2008-09 Calgary Hitmen/WHL thread - Page 5 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Resolute 14 · 10-25-2008, 10:42 PM

Hitmen continue to roll... 5-2 win over the Hat. Now 10-2 against the Central Division. Its amazing to see how this team is completely running away from the rest of the division right now... 5 up on the second place Ice, with two games in hand.

Still early though, and at some point, Lethbridge is going to turn it up.

Elsewhere, sad to see that Portland remains as abysmal as ever.

FallingMeTook · 10-25-2008, 10:42 PM

It would be nice if the CHL used the updated logo in their Top Ten rankings, kind of strange to still see the pink in there.

Resolute 14 · 10-25-2008, 10:46 PM

lol! Never noticed that. The Hitmen haven't used that logo in 11 years either...

They also got our record wrong.

Ahh well, at least they finally replaced that embarrassing website design that was torn from the mid 1990s.

moon · 10-26-2008, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I know you are a real fan, moon, but given your own fan base's historical level of support, I'm not sure you should be trashing others as being bandwagoners.

I don't think Lethbridge are bandwagoners so much as overall crappy supporters. The attendence didn't rise all that much more for the play-offs last season. There was a bump but most of the city likely didn't know/care about what was going on.

Quote:

As far as the officiating goes, Chris Savage was one of the zebras. Given he missed an obvious penalty shot last night, it's kinda hard to argue his incompetence is deliberate.

Savage of course is likely the main culprit but it does get annoying watching Vancouver games over the past 3 years and seeing them consistently get the majority of the calls and not getting calls against them. I don't think it is the WHL think as that would be nuts but I do think that Hay intimidates the refs more than any other coach and that can effect the way the game is called at times.

Tonight was particularly frustrating as Van is obviously a good team and the Canes are down 2-0 early on because of two terrible calls within about 15 seconds. The first period was fairly even and yet the Canes are almost done against a top team because of stupid reffing.

I still think that Vancouver gets a bigger benefit from the refs than others but really should have focused my anger on Savage who is useless and terrible out there.

Resolute 14 · 10-26-2008, 12:20 PM

Well, if it was the WHL, I think both Calgary and Edmonton would be pissed that they aren't getting their large market favourtism.

Most WHL refs are young, so I can certainly see where the most intense coaches can pressure them.

604flames · 10-27-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

I can't wait until they get beat in the second round of the play-offs this year. I would feel bad for their fans but I am sure those bandwagoners won't really care at all.

But those of us who have been going since the 13-win inaugural season sure will.

disco_inferno · 10-27-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moon

I don't think Lethbridge are bandwagoners so much as overall crappy supporters. The attendence didn't rise all that much more for the play-offs last season. There was a bump but most of the city likely didn't know/care about what was going on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 604flames

But those of us who have been going since the 13-win inaugural season sure will.

i may not remember that season, but im a fan. every time i get home, i try to go to a 'canes game.

i remember back when their old/new team doctor's son played on the same minor team as me (in coaldale) and we got hurricanes to come out to practice with us. Brigley and Richie came one time, it was sweet. I remember doing a shoot out and lighting up our goalie (triple-deke, glove side style...being a big bumbling defenseman, this was a change).

moon · 10-27-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disco_inferno

i may not remember that season, but im a fan. every time i get home, i try to go to a 'canes game.

i remember back when their old/new team doctor's son played on the same minor team as me (in coaldale) and we got hurricanes to come out to practice with us. Brigley and Richie came one time, it was sweet. I remember doing a shoot out and lighting up our goalie (triple-deke, glove side style...being a big bumbling defenseman, this was a change).

604 is talking about the Giants first season in which they only had 13 wins.

604flames · 10-29-2008, 05:13 PM

Hitmen made a small deal today, sending defenceman Scott Maetche to Tri-City for a bantam pick in 2009.

Resolute 14 · 10-29-2008, 06:21 PM

Guess with all the rookies playing so well, Kisio felt he could stock up on picks.

Resolute 14 · 11-02-2008, 05:03 PM

Hitmen bounce back from a tough week in Saskatchewan to continue their dominance both at home, and against the Central, beating Medicine Hat 2-1.

Now 11-1 at home, and 11-2 vs. the division.

604flames · 11-02-2008, 08:46 PM

Giants still undefeated in regulation time.. Got my first look at Brandon last night. They have some big kids on D, goalie played well too but 45+ shots was too much for them, Giants won 4-3.

Resolute 14 · 11-03-2008, 08:52 AM

Man, does Vancouver plan on losing in regulation at any point?

Just another reason to hate the shootout - People would be talking about the Giants and the undefeated streak record if those three joke losses were properly called ties.

604flames · 11-03-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Man, does Vancouver plan on losing in regulation at any point?

They are really exceeding my expectations so far. Of course getting Jon Blum back really helps the back end and along with Schira, Berube and Regner it's a pretty veteran blue line.

Up front, Evander Kane has really found his niche alongside Pierro-Zabotel, and the team is getting goals from guys that needed to step up (Mike Piluso, Craig Cunningham to name a couple).

Both Euros (Fisenko + Kudrna) have had flashes of brilliance and work hard, although I will say it's nice to see some of the games here (Brandon, Tri-City, Prince Albert when they were here) getting a bit closer, 'cause when they win 7-1 and 10-2 against the Portlands and Seattles every weekend it gets a little stale.

btw I see my Ice are at the 'Dome tonight, enjoy if you plan on going.

Resolute 14 · 11-04-2008, 03:40 PM

I did.

12-1 at home now, and six points clear of the 2nd place Ice with three games in hand.

Resolute 14 · 11-05-2008, 05:48 PM

Hitmen moved up to #3 last week in the CHL top ten rankings, but after a couple losses, have slipped to #5 this week.

Vancouver is ranked #3, Swift Current #8 and Spokane #9.

http://www.chl.ca/fullstory.php?id=853

flamesdyehard · 11-06-2008, 01:11 AM

Husky Hitmen hockey on the Fan is great. Curle and Thrower are awesome, it is an absolute pleasure to listen to Curle call as game.

Resolute 14 · 11-07-2008, 10:09 PM

I like Curle, but I think Mark Stiles was better - if for no other reason that Curle's annoying habit of hitting puberty every time something happens.

Anyway, Hitmen continue to demolish the Central, beating Kootenay again, 5-2 in Cranbrook. Now eight up on Kootenay, and 13 up on Medicine Hat and Edmonton.

Calgary's about to hit a rough patch though. Lethbridge tomorrow, then four games in five nights on the road next week.

604flames · 11-09-2008, 02:41 AM

Giants swept PG up north this weekend, 5-2 tonight. They now sit at 14-0-0-3, though they've played a league-low 17 games.

Home-and-home against the Rockets Wed/Fri could be interesting, even though Kelowna didn't have much last time they were here.

Resolute 14 · 11-09-2008, 04:52 PM

Hitmen beat Lethbridge again, this time in a shootout. I *really* wish we had that kind of success against them last year.