WHL Western Hockey League

WHL Playoff Hockey Live On SHAW: Friday, April 30 - Tri-City Americans at Calgary Hitmen

April 30, 2010 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release


Calgary, AB - Brandon Kozun and the Calgary Hitmen take on Kruise Reddick and the Tri-City Americans as the 2010 WHL Championship series gets underway on Friday night.

Friday's Husky WHL Eastern Conference Championship series battle between the Hitmen and Wheat Kings can be seen live throughout western Canada on SHAW and SHAW Direct channel 299 (7:30pm MST).

The Husky WHL Eastern Conference Champion Hitmen are making their second straight appearance in the WHL Championship series, having knocked off the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup host Brandon Wheat Kings in five game in the conference final after defeating the Moose Jaw Warriors and Medicine Hat Tigers in the first and second rounds, respectively.

The Hitmen have been paced by WHL regular-season scoring champion Brandon Kozun, who also leads all WHL players in post-season with 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists. Aside from Kozun, the Hitmen have also been led by veteran Joel Broda, a former member of the Ams, who shares the post-season lead with 12 goals, and 2010 WHL Goaltender of the Year Martin Jones.

The Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Champion Americans advance to their first ever appearance in the WHL Championship series, having toppled the B.C. Division Champion Vancouver Giants in six games in the western final following series wins over the Chilliwack Bruins and Kelowna Rockets in the first and second rounds.

The Americans have been led by 19-year-old veteran Kruise Reddick, who leads the team with nine goals and shares the team lead with three game-winning tallies. Also pacing the Ams' post-season run have been sophomore Brendan Shinnimin, who leads the team with 22 points, and goaltender Drew Owsley, who leads all netminders with a 2.14 goals-against average and a stellar .931 saves percentage in the playoffs.

It's the first ever playoff meeting between the Americans and Hitmen. The teams met once during the 2010 WHL regular season, with the Hitmen blanking the Ams 3-0 in Calgary on January 31st.

The winner of the 2010 WHL Championship series will hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup and join the Brandon Wheat Kings as well as the OHL and QMJHL Champions in the 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament later in May.

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