2007-08 Calgary Hitmen / WHL thread

[corporatejay]

do they not do a CHL top ten anymore? That list hasn't been updated in months.

[Resolute 14]

The CHL official site has always been a joke.

http://whl.ca/news/?id=8316&showToc=1&

Spokane #2, Vancouver #6, Lethbridge #9. Calgary's bi-polar ways are keeping them out of the top ten.

And a belated Congrats to Karl Alzner for being named captain of the Canadian team!

[Resolute 14]

Hitmen enter the Xmas break on the receiving end of some Chris Savage lunacy. Rowinski scores the winner after blowing a tire, and crashing into the goalie, shoving Holfield, the puck and himself all into the net. Not quite sure why it counted, but the Tigers' coach was pissed.

We now stand in top spot in the Central, with a home and home set against the 2nd place Hurricanes on the 27th and 28th.

[604flames]

well, with xmas break over, thought I'd resurrect this thread.

Kelowna was in town tonight, Giants beat them 5-2 after a slow start. Garet Hunt had two fights, took Kelowna's captain out after the first one, he was clutching his hand and didn't return.

Lots of WHL on TV this week:

Tomorrow (Sunday): Prince Albert @ Edmonton on Sportsnet
Wed: Brandon @ Red Deer on Shaw
Fri: Saskatoon @ Medicine Hat on Shaw

[Resolute 14]

Damn... shame I missed yesterday's game against Brandon. Hitmen came back from a 5-2 deficit with less than 12 minutes to play to win 6-5. McMillan scored the winner with 27 seconds left in regulation.

[604flames]

An update on Kelowna's captain (McEwan)...

Apparently the linesman's skate severed his arm as he fell to the ground while fighting Hunt the other night, he had surgery in Vancouver over the weekend and could be out for the season. Shame 'cause he's a 20 too..

G's have a Hickey-less Seattle and Kamloops (who beat them in a 7-round shootout on Sunday) this weekend at the Coliseum.. I'm gonna be starved this month there's only 4 home games.

[604flames]

Watt to Regina, as posted in the prospect forum..

With the trade deadline approaching, it should be interesting to see if any (or all of) Calgary, Kootenay, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat make any moves to try to break free of the log jam in the standings..

[Resolute 14]

Wouldn't mind seeing another top end defenceman or goaltender in Calgary, but I doubt any are available at the price Kisio would be willing to pay. Betting on a minor deal or two from the Hitmen, but that's it.

If Sutter does get returned to junior, it will be interesting to see where Red Deer ships him.

[604flames]

I like Jones as a backup more than I like the thought of the Ice having Thomas Heemskerk as a 17 year-old starter if Lazaruk doesn't come back next year...

And I agree with you Res, the asking price for a guy like Ty Wishart will be steep, I'm also wondering whether Edmonton might give up one of Stamler, Swaby or Cepek.


EDIT: as for what I'd like to see, hopefully Kootenay gets a big boost from the return of Ben Maxwell in a few weeks (late Jan/early Feb. is what I have heard). Vancouver could use a backup to bail Sexsmith if he has an off night.

[LockedOut]

Just looking at the Hitmen schedule and it's pretty crazy to start the month. Right now they're in the middle of 5 games in 6 nights. After that they don't play till a whole week later and then have another 4 days off after that. That's 1 game in a stretch of 11 days.

[604flames]

Just checked the score to see Calgary hammering my Ice 9-2 in the third..

Plus the Hat won tonight too, so much for making up ground today.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by LockedOut

Just looking at the Hitmen schedule and it's pretty crazy to start the month. Right now they're in the middle of 5 games in 6 nights. After that they don't play till a whole week later and then have another 4 days off after that. That's 1 game in a stretch of 11 days.

Junior schedules are insane at times.

And yeah, the Hitmen put the boots to the Ice tonight. It never was in doubt.

59 points now, five up on Lethbridge, and currently the top team in the league by points, though Vancouver, Tri-Cities and Spokane all have a pile of games on us.

Watching both Bortis and Postma score two tonight, it's hard to believe how much we won that trade with Swift Current.

Bortis has 24 goals now, and Postma 9. Dansereau has only 12 goals so far for Speedy Creek. Plouffe has no goals with Tri-Cities, but he is a defensive defenceman, so that doesn't mean a lot.

[604flames]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

59 points now, five up on Lethbridge, and currently the top team in the league by points, though Vancouver, Tri-Cities and Spokane all have a pile of games on us.

Vancouver and Spokane both won tonight (over Seattle and Moose Jaw respectively) so they are at 59 too, but Tri-City lost in Kamloops.

Also, didn't Dansereau want out anyway?

[Resolute 14]

He came into camp completely unprepared to play, so the Hitmen sent him home. There were some attitude problems there.

[Bench Warmer]

Both the Hitmen and the Pats made a deal with the Blazers today. Rumour also has it that Pats have also made a deal with the Oil Kings for Figren.

The club has acquired 18-year-old defenseman Nick Ross, 19-year-old blueliner Spencer Fraipont (FRAY-pawnt), and a 4th round pick in the 2008 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 20-year-old defenseman Ryan Bender and 19-year-old rearguard Victor Bartley. The Blazers have also acquired 17-year-old forward Devon Kalinski and a 2nd round selection in the 2008 Bantam Draft from the Hitmen in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brock Nixon and a 6th round pick in the ’08 Draft.

http://www.blazerhockey.com/blazer-n...s/01-05-08.php

[Resolute 14]

Interesting. Seems the Hitmen are going for it this year. Nixon is a PPG centre this year, though his goal scoring has dropped compared to last season.

I think I would have preferred to land another good defensive-d over another offensive forward though. This team doesn't have much difficulty scoring.

[604flames]

Nice to see the Ice bounce back, up 6-1 on "The Jaw" with 7 mins left.

Interesting deals, Kamloops is here tomorrow; I'd go but I have to work.


EDIT: I read (yesterday's Province) that Chilliwack are considering themselves sellers this year (GM wants to build youth as part of a five-year plan), and that pretty much everybody except Moller is available.

Could the Hitmen grab Nick Holden maybe? Or did the Nixon deal put them at 3 20s?

[Flickered Flame]

I believe they are at 3-20 yr olds with Nixon. Curle has mentioned a couple of times that the Hitmen are seriously looking at Ty Wishart. However the asking price is very high and it would be very unlike Kisio to give up alot of youth for a vet.

[604flames]

BTW, Regina now has a Euro spot open, thanks to another trade they made today with Red Deer.

Word has it they are going after former Hitman Robin Figren.

[Resolute 14]

The Hitmen are at three 20-year olds with Mercer, Gillen and Nixon.

Don't see why the Oil Kings wouldn't deal Fingren. Would rather see him go to the West though.