Really felt Kelowna's style of play was a great matchup against the bigger slower Blazers D but have to give the latter credit, despite their passive collapsing D style they blocked a ton of shots and without two top forwards in Bozon and Smith the secondary scoring really stepped up and created a lot more offense than expected.
Series against Portland should be a classic. Will just leave this here: perhaps the most epic WHL game personally witnessed. Crowd is insane.
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Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
Hitmen win again, nice to see. Would love to see a Kamloops-Calgary final. Disappointing to see Calgary not supporting their most successful local hockey team again. They set a WHL attendance record in 2004-05, and really should be getting on board this year. The Hitmen deserve it.
Edmonton game 1: 6357
Calgary game 1: 5354
Edmonton game 2: 6628
Calgary game 2: 7481
Calgary game 5: 6416
A few factors about attendance: It always drops in the playoffs. That's just part of life in lower level leagues. Even Red Deer came in below their regular season average for game 3. Our first two games of the second round in the 2010 championship year was 8431 and 6976. Some people don't renew tickets for the post season and there are no group sales. I also think the NHL's late season is hurting both the Hitmen and Oil Kings a little, as these schedules seem to be stuck on weekday games. To that end, WTF is up with the three day break over the weekend for round three? I have no idea why our games are Tuesday-Wednesday when they could be Sunday-Tuesday.
That said, for anyone who wants to go to the third round, use the passcode "train" at Ticketmaster's website. It'll discount tickets to $18 (+tax) for the lower bowl and first couple rows of the upper in the middle, and $14 for the rest of the upper bowl.
As far as the third round goes, the series will be a pickem, I think. We won the season series, but caught Edmonton early in the season on their championship hangover. I think it goes 6+ games, but no bet on who wins.
In the west, great run Kamloops, but you're going to get steamrolled.
Ya I'm not exactly going out on any limbs here but I think Portland and Edmonton will win too. Either Kamloops or Calgary have the ability to capitalize on luck if it goes their way but they are both outclassed significantly on talent and were much poorer teams during the regular season.
Portland Edmonton would be the showpiece final. Edmonton is like Kamloops with an older group in their last run together they are going to kill themselves trying to win again.
In my opinion, despite his good numbers, the one real unknown for Portland is goaltender Mac Carruth. He is, imo, the worst of the 4 starting goalies left and is prone to bad goals and bad games, if those occur vs the Blazers, then the Blazers have a real chance, not that they don't now but I think Portland is the better team.
On paper, Edmonton is much better than Calgary and should be. But the Hitmen have had a lot of success vs Edmonton this year albeit, early in the year. It will be interesting to see how the big Hitmen defensemen hold up against the speedy Edmonton forwards.
But the Hitmen have had a lot of success vs Edmonton this year albeit, early in the year. It will be interesting to see how the big Hitmen defensemen hold up against the speedy Edmonton forwards.
As you've pointed out, those Calgary wins were early in the season. These teams haven't played each other for some time and the Oil Kings are a different team. The Hitmen caught the OKs in a championship hangover. They've been building for this time of year. Oil Kings in 6.
Crazy how loaded with veterans the Oil Kings are. Nine 19 year olds on top of their 20s. That said Calgary and Kamloops both have eight 19s + three 20s so all three of those teams are likely facing pretty major overhauls next year losing at a minimum 8 players.
Crazy that Portland, coming off two finals appearances in a row has managed to overhaul their roster to the point where they are the youngest group in the final 4 with just four 19s. That said they will surely lose Seth Jones next year as well.
HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend people get tickets for the three home games in Calgary. Tickets are CHEAP, the hockey is GOOD and there's a lot at stake. The Hitmen team will be summarily dismantled next year due to the over-ager rule (as will the Oil Kings), so it may be your last chance to see a lot of good Hitmen players.
The home games are Tuesday April 23, Wednesday April 24 and Sunday April 28.
HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend people get tickets for the three home games in Calgary. Tickets are CHEAP, the hockey is GOOD and there's a lot at stake. The Hitmen team will be summarily dismantled next year due to the over-ager rule (as will the Oil Kings), so it may be your last chance to see a lot of good Hitmen players.
The home games are Tuesday April 23, Wednesday April 24 and Sunday April 28.
There is going to be lots of turn over for the Hitmen to be sure, but their depth is remarkable, and next years squad stands to be more deep than this years squad, especially if we see both or either of Rissling and Roach return on defence.
Oil Kings in six tops (could be five). I think they're that strong. Hitmen won the season series but the OKs have added a few key players since then. Portland in six, so we'll see a finals rematch. I'll be at every home game, starting tonight.
Freeway is right, this is great hockey so buy tickets. This series is also televised, isn't it?
Wish we had a prospect or two on the Hitmen, definitely still cheering for them to win this series but I'm finding myself right now to hope that all the games are like 2-1 or 1-0 wins so the series doesn't get pinned on Brossoit.
