Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663
Game day thread: Calgary Hitmen @ Wheat Kings, 7:30 PM
11/19/2010 at 4:10 PM
Calgary Hitmen (4-15-1-0, last in Eastern Conference)
Top scorers: Justin Kirsh (9 goals, 4 assists, 13 points), Nathan MacMaster (5+8=13), Cody Sylvester (5+6=11), Danny Gayle (3+7=10)
Top scoring defenceman: Ben Wilson (1+7=8)
Probable starting goalie: The Hitmen have been splitting time between Michael Snider and rookie Juraj Holly. They've also recently acquired Brandon Glover from Moose Jaw who has yet to play a game this season. I'm not 100% clear of whether or not that's because of injury, but I'll guess that it's Holly's (1-5-0, 3.92 goals against average, 0.872 save pct) turn tonight.
Manitobans: John Lawrence (Newdale),
Brandon Wheat Kings (11-12-0-1, Tie-6th in Eastern Conference)
Top scorers: Mark Stone (14 goals, 16 assists, 30 points), Scott Glennie (5+20=25), Shayne Wiebe (12+8=20), Brodie Melnychuk (3+14=17)
Top scoring defenceman: Melnychuk (3+14=17)
Probable starting goalie: Going to guess that with the Hitmen being in last place, Corbin Boes (0-4-0, 4.53 goals against average, 0.864 save pct) will get the call tonight.
A matchup that many Wheat King and Hitmen fans have had circled on the calendar since the start of the season takes place tonight at Westman Place. The game is of course the first between these two teams since Brandon's memorable Memorial Cup semi-final overtime win over the Hitmen in May.
Both teams have had substantial turnover since that game, including Calgary's recent acquisition of Nathan MacMaster, Danny Gayle and Brandon Glover this past week. Still each team has enough carry-overs from last night to no doubt make this more meaningful than your average game.
Calgary has been feeling their roster turnover a little more than the Wheat Kings, having gone from last year's WHL championship to currently being the last overall team in the WHL with a real uphill climb to get into playoff position.
I'll have scratches and lineups 30-45 minutes before game time. It would be great as always to hear others' thoughts on the matchup pre and post-game