2013-14 WHL Season

[Northendzone]

seemed to me that that there was something off all year about the hitmen.

make me think that they were not a very close team.

just speculation.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Red John

8 teams left!

Edmonton vs Brandon
Hat vs Cranbrook

Kelowna vs Seattle
Portland vs Victoria

Some awesome match ups here. Brandon will put up a fight but fall short to Edmonton. Cranbrook continues the great run by taking out the Hat.

West match ups are amazing. Kelowna survives a 7-gamer against Seattle and their goons, Victoria upsets Portland in 7.

Yeah, although I'm rooting for the Tigers, Kootenay is rolling and I think they will defeat Medicine Hat. Langhamer will have to be lights out between the pipes for the Tigers to have any chance.

[Trojan97]

I'm thinking it'll be Edmonton in 5 (they have bullied Brandon all season long and I just don't see the Wheat Kings being able to stand up for themselves due to their age) and Medicine Hat in 6. Descheaneau and Reinhart were unbelievable but I think the last series was more about Calgary laying an egg than it was about Kootenay playing awesome hockey. Kootenay struggled to protect leads vs Calgary and I don't think they will be able to continue playing with fire vs Med Hat. Should be a great series!

[Zach]

EDM in 6
KEL in 5
POR in 6
MED in 6

[Resolute 14]

Well, moving onto next year already, the Hitmen are starting to drop teasers for the 20th anniversary jersey:

[Drake]

Edmonton in 5
Medicine Hat in 7
Kelowna in 6
Victoria in in 7

[Zach]

Portland is winning it all.

[MoneyGuy]

Edmonton in 5
Medicine Hat in 7
Kelowna in 6
Portland in 7

Edmonton-Portland final again. Cheering for a different result this time.

[Matty81]

Every series could go either way imo. I expect the Ice to get by Medicine Hat and Kelowna to beat Seattle, though they are improved from last year and even that's no given, I think they'll outskill Seattle and have enough fight in them to stand up this year with Rigby healthy and Yorke added to the lineup.

Portland-Victoria is really close to me, as much as they are the Rockets rivals, I have to say that Victoria is criminally underrated in the CHL, they would have been up there with Edmonton and Calgary if they had been in the East. Edmonton should beat Brandon but I think the Oil Kings are vulnerable and look better because their conference sucked this year. Whoever emerges from the west will probably be pretty battered for them though.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by Zach

Portland is winning it all.

Nope.

[Resolute 14]

Edmonton sucks
Medicine Hat in 7, but that is a toss-up
Kelowna in 5
Portland in 6

[chalms04]

Shut up and take my money:

[Resolute 14]

Heh. Your picture didn't load, but I know exactly what you are talking about and I agree!

[Resolute 14]

nm

[Trojan97]

Just an awful performance by Brandon tonight. Outshot 45-15 and ran out of the building by a score of 5-0. I expect it to be a short series but it was an absolutely embarrassing performance tonight. Hopefully game 2 is close.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

Just an awful performance by Brandon tonight. Outshot 45-15 and ran out of the building by a score of 5-0. I expect it to be a short series but it was an absolutely embarrassing performance tonight. Hopefully game 2 is close.

We're you at the game? I was and never felt that Brandon was in it. It was 2-0 about three minutes in and the the OKs looked like they were coasting for long periods.

[Red John]

Was really nice to see Kelowna hammer Seattle tonight.

Still think its going to be a long series but that's one of the dirtiest teams in the league.

Justin Hickman, Mitch Elliot, Jared Hauf, Evan Wardley...tons of dirtbags on that team. Nice to draw first blood on them.

[Zach]

Portland was just all over Victoria last night. Way too easy.

[Red John]

Originally Posted by Zach

Portland was just all over Victoria last night. Way too easy.

Watched the game.

Portland is about as skilled as they come, they are deadly off the rush and in transition. Very fast.

But they still look bad defensively. They have the puck most of the time and are content to trade chances but their back end is very nonchalant with the puck and aren't always willing to play a physical game on the boards. And Brendan Burke is not a good goalie.

Victoria played right into Portland's hands by taking dumb penalties and leaving the Hawks on the powerplay all game. They'll likely regroup and be ready to play a different kind of game next time.

Also Portland is very used to being able to play their game and having things go right. Once they get shut down they don't know how to win any other way, they get frustrated and try to play as individuals.

Victoria should be able to slow them down, and Kelowna will be able to stop them.

[Zach]

Kelowna vs Portland should be interesting.