2008-09 Calgary Hitmen/WHL thread - Page 22 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Resolute 14 · 03-14-2009, 09:14 AM

I'd say it is a tough time to be slumping, but for both Vancouver and Calgary, the playoffs start in the 2nd round. A very easy series against PG should be the tonic for the Giants. Not to mention the opportunity to beat up on them tonight.

Hopefully we can pull the W out against Medicine Hat tonight to put an end to the regular season. Looking pretty good that we'll be getting Edmonton in the first round. PA is not likely to beat Saskatoon, while the Oil Kings are facing Red Deer tonight.

What is your thoughts on the complaints coming from Chilliwack that the Bruins franchise would be destroyed if the Flames put their AHL team in Abbotsford?

West Karma · 03-14-2009, 10:59 AM

nm

Resolute 14 · 03-14-2009, 02:00 PM

Well, given it is unlikely the AHL gives a damn about the WHL, the only real question on Burke and co's clout is if they can convince the AHL board that Abbotsford is a bad market for the AHL. The effects on the Bruins (and more comically, the Langley Chiefs) aren't likely to become an issue that way. As far as the WHL board goes, it is extremely unlikely that Burke has an avenue of attack that way, and I doubt Burke has more clout than Ken King and Harley Hotchkiss...

It does suck for the Chiefs though if this comes to pass.

flames_fan13 · 03-14-2009, 08:51 PM

Heard this initially on the radio on my way to work today. 11 Spokane chiefs players have a severe case of food poisoning forcing the WHL to postpone two games. Games have been rescheduled to monday and tuesday, may effect the teams play if the players lose any weight because of it.

http://www.whl.ca/whl-announces-post...-games-p127832

Resolute 14 · 03-14-2009, 09:53 PM

And with a 4-1 win over Medicine Hat tonight, the Hitmen have won the regular season championship. They have also tied a franchise record with 120 points. One game remaining, against Lethbridge, with a chance to set a new franchise mark.

Awesome season boys! Now lets do the same in the playoffs!

Resolute 14 · 03-14-2009, 09:59 PM

The playoff picture itself is also clearing up

Kootenay is going to beat the Hurricanes, so we are looking at:

2. Saskatoon vs. 7 Lethbridge
3. Brandon vs. 6. Kootenay
4. Swift Current vs. 5. Medicine Hat.

Edmonton blew it against Red Deer tonight, but have one more chance tomorrow. If the Oil Kings win, we get Edmonton in the first round. If they lose, we get Prince Albert as the two teams would finish tied in points, but PA has more wins.

It is a really strange bracket, as the Central could qualify five teams to the East's three, but they would get spots 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8. the Hitmen's absolute dominance of the Central Division might well have played a major role in that oddity.

In the West only two matchups are set:

1. Vancouver vs. 8 Prince George
2. Tri-City vs. 7. Everett

The Chiefs food poisoning issue could have massive ramifications on how the playoffs shake out.

FallingMeTook · 03-15-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The playoff picture itself is also clearing up

Kootenay is going to beat the Hurricanes, so we are looking at:

2. Saskatoon vs. 7 Lethbridge
3. Brandon vs. 6. Kootenay
4. Swift Current vs. 5. Medicine Hat.

Edmonton blew it against Red Deer tonight, but have one more chance tomorrow. If the Oil Kings win, we get Edmonton in the first round. If they lose, we get Prince Albert as the two teams would finish tied in points, but PA has more wins.

It is a really strange bracket, as the Central could qualify five teams to the East's three, but they would get spots 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8. the Hitmen's absolute dominance of the Central Division might well have played a major role in that oddity.

In the West only two matchups are set:

1. Vancouver vs. 8 Prince George
2. Tri-City vs. 7. Everett

The Chiefs food poisoning issue could have massive ramifications on how the playoffs shake out.

Apparently the WHL figures Edmonton is going to win, as they have them showing as having clinched the 8th spot in the standings on the front page. It has to be a mistype, as it was updated to include tonight's games and shows both teams in the aforementioned tie with 67 points.

Either way, I think that the Hitmen take either team in 4. As you said, it has been an amazing season, one that was unexpected at the beginning of the season, which makes it perhaps even sweeter. Now the important part begins though, in the long run what really matters is how they play for the next two and a half months. If they keep going as we have seen they can, it's hard to see anyone denying them. Let's hope that is the case.

FallingMeTook · 03-15-2009, 12:25 AM

On a completely, while for the most part, unrelated matter, does it strike anyone else as strange that none of the three leagues in the CHL play the same number of games in a season. I understand that in the case of the WHL (1966) and the QMJHL (1969), and to a much lesser extent the OHL (1974) you have history before the formation of the CHL (1975), but it seems as though at some point they would have standardized the number of games played in each league. Instead you end up with teams in the WHL playing 72 games, compared with 70 in the OHL and 68 in the QMJHL. Not that those two games should make that great of a difference in the end, but it just seems odd that all of the leagues play a different number of games.

Flickered Flame · 03-15-2009, 08:30 AM

The dub website is now accurate and does not have the Oil Kings as clinched 8th spot. If the Oil Kings do not earn a point today, then on Tuesday night, the Oil Kings will play a one game sudden death tie breaker to make the playoffs, the game would be held in PA. The Oil Kings were not very good last night here in Red Deer, they really only played for the 3rd period. I would like the O'Kings to make it in, like everyone else has said, I do believe the Hitmen would destory them in 4 straight but it would be nice to start building the Edm-Cal rivalry Dub style.

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 09:32 AM

Honestly, I doubt that Edmonton could easily form the same kind of rivalry we have with either Red Deer or Kootenay, and slaughtering the Oil Kings wouldn't help. Really, for both Calgary and Vancouver, the only question in the first round is whether the series end in sweeps, or if the 8 seed extends the series to five games.

604flames · 03-15-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

What is your thoughts on the complaints coming from Chilliwack that the Bruins franchise would be destroyed if the Flames put their AHL team in Abbotsford?

I'm not really sold on the Abbotsford thing being a good idea for the Flames or for the AHL. But I also think that Chilliwack hasn't really gotten a fair shake at having a WHL team. They draw decent enough crowds for sub-par hockey most nights, I'd imagine that town would go nuts for the team if the Bruins ever put a team on the ice that didn't have to run into the Giants in the first round every year. That said, I think Howse and Sundher are going to have great seasons next year, it'll be interesting to see how they build around them.

As for the Giants/Cougars series.. ho hum.

Flickered Flame · 03-15-2009, 04:32 PM

Oil Kings have lost this afternoon to the Rebels which sets up a winner makes the playoffs game Tuesday night in PA between the Oil Kings and Raiders.

MelBridgeman · 03-15-2009, 05:54 PM

Good to see the losing tradition is being held up by the Oil Kings..

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 07:18 PM

No kidding. when you need just one point to make the playoffs, how the hell do you lose twice to Red Deer?

Jagger · 03-15-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No kidding. when you need just one point to make the playoffs, how the hell do you lose twice to Red Deer?

'Cos the Rebels are coming good!

Seriously though they had nothing to lose, a bunch of players were playing for jobs and the Rebs have drastically improved since Christmas. They should have beaten the Hitmen last time in Red Deer.

Next season is looking much better, with Nugent-Hopkins, Ferraro et al. Looking forward to it.

I'd wish the Hitmen luck in the playoffs but.........well I simply can't do that as a die-hard Rebels fan.

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 07:58 PM

And we wouldn't want it any other way.

Gotta say, the kid who can't pick a last name looked damn good from what I've seen of him. Maybe if Brent comes back to coach next year, the Rebels might be a team to deal with again.

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 08:02 PM

In the game, Hitmen are up 4-2.

They need to win to set new franchise marks for points and wins - and both totals would be the 2nd best mark in league history.

Sonne has 99 points right now

Postma has 83, one off the team record.

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 08:23 PM

And Postma scores to tie Matt Kinch at 84 points. 5-2 Hitmen late.

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 08:24 PM

LOL! And Sonne scores to reach 100 about 25 seconds later!

6-2

Resolute 14 · 03-15-2009, 08:43 PM

So...

59 wins (franchise record, 2nd all time)
122 points (franchise record, 2nd all time)
32 home wins (franchise record, one off all time record)
18? consecutive home wins (franchise record)
8 consecutive games with a goal for Postma (franchise record)
84 points for Postma (ties franchise record)
7 twenty goal scorers (franchise records)
6 PPGs in one game (franchise record)
9 PPGs combined in one game (franchise record)
45 wins for Jones (franchise record)

Kozun and Sonne the fourth and fifth players in franchise history to reach 100 points.

Jones led the league with 45 wins, finished 3rd in GAA at 2.08.
Kozun finished 2nd in points with 108
Sonne finished 3rd in points with 100
Broda finished 1st in goals with 53
Sonne finished 2nd in goals with 48
Kozun finshed 2nd in assists with 68
Postma finished 4th in assists with 59
Postma finished 1st in points by a defenceman with 84

Paul Postma wins the WHL +/- award at +66
The Hitmen win their third Scotty Munro Trophy as regular season champions

Lowry has to be the coach of the year.

Not bad for a rebuilding year...