READING, PA – The WHL became the last of the three CHL leagues to set their participants in their respective league finals. The Husky WHL Eastern Conference Champion Calgary Hitmen will meet the Kal Tire Western Conference Champion Kelowna Rockets in the 2009 WHL Championship series. It is a best-of-seven series and the champion will win the Ed Chynoweth Cup and earn a berth in the 2009 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament in Rimouski, QC.
Here’s a look at the 2009 WHL Championship series match-up:
Calgary Hitmen vs Kelowna Rockets
2008-09 head-to-head regular-season record:
Calgary: 1-1-0-0, 2pts Kelowna: 1-1-0-0, 2pts
The Hitmen and Rockets met up twice during the 2008-09 regular season, both times at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, with each team winning once.
CALGARY HITMEN, Husky WHL Eastern Conference Champion
The Hitmen are making their first appearance in the WHL Championship series since 1999.
Hitmen top playoffs scorers: Joel Broda 12gp-8g-10a-18pts Kyle Bortis 12gp-3g-14a-17pts Brandon Kozun 12gp-6g-9a-15pts Kris Foucault 12gp-10g-4a-14pts
How They Got Here -Defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-0 in 1st round. -Defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 4-0 2nd round. -Defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 4-0 in the Eastern Conference finals
After putting up the second-best regular season in WHL history, the Hitmen have plowed their way through the first three playoff rounds with a perfect 12-0 record, tying a WHL record for most consecutive playoff wins.
With a deep and talented group of forwards and a skilled and mobile defense corps, the Hitmen have one of the most powerful offenses the WHL has seen in several years. While names like Brett Sonne, Joel Broda, Brandon Kozun and Kyle Bortis put up big numbers during the regular season, it’s been depth players like Kris Foucault, Ian Schultz and Tomas Karpov who have made significant offensive contributions in the post-season. Either way, the Hitmen have the ability to generate scoring right through their line-up.
Defensively, the Hitmen have been strong. The WHL’s third-best defensive team during the regular season, the Hitmen were near unbeatable through the first two playoff rounds versus Edmonton and Lethbridge. They were tested significantly more by the high-octane Brandon Wheat Kings during the WHL Eastern Conference Championship series, they were able outscore the Wheaties in the end. A strong-skating, big-bodied defense corps featuring NHL prospects Paul Postma, Alex Plante, Keith Seabrook and Michael Stone can also generate significant offense from the back end.
Goaltender Martin Jones signed an NHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings after being a free agent invitee to their training camp in September. Throughout the 2008-09 season, Jones showed exactly why the Kings locked him up, posting a 45-5-3-1 record to go with a 2.08 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage during the regular season. The 19-year-old from North Vancouver, B.C., has continued that solid play during the playoffs. Jones may not have to single-handedly win games for the Hitmen, but he always maintains a steady, reliable presence in the team’s net. KELOWNA ROCKETS – Kal Tire WHL Western Conference Champion The Rockets are making their first appearance in the WHL Championship series since 2005.
Rockets top playoff scorers: Jamie Benn 16gp-11g-17a-28pts Cody Almond 16gp-8g-14a-22pts Mikael Backlund 13gp-9g-7a-16pts Ian Duval 16gp-9g-5a-14pts
How They Got Here -Defeated the Kamloops Blazers 4-0 in 1st round. -Defeated the Tri-City Americans 4-2 in 2nd round. -Defeated Vancouver Giants 4-2 in the Western Conference finals
Up front, the Rockets boast some of the WHL’s elite talent. Jamie Benn, the WHL’s playoff scoring leader, has been a dangerous trigger man all season, and can dominate physically with his size and strength. Swedish forward Mikael Backlund has become more and more prominent in the Rockets’ offense as the playoffs have gone on, while line mates Ian Duval – a former Hitman – and Cody Almond provide strong two-way play. The Rockets will look for more secondary scoring from the likes of Stepan Novotny, Kyle St. Denis and Lucas Bloodoff to match Calgary’s scoring depth.
Defensively, the Rockets have been incredibly tough to beat in the post-season. Towering blue liner Tyler Myers has perhaps been the WHL’s best defenseman in the post-season, while Tysen Dowzak, Collin Bowman, Brandon McMillan and Tyson Barrie have all helped the Rockets neutralize the powerful offenses of Tri-Cities and Vancouver. Myers and company will have to maintain their high level of play if they are to contain the Hitmen’s deep offense.
Goaltender Mark Guggenberger has proven himself to be one of the WHL’s top goaltenders with his strong and steady play in the 2009 playoffs. The 20-year-old from Richfield, MN, has already won goaltending battles with two elite netminders in Chet Pickard and Tyson Sexsmith. Like his WHL Championship series counterpart, Martin Jones, Guggenberger plays behind a rock-solid defense who can limit top-quality scoring chances. However, Guggenberger continues to show he can come up with big saves when called upon.
Series Schedule #1 – Kelowna @ Calgary; Friday, May 1 (7:30pm MT) #2 – Kelowna @ Calgary; Saturday, May 2 (7:00pm MT) #3 – Calgary @ Kelowna; Monday, May 4 (7:00pm PT) #4 – Calgary @ Kelowna; Wednesday, May 6 (7:00pm PT) #5 – Kelowna @ Calgary; Thursday, May 7 (7:00pm MT)** #6 – Calgary @ Kelowna; Saturday, May 9 (7:00pm PT)** #7 – Kelowna @ Calgary; Monday, May 11 (7:00pm MT)** ** – if necessary In the OHL, the Brampton Battalion and the Windsor Spitfires began play in their league finals on wednesday and Windsor destroyed Brampton 10-1. Justin Shugg had a hat trick, Andrei Tokionov had two goals, and Taylor Hall had his league leading twelth goal of the playoffs.
In the QMJHL, the Drummondville Voltigeurs will face off against the Shawinigan Cataractes and will begin their series on friday night. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
