2008-09 regular-season record: (W-L-OTL-SOL, PTS)
2008-09 head-to-head record:
2008-09 head-to-head top scorers:
Brett Sonne 5gp-6g-4a-10pts
Paul Postma 5gp-3g-7a-10pts
Brett Breitkreuz 6gp-3g-2a-5pts
Brenden Dowd 6gp-2g-3a-5pts
The Calgary Hitmen the Edmonton Oil Kings meet up for their first playoff series. The last time the two cities met up in a WHL playoff series, Mike Rodgers’ Calgary Centennials defeated Mike Will and the original Edmonton Oil Kings four games to one in the first round of the 1974 Playoffs.
The Hitmen are making their 12th consecutive playoff appearance, and enter the post-season having enjoyed one of the most successful regular-season campaigns in WHL history. The Hitmen won an astounding 59 games, posted 122 points, and scored 330 goals. Their outstanding season was due in large part to their powerful and dynamic offense. The Hitmen boasted three players who scored 40 or more goals and nine players with 50 or more points.
Calgary Hitman Paul Postma (photo courtesy of Mark Rogers)
The Oil Kings booked their ticket to the post-season with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over the Prince Albert Raiders in a rare tiebreaker game after the teams finished tied on points for the final playoff berth in the Conference.
Of all 16 playoff teams, the Oil Kings scored the second-fewest number of goals during the regular season. Only two players topped the 20-goal mark while only six Oil Kings managed to hit double digits in goals.
(2)
2008-09 regular-season record:
2008-09 head-to-head record:
2008-09 head-to-head top scorers:
Derek Hulak 4gp-4g-0a-4pts
Curtis Hamilton 3gp-1g-2a-3pts
Kyle Beach 3gp-2g-1a-3pts
Dwight King 4gp-2g-1a-3pts
The Saskatoon Blades and Lethbridge Hurricanes meet up in the playoffs for the first time since the 1991-92 season. Jeff Buchanan and the Blades defeated Kevin St. Jacques and the Hurricanes four games to one in the first round of the 1992 playoffs.
After missing the post-season the last two years, the Blades come into the 2009 WHL playoffs as East Division champions for the first time since the 1993-94 campaign. A balanced attack, solid defending and excellent goaltending has been the Blades’ recipe for success this season. Up front, the team boasts seven players with 20 or more goals and 10 players with 15 or more tallies. The Blades scored the fourth-most goals of any WHL team this season, but did not have a single player among the League’s top 20 scorers. Braden Holtby posted 40 wins this season in the Blades’ cage, placing him second among all WHL netminders.
The Hurricanes finished the 08-09 season in seventh place in the Conference, but will look to rediscover the playoff magic that saw them go all the way to the WHL Championship series last year. Up front, the Hurricanes boast tremendous offensive talent with names like Zach Boychuk, Colton Sceviour, Carter Ashton, Dwight King and Kyle Beach. They’ll need to be consistently strong to penetrate a sturdy Blades defense. The Hurricanes will need goaltender Juha Metsola, if healthy, to be on top of his game to shut down the Blades’ offense.
(3)
2008-09 regular-season record:
Kootenay: 35-29-2-6, 78pts
2008-09 Head-to-head record:
Kootenay: 2-1-0-1, 5pts
2008-09 head-to-head top scorers:
Andrew Clark 4gp-7g-3a-10pts
Matt Lowry 4gp-0g-8a-8pts
Kootenay:
Tylan Stephens 4gp-2g-4a-6pts
Andrew Bailey 4gp-4g-1a-5pts
The Brandon Wheat Kings meet up with the Kootenay Ice for their first ever playoff series.
The Wheat Kings finished the season in third place in the Eastern Conference, and as one of only five teams to top the 100-point plateau. A high-octane offense and a lethal power play have helped the Wheaties to their third straight season with 40 or more wins.
The Ice are coming off their 10th consecutive season with a record above .500 and have qualified for the post-season for the 11th straight season. A gritty, young team, the Ice have played an energetic and up-tempo game this season, relying on hard work, high intensity and strong team play. The Ice owned the WHL’s seventh-ranked penalty killing unit this season. They will need their PK to remain strong if they are to stop the Wheat Kings’ highly-regarded power play. Goaltender Nathan Lieuwen has recovered from a head injury that kept him out of the lineup for nearly seven weeks.
(4) SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS vs (5) MEDICINE HAT TIGERS
2008-09 regular-season record:
Swift Current: 42-28-1-1, 86pts
2008-09 Head-to-head record:
Swift Current: 2-2-0-0, 4pts
2008-09 head-to-head top scorers:
Swift Current:
Keegan Dansereau 4gp-3g-1a-4pts
Matt Tassone 4gp-3g-1a-4pts
Brennan Bosch 4gp-0g-5a-5pts
Bretton Cameron 3gp-3g-0a-3pts
Medicine Hat Tigers Brennan Bosch (photo courtesy of Mc Images)
The Broncos are making their fourth straight playoff appearance on the back of their second straight season with 40 or more wins. Once again, the Broncos’ strength has been a potent offense. The Broncos boast six players with 20 or more goals, and nine players, including three defensemen, with 40 or more points. Keegan Dansereau ranked second among all WHL players with 20 power play goals this season. The Broncos were one of three East Division teams to post 20 or more road wins this season. Travis Yonkman posted a 6-1 record with a .935 save percentage over his last seven games.
The Tigers are making their seventh straight post-season appearance despite seeing their streak of five straight seasons with 40 or more wins come to an end. The Tigers were strong at home, as usual, posting 23 victories, but struggled to just 13 road wins this season. Tyler Ennis tallied 28 of his team-leading 43 goals in his last 30 games since returning from
Source ( www.whl.ca )
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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