The Official 2010/2011 WHL/Hitmen/Rebels! thread - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

speede5 · 10-12-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trojan97

How has McIlrath looked so far?

I have actually only been to a couple games since he got back. (I am getting frustrated with life interfering with my season's tickets) He always looks solid, great judgement on the ice and never panics. Seem he is fighting more this year, not sure if it is expected or if he just wants to be more intimidating.

I'm actually a bit baffled by the performance of the team this year. I think there is some team building to be done, cause based on individual talent this team should be one of the top in the league.

Wise Gamble · 10-13-2010, 08:44 PM

Ryan Howse is looking amazing so far. Saw him play twice so far and he's scored in both games. 9 goals, 3 assists in 6 games.

Resolute 14 · 10-14-2010, 06:17 PM

Well, Zak Stebner won't be returning from the road trip - he was dealt to Tri-City to get us down to three overagers.

Also related to Tri-City, Brendan Shinnamin was suspended 12 games for a pretty brutal check from behind last week. That will significantly weaken their roster.

Jagger · 10-31-2010, 11:31 PM

Yikes I know the Hitmen have not been faring too well but no posts for over two weeks is something else.

Any comments about their recent play? Anyone at the Blades ame today? It was 3-3 until the last minute? Not worth talking about?

I mean, come on, I was here the last few years when the Rebels sucked and got their clocks cleaned regularly by the Hitmen.

On that note it was so good to see the Rebels beat up on the Blades the other night. They were owed big time after the playoff sweep last season. 7-1 could have more.

So, Hitmen fans, where art thou?

Charcot · 11-01-2010, 09:11 PM

The Hitmen played reasonably well and deserved a better fate in this game. They came back to tie it up 33 in the third and then gave up a goal in the last couple of minutes. I think the Blades were tired from playing the prior night. I think it is going to be a long year for the Hitmen, but I expect they will improve as the year goes along.

Beach is looking like a much better player this year. He just has to keep out of the box. The other older Hitmen are showing how much they benefited from being part of a strong club last year.

Flickered Flame · 11-06-2010, 10:17 PM

Hitmen lost their 9th in a row. They are not as bad as the record indicates as they have been right in a bunch of games lately. They just can't score and when they do, they can't keep it out of the net. Neither goalie is helping much either. Lots of bad goals allowed by both kids. I thought they would be better, like a middle of the road team, but clearly they are unlikely to make the playoffs for the first time in a very long time.

Jagger · 11-11-2010, 11:03 PM

Hitmen lose again tonight. That's 11 games without a win, a loser point in only one.

I know most everyone has deserted this thread given Calgary's futility this season but what is their record for games without a win? Anyone know?

The Ice look like the real deal. They're probably the best team in the Eastern conference closely followed by the Blades and Rebels. No doubting the best team in the dub though. Portland will take some stopping this season.

The Rebels are looking good........finally. It's been a lean number of years for the team so it's nice to finally see some good hockey at the Centrium and on the road. I feel that they need another scorer though, like a Willie Coetzee. If the Wings had sent him back then the Rebels would have taken some stopping too. He's only started seven of the 13 games so I'm not sure how that is helping his development but, then, who am I to question a club like Detroit.

Anyone want to talk some junior hockey still around here? Anyone? Anyone?

Beerfest · 11-12-2010, 12:10 AM

It odd to see the Hitmen doing so poorly this year, but it not really a suprise, considering the talent they lost.

If the season stays like this theyll be drafting high.

Flickered Flame · 11-12-2010, 08:14 AM

The franchise record for longest losing streak is 12 games for the Hitmen, way back in 96. They have been so close in many of the last bunch of games but either can't get another goal or they can't get a big save from either goalie.

Portland is the best team by far and could be really scary after the trade deadline, if they make a couple of deals. In the East, the Ice and Blades are probably 1-2 and I still think the Tigers might/could finish ahead of the Rebels, they are a very good team but haven't been able to put it all together. Its interesting to look at the standings right now, only Portland has pulled away, almost everyone else is bunched together with a lot of teams hovering around a .500 record.

Resolute 14 · 11-12-2010, 09:56 AM

The Ice and Rebels look good, absolutely. The Hurricanes remain as mediocre as ever.

And yeah, talk about hard times for Calgary. I had hope after the first five or six games that they might have had a chance to gel into a team that would at least fight for the postseason, but they are too young and too thin this year.

Berger · 11-12-2010, 05:28 PM

The Hitmen are just too thin on the back end and in net. Having so many young D will only benefit this club in the long run though. Berg, Kosterman, Lubin, Roach, Schmidt and Rissling are all 17 or younger and getting lots of minutes this season.

I think the one move that could have helped the Hitmen was to keep Stebner and release Fisenko. Its obvious Fisenko has no intrest in being here, and the Stebner would have helped the young D.

The big question is what does Kisio do at the deadline? Is there a market out there for a Foucault, or Fiddler? Or how about our 19 yr old D in Mckenzie and Wilson? Mckenzie could get a pretty good return from a team looking to make a run but then you run the risk of not having him next year as a 20 yr old if he returns.

Looking forward to the outdoor game in Febuary against the Pats!

Wise Gamble · 11-12-2010, 08:27 PM

Looks like one year when the Hitmen aren't good. I'm sure they'll be back up top soon enough. Portland Winterhawks year this season...

Flickered Flame · 11-12-2010, 08:51 PM

Saskatoon just ended Portland's 10 game winning streak.

Wise Gamble · 11-12-2010, 09:40 PM

Josh Nicholls my boy with 3 points for the Blades. What a game!

speede5 · 11-15-2010, 09:07 AM

Go Warriors, bring on Portland. What are those Blades jerseys supposed to be?

Flickered Flame · 11-16-2010, 07:16 PM

Lots of reports out there are saying the Hitmen and the Warriors have made a trade.

Nathan MacMaster, Danny Gayle and Brandon Glover have been traded to Calgary for 18 year olds Cody Beach and Mackenzie Royer.

speede5 · 11-17-2010, 06:49 AM

It's official, sad to see Gayle go, he is a hard worker, grinder. So what is Beach like? Our backend is looking pretty good, hopefully McIlrath gets healthy quick.

Flickered Flame · 11-17-2010, 08:18 AM

Beach is a big tough kid, has the makings of being a really good power forward, at least at the WHL leve, but takes lots of stupid penalties.

Flickered Flame · 11-20-2010, 10:35 AM

The Hitmen ended their 12 game losing streak last night in Brandon. The new goalie, Brandon Glover, held the Hitmen in the game for the first 2 periods and the boys finally had a great third period and scored 3 times to win 5-3. Should be a fun game tomorrow, in Moose Jaw.

speede5 · 11-20-2010, 12:21 PM

I hope they start Glover in the Jaw, be interesting to see how the fans react. Really wish this game had a later start, Dang football! Go Warriors!