Hitmen open 2009 WHL Playoffs at home with games Thursday and Sunday
March 16, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen wrapped up the 2008/09 Western Hockey League Regular Season last night in Lethbridge with a 6-2 win over the Hurricanes. Brett Sonne led the way with three points (1g 2a) to finish the season with 100 points. Paul Postma and Joel Broda each had a goal and an assist while Brandon Kozun, Kris Foucault, and Carson McMillan also scored. Michael Snider made 26 saves to pick up the win. Calgary outshot the Hurricanes 29-28 as the Hitmen went 2-7 on the power play while Lethbridge was 2-5.
RECORD SETTING SEASON: The Hitmen set or broke 22 franchise records this season.
- Final record of 59-9-3-1 good for 122 points established two franchise marks (Most wins and most points)
- Home ice record of 32-3-1-0 set several new records (Most wins, most points, fewest home ice losses and longest home ice winning streak at 18 games)
-Team records broken; Most goals in a single season (330), Most power play goals in a single game (6), Best power play percentage in a season (30.2%), Most 20 goal scorers in a single season (7), Fastest three goals in a game (55 seconds), Most special teams goals both teams in a single game (9)
-Team records tied; Fewest times shutout in a season (0), Most 100 point scorers in a season (2), Most shots in a single period (26)
-Individual records broken; Most wins by a goaltender (Martin Jones 45), Most goals by a defenceman (Paul Postma 23), Best +/- by a defenceman (Paul Postma +67), Longest goal scoring streak by a defenceman (Paul Postma 5 games),
Individual records tied: Most points by a defenceman in a single season (Paul Postma 84), Most power play points in a single game (Paul Postma 4 points), Longest assist streak by a defenceman (Paul Postma 8 games),
PLAYOFF DATES: The Calgary Hitmen have clinched home ice advantage in the opening round of the 2009 Western Hockey League Playoffs and will host games one and two of their first round best-of-seven series. Game One will be held on Thursday, March 19th (7:00 p.m.). Game Two is set for Sunday, March 22nd (2:00 p.m.). Both games will be played at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Playoff tickets for both games are now on sale! The Hitmen will face either Edmonton or Prince Albert in a Best-of-Seven Eastern Conference Quarter-Final Series. Prince Albert will host Edmonton Tuesday night in a single game Tie Breaker. The winner advances to play the Hitmen.
DID YOU KNOW? Brandon Kozun is ranked 149th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting. It's their midterm rankings for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft....Calgary is #2 in the Canadian Hockey League Top 10 Rankings this week.
SCOTTY MUNRO MEMORIAL TROPHY: For the third time in franchise history the Hitmen captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions. They clinched number one overall and home ice advantage throughout the Western Hockey League Playoffs Saturday night with a 4-1 win in Medicine Hat. The Hitmen also won the trophy back-to-back in 1999 and 2000.
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPS: With a win in Red Deer February 21st the Hitmen clinched the Eastern Conference Regular Season Championship. It's the second year in a row the Hitmen will head into the WHL Playoffs as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. On February 8th the Hitmen mathematically clinched the Central Division banner with a 4-2 home ice win over Kootenay. This marks the fifth time in franchise history the Hitmen have won the division.
STREAKIN': Joel Broda (4g 3a), and Alex Plante (1g 5a) are both riding five game point streaks. Carson McMillan (2g 2a), Keith Seabrook (3a) and Brandon Kozun (1g 2a) are all on three game streaks. Paul Postma (5a) had his three game point streak snapped last night in Medicine Hat .....The Hitmen are 19-2-1-0 in their last 22 games.
DID YOU KNOW? Brandon Kozun is ranked 149th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting. It's their midterm rankings for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft....Calgary is #2 in the Canadian Hockey League Top 10 Rankings this week.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have nine NHL prospects ...Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Carson McMillan-(7th round Minnesota 2007), Alex Plante-(1st round Edmonton 2007), Paul Postma-(7th round Atlanta 2007), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Keith Seabrook-(2nd round Washington 2006), Brett Sonne-(3rd round St. Louis 2007) and Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008). Martin Jones-(Los Angeles Kings-Signed '08).
THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 24 players; (15 forwards, 7 defencemen and 2 goalies)
-Break down....3 (20 year-olds), 7 (19 year-olds), 7 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 3 (16 year-olds).
HITMEN VS: (Bran 3-0-1-0), (Cwk 1-1), (Edm 5-1), (Evt 1-0), (Kam 2-1), (Kel 1-1), (Ktn 5-2-1-0), (Leth 6-0), (MH 6-0), (MJ 4-0), (Port 1-0), (PA 3-0-1-0), (PG 2-0), (RD 6-0), (Reg 4-0), (Sask 2-2), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-0-0-1), (SC 4-0), (TC 0-1), (Van 2-0)
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Western Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2009
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