not surprisingly, three of the four games were tied after one period before being decided in later periods.  
- Special teams as always wll be key. During the season series, Matt Calvert had two shorthanded goals in the four games, while the Wheat Kings only held the league-leading Hitmen powerplay (29%) to just three goals. The Wheat King powerplay took some heat during the season for at times performing a little below expectations, but it's worth noting that they have the best playoff powerplay of all remaining teams, clicking so far at a 30% rate.  
- Wheat King defenceman Alexander Urbom has started to forge a bit of a reputation as a big game player in the playoffs, with two game winners and another very big goal to his credit over the first two rounds. He was also a key player in the season series between these two teams, finishing second out of all players with three goals.  
 
SERIES SCHEDULE  
 
Game 1 - Brandon @ Calgary: Friday, April 16 (7:00pm MT)  
Game 2 - Brandon @ Calgary: Saturday, April 17 (7:00pm MT)  
Game 3 - Calgary @ Brandon: Tuesday, April 20 (7:00pm CT)  
Game 4 - Calgary @ Brandon: Wednesday, April 21 (7:00pm CT)  
Game 5 - Brandon @ Calgary: Friday, April 23 (7:00pm MT)**  
Game 6 - Calgary @ Brandon: Sunday, April 25 (6:00pm CT)**  
Game 7 - Brandon @ Calgary: Tuesday, April 27 (7:00pm MT)**  
** - if necessary