Who says the regular season doesn’t mean much?
The 72 game respective regular schedule Conference Champions will lock horns in the Best of 7 league Championship series starting Friday night in Calgary. The Hitmen have steadily gotten better as the post-season has progressed. After an opening round scare from Moose Jaw, Mike Williamson’s team has their ‘A’ game going, with a convincing 5 game series victory over Brandon (this years Memorial Cup hosts). The Americans’ rallied from a 2-1 series deficit to eliminate Don Hay and his Vancouver Giants club in six games to claim the Western Conference crown. The two combatants met once during the regular season. The Hitmen blanked Tri City 3-0 on home ice at the end of January. Martin Jones out dueled Alexander Pechurskiy in the nets on that night. It won’t be the Russian import in goal for this series. Lethbridge product Drew Owsley has been spectacular so far in these playoffs.
After a 33-11-2 regular season, he has elevated his play to an even higher level in the post-season going 12-5 with a 2.14 goals against average, and a .931 save percentage. Very impressive numbers! Jones has been fine for Calgary as well going 12-6 with a 2.61 goals against average and a .905 save percentage. Brandon Kozun led all WHL scorers during the regular season. Brendan Shinnimin finished 14th overall, registering 82 points in 70 games. Kozun tops all scorers so far in these playoffs, Shinnimin is currently ranked third. The key for the Americans is the way they start games. During the regular season, Tri City never lost a game in regulation time when they held leads after either the first or second period. Only once have they lost in the playoffs when leading through 40 minutes. Seventeen year old Patrick Holland is the other Lethbridge native on the Americans roster. He has a very respectable ten points in seventeen playoff games.
Should be a great final, between the leagues two most deserving teams. I think Calgary learned what losing tasted like in last years final against the Kelowna Rockets. Too many key players are back, and I think this club is ready to make amends for that disappointment.
Hitmen in 6.
Fred Jack in the Colour Analyst on Hurricanes radio broadcasts on CJOC
I agree with you Freddy.. as much as I dont really care for Calgary. I do think they are the better team to advance. I dont think Tri City has what it takes to give us a shot at the Memorial Cup.
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