2008-09 Calgary Hitmen/WHL thread - Page 16 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

604flames · 02-07-2009, 09:18 AM

I think Lethbridge knew what they were getting when they picked Beach up. And yes good on Boychuk for grabbing his arm right away. Looking back at that third period, yes you can blame the 'Canes D ('cause Greg Scott and Prab Rai were wide open way too often, I think Sbisa needs to catch up after being a healthy scratch for so long), but I would also argue that Beach's antics definitely motivated the T-Birds and helped bring about that comeback.

Hopefully for the 'Canes he doesn't do anything stupid tonight in Everett, hearing the comments from 'Tips coach John Becanic earlier this week it sounds as if the Silvertips players almost expect something goofy to happen.

Flickered Flame · 02-08-2009, 08:47 PM

The Hitmen get 2 goals 29 seconds apart in the 3rd to beat the Ice 4-2. Paul Postma set 3 franchise records tonight. First, he becomes the first Hitmen dman to score 20 goals in one season, two, he becomes the first Hitmen dman to score a goal in 5 straight game, and 3, with his 20th goal of the season he becomes the 7th Hitmen this season to score at least 20 goals this year which is also a franchise record. Not too mention, his point streak is now at 13 games.

FallingMeTook · 02-09-2009, 12:22 AM

Vancouver lost in Seattle, falling 4-3 to the Thunderbirds, with Canadian World Junior captain Thomas Hickey potting 2 goals in the win.

Resolute 14 · 02-09-2009, 10:32 AM

Surprising loss for Vancouver. The way that game started, I was expecting a 10-7 result. Both teams really tightened up defensively after the first.

Glad we beat Kootenay last night, but they are the one team that worries me in the playoffs. Trying to play the Ice is like trying to skate through quicksand. As it was, even though the Hitmen started to take control of the game early in the 2nd, it was starting to look like one of those games where you should win, but end up losing because of one good shot/chance for the other team. The boys pulled it out, however.

Tomorrow's game should be a good one.

604flames · 02-09-2009, 05:25 PM

Let's not forget, the T-Birds should find out in the next few days whether or not they get Oscar Moller back from LA.

Flickered Flame · 02-10-2009, 09:17 PM

No contest at the Dome tonight. The Hitmen outshoot the Blazers 59-17 and score 8 times. They probably could have had more but didn't score in the first despite having 23 shots on goal in the first period. 8 goals by 7 different players as this team continues to get offence from everyone. Paul Postma had 4 assists to extend his point streak to 14 games. I believe it is just the 4th time in Hitmen history that they reach the 100 point plateau.

FallingMeTook · 02-11-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

No contest at the Dome tonight. The Hitmen outshoot the Blazers 59-17 and score 8 times. They probably could have had more but didn't score in the first despite having 23 shots on goal in the first period. 8 goals by 7 different players as this team continues to get offence from everyone. Paul Postma had 4 assists to extend his point streak to 14 games. I believe it is just the 4th time in Hitmen history that they reach the 100 point plateau.

Apparently, it also tied the team record for least number of games to reach 100 points.

If the Hitmen continue their pace and finish the last 13 games at 11 and 2 or better, they will set the team records for most wins in a season and best record in a season, finishing (59-9-3-1) for 122 points, surpassing the 99-00 team record of (58-12-2) for 120 points (2 overtime losses).

This could be the most succesful regular season in team history, especially when one factors in all the individual and team records that are falling. As Brad Curle said though, let's hope the playoffs continue the success.

http://www.hitmenhockey.com/cgi-bin/...num=0000000940

FallingMeTook · 02-11-2009, 10:44 AM

The Hitmen jump back to 2nd overall in the CHL, knocking Vancouver back into 3rd, with Windsor holding on to 1st. Two other WHL Eastern conference teams also make the rankings, with Saskatoon jumping up to 7th overall, and Brandon entering into the 10th overall spot.

Resolute 14 · 02-11-2009, 10:53 AM

The Hitmen went 58-10-2-2 for 120 points in 1999-00. Not at all sure why they rolled OTLs into the loss column on their page.

They are also looking good to top 300 goals for the third time in team history (50GF in 13 games to break the team record might be a stretch), and have an outside chance of beating the team record for fewest goals against of 155.

FallingMeTook · 02-11-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The Hitmen went 58-10-2-2 for 120 points in 1999-00. Not at all sure why they rolled OTLs into the loss column on their page.

They are also looking good to top 300 goals for the third time in team history (50GF in 13 games to break the team record might be a stretch), and have an outside chance of beating the team record for fewest goals against of 155.

Thank you for the confirmation. I was looking at it for a good five minutes trying to figure out where the extra two points came from before giving in and checking Wikipedia to find the two overtime loss points.

West Karma · 02-11-2009, 03:32 PM

nm

604flames · 02-11-2009, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by West Karma

http://kings.nhl.com/team/app/?servi...ticleid=408850

Oscar is back with the big club!!

You going to the game tonight? Bruins/Giants

RW

I'm coaching tonight unfortunately, I will be there on Saturday.

EDIT: and likely out your way Mar. 1 now that I think of it.

FallingMeTook · 02-13-2009, 10:02 PM

Hitmen double up Brandon 4-2 tonight in a tough, chippy game. Hitmen were on there heels in the third, but already held a 4-1 lead, and only surrendered the second Brandon goal with 5 minutes left. Jones seemed to play an excellent game, stopping Fehr, I believe, twice on breakways, including one one a Brandon five minute powerplay with the Hitmen up 1-0. That seemed to turn the game, as after that penalty kill, the Hitmen scored 2 powerplay goals of their own 4 minutes apart to put it out of reach.

A question for those perhaps more familiar with the exact rule intracicies of the WHL. Apparently Stone recieved an instigator for his fight at the very end of the game. Has the WHL followed the NHL's lead in giving an automatic suspension to a player who recieves an instigator in the last five minutes of a game? The most I could find was a 2005-2006 change:

7. Instigator
- If a player instigates a fight in the final five (5) minutes of a game, that player will receive an automatic game misconduct.
http://www.winterhawks.com/index.php...d=504&Itemid=2

Stone did recieve a game misconduct as well as the fighting and instigating penalties, is that the end of it, or is it suspendable?

Resolute 14 · 02-14-2009, 10:03 AM

I don't remember if the WHL followed the NHL's lead on the last five minutes rule, but if they follow the NHL's exceptions, Stone shouldn't get suspended. The Wheat Kings were throwing cheap shots all night long, and at the end, the guy Stone fought sucker punched him as the buzzer went, so Stone turned around and beat the crap out of him. Based on the radio description, I felt the instigator itself was a bad call. Hopefully the league will see it the same.

FallingMeTook · 02-14-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I don't remember if the WHL followed the NHL's lead on the last five minutes rule, but if they follow the NHL's exceptions, Stone shouldn't get suspended. The Wheat Kings were throwing cheap shots all night long, and at the end, the guy Stone fought sucker punched him as the buzzer went, so Stone turned around and beat the crap out of him. Based on the radio description, I felt the instigator itself was a bad call. Hopefully the league will see it the same.

Yeah, I agree that given the circumstances, even if they do have the automatic suspension rule the NHL does that Stone shouldn't be suspended. Checking the WHL suspension page, it appears as though he is clear to go, however Fiddler is suspended for his hit:

Quote:

02/14/09 Tyler Fiddler Calgary Tbd for charge major and g.m. at Brandon on February 13.

604flames · 02-14-2009, 05:27 PM

Giants play the Chilliwackers again tonight, tough 3-2 OT loss in Kelowna last night and apparently Jon Blum suffered a shoulder injury.

Could be a couple weeks from what I'm hearing, but I'll likely know more after the game.

Flickered Flame · 02-14-2009, 08:35 PM

It took a 3 goal 3rd period tonight but the Hitmen beat the Pats 5-2. Brandon Kozun and Carson McMillan each scored twice in the win. The road trip wraps up tomorrow night in Moose Jaw.

FallingMeTook · 02-14-2009, 11:05 PM

For those that may not have seen it, an interesting article from the Hitmen website, debating whether this years team is the best team in franchise history. There are some interesting comments from Dave Lowry and Kelly Kisio, who sums up the team pretty nicely:

Quote:

"It depends what day it is," answers general manager and former coach Kelly Kisio. "Some days, we look like world beaters, some days we're an average hockey team that finds a way to win."

However, perhaps the best line is in the close of the article,

Quote:

There's every reason to believe this team could emerge as the finest Hitmen lineup ever assembled, but they still have much work to do and more challenges to face. But of one thing you can be sure, they'll be going for it.

It also provides a nice wrap up on all the individual and club records broken and equaled this season:

Quote:

New Hitmen Records - longest home-ice winning streak, one season: 18 games - most power-play goals, one game: six (Jan. 25 vs. regina) - most special teams goals, both teams, one game: nine (Jan. 25 vs. regina, all pp goals) - most goals in a season by a defenceman: 20 (paul postma) - one season: - longest goal-scoring streak by a defenceman: five games (paul postma)- most 20-goal scorers, one season: seven

Records Equalled - most shots, one period: 26 (Jan. 18 vs. Chilliwack) - most power-play points, - longest assist streak by a defenceman, one season: eight games (paul postma) - fastest team to 100 points: 59 games one game: four (paul postma)

http://www.hitmenhockey.com/cgi-bin/...num=0000001730

Resolute 14 · 02-14-2009, 11:56 PM

Man, it would be hard to throw this team up against the 1999-00 team and say it is better from a talent perspective. ESPECIALLY after losing the league MVP.

That said, I don't know that I have ever seen a group of players come together the way this team has. I never would have fathomed that they would buy into the system so well, and make it work flawlessly.

Obviously, the comparisons would be to the 98-99 and 99-00 teams.

Looking at the 99-00 team though, it is amazing how little success that group of players had at the NHL level...

Brad Moran: 7th round pick, 8 NHL games
Pavel Brendl: 1st round bomb, 78 NHL games
Kris Beech: 1st round pick, 198 NHL games
Matt Kinch: 5th round pick
Chris Nielson: 2nd round pick, 56 NHL games
Jordan Krestanovich: 5th round pick, 22 NHL games
Jerred Smithson: Free Agent, 296 NHL games
Shaun Norrie: 6th round pick
Matt Pettinger: 2nd round pick, 386 NHL games
Wade Davis: 5th round pick
Anders Lovdahl: 6th round pick
Rod Sarich: 4th round pick
Owen Fussey: 3rd round pick, 4 NHL games
Brandon Segal: 4th round pick
Stephen Peat: 2nd round pick, 130 NHL games
Jeff Feniak: 4th round pick
Curtis Rich: 5th round pick
Rastislav Stana: 7th round pick
Alexander Fomichev: 9th round pick
Shaun Sutter: 4th round pick
Brent Krahn: 1st round pick, 1 NHL game
Johnny Boychuck: 2nd round pick, 5 NHL games

22 players from that team were drafted, and 11 of those went on to play in the NHL. That is a ridiculous total for one team in one year. By comparison, in the Hitmen's 15 year history, Krahn became just the 26th alumnus to play for an NHL team tonight. Pettinger and Smithson are the only two who became NHL regulars, however.

The playoffs will determine how good this team really is, I think. The first round should be a gimme, but after that, this team will likely have to earn its acolades.

Bobblehead · 02-15-2009, 01:47 PM

Just to dovetail on to Resoulte's thoughs; there is an interesting article about the progress of the London Knights since the team was bought by Mark & Dale Hunter.

Quote:

"I don't know what it is they [Hunters] do but the only thing that comes to mind is they treat you like a pro and they practise like NHL teams.

"When [current Knights players] go to [NHL] training camp or rookie camp, they're used to the practices and how intense the drills are. They just come out of that system a lot more ready [for the NHL]."

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/stor...s-knights.html

As for NHLers out of the Knights since the Hunters took over:

Quote:

A number of highly skilled players have passed through the London program in recent years and quickly made an impact at the NHL level, including Rick Nash (Columbus), Corey Perry (Anaheim), Patrick Kane (Chicago), Steve Mason (Columbus), Dennis Wideman (Boston) and David Bolland (Chicago), to name a few.

In all, 28 one-time Knights have played in the NHL, with 17 currently on a big-league roster.

I think Lowry deserves a huge amount of the credit for this Hitmen team. Considering before the season this was supposed to be a rebuilding year, he has really got this team playing well together.