2007-08 Calgary Hitmen / WHL thread

[Resolute 14]

Yup, and apparently the city is jamming them on the lease too. They claimed to have lost $750,000 last year.

[Resolute 14]

The Hitmen with the predictable ass kicking against Portland tonight. 6-0 win, and a franchise record 65 shots. Coulda been more, as we hit the post three times. Very, very poor sportsmanship from the Winterhawks as well, as they threw two separate cheapshots on guys celebrating goals.

[604flames]

^^ I get to see Portland a bit more frequently than you eastern guys, and man it is sad to see what is going on down there.

5-6 years ago, you used to see lots of red at the Coliseum when the Winter Hawks were in town (same with Tri-City too actually), and they used to always get solid crowds and had a fun team to watch. Now, the only time they seem to draw anybody is when Seattle is down there, and they just haven't found a way to build following the years when they had guys like Morrow, Ference, Standish, Labarbera, the Hossas, Balej and Gaustad.

[Resolute 14]

And the sad part is, there wasn't a single kid that really stood out as someone who will be something. Of course, that was only one game against one of the best teams in the league, but hopefully there is some kind of future there amongst the younger players they have.

[604flames]

^^ Kurtis Mucha, their starter in goal is decent, but his GAA is the pits 'cause he faces way too much rubber.

[604flames]

Ice @ Hitmen tonight, Shaw will be showing it live at 7:00 MT. Should be a dandy.

[Resolute 14]

And the return matchup in Cranbrook tomorrow. Big series for both teams.

We'll try and make sure you hear the "Kootenay Sucks" chant loud and clear through the T.V., 604.

[Flickered Flame]

Hitmen win 5-1 tonight and the game was basically over just 4 minutes into the game when it was already 3-0 Hitmen.

[Resolute 14]

That five on three kill shortly after going up 3-0 is what ended tonights game. Great, great kill. Both teams pretty much took the third period off to rest up for tomorrow.

[604flames]

Tough night for the Ice, they just didn't look too prepared to play the game tonight. Lazaruk looked lost, they said on the broadcast that he wasn't sure he'd even be playing tonight, as he had been out the last couple weeks with a groin injury. Heemskerk has really been playing well by all accounts and looked decent tonight. Also, word is that Ben Maxwell could finally be back this weekend, which would be a huge lift up front.

I was REALLY impressed with Calgary's depth and dominance in the offensive zone too. They look a lot stronger than the previous few times I have seen them play, and certainly look full marks for their spot in the standings.

Giants have Lethbridge in town tomorrow, doubt I'll be going 'cause I'm kinda on the shelf.. Kootenay is down next weekend, Friday in Chilliwack and Saturday here.

Next Shaw game: Vancouver @ Chilliwack, Friday at 8:00 MT.


EDIT: Resolute I could hear it alright, but honestly I kinda think it's funny, especially when you guys do it against, say, Swifty.

[Resolute 14]

I have no idea how or why that chant got locked in as Kootenay on every game, but I think it is even more hilarious that way. Especially given the confused looks you see on the, say, Swift Current players, when we're chanting about how Kootenay sucks.

And yeah, the Hitmen forecheck and cycle the puck in the offensive zone as well as any team I've seen in the Dub in a while. But those really fast teams can still mess us up.

[604flames]

Ok I think Calgary officially has the Ice's number home and away this year...

Elsewhere, Michal Repik is back (finally!) for the Giants, there was a good read in the Sun today about how he has only ever seen the replay of the hit once, and how he was worried about his health.

[Resolute 14]

Man, it's nice to see Lethbridge finally lose. And yeah, the Hitmen taking it to Kootenay is also great after a few years of it generally going the other way.

Hitmen are back up to 3rd in the nation. Spokane 2nd, Vancouver 6th and Tri-Cities 7th.

[Resolute 14]

And Edmonton loses again, this time 4-0 to the Hitmen. Magic number to clinch a playoff spot is now 1. Regina finally lost too.

80 points now, temporarily the top team in the league by points.

[Resolute 14]

Hitmen clinch a playoff spot tonight with a 4-1 win in Medicine Hat. Now 11 points up on Regina and Lethbridge for the conference and division leads respectively.

I wasn't sure that the Nixon trade was all that smart given we already had a lot of offence, and I don't like dealing d-men, but can't really argue with eight goals and 19 points in 13 games since he was acquired.

Nice to see the Rebels take the Pats out for us tonight.


Portland shut out for the 9th time tonight. 55 games in, and they are at only 98 goals. I can't think of a team that's been worse in recent memory. Seems to be worth watching: The WHL record for fewest goals in a season is Swift Current at 135 in 04-05. With 17 games left, the Winter Hawks have to score 38 goals, or 2.24 per game - or they have to score a half goal better than their current average.

[Sylvanfan]

Man thats crazy. Having lived in Kamloops at the end of the 80's and the early to mid 90's the WinterHawks were the Blazers biggest rival. When the Blazers had a stretch of like 13 consecutive years making the West Division final more often than not Portland was the team they played in that series or ran into to get to that series. Now both teams have become horrible franchises....sigh.

[604flames]

The kid in goal for Portland apparently made 68 saves tonight, Seattle beat them 4-0 (with an EN goal), and outshot them 30-3 in the second period.

EDIT: I might add that all the goals were scored in the third period too.

[Resolute 14]

Good god, I never even checked the box score. 72 shots for Seattle, barely a week after Calgary hung 65 on them.

It was their backup, Jordan White, who played last night. Their starter, Kurtis Macha, called out his team just before the Calgary game... said some players didn't belong in the Dub, and others thought they were better than they really are.

[604flames]

^^ They come here next Friday, you gotta figure the Giants will pepper them with another 60 or so too.

[Resolute 14]

Didn't have to wait until Friday. The Giants are laying the wood to Portland tonight. 7-2, and shots are 60-15 with about 3 minutes left.

Don't blame them after this season, but attendance is only 2200 tonight.