nivek_wahs
09-21-2007, 09:47 AM
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=358624a8-69c9-4d26-b94e-406f671280ee
Prime contenders
Hitmen ranked No. 2 in CHL, favourites to win WHL's Central Division
John Down, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007
Game Day
Red Deer Vs Calgary
7 p.m. at the Saddledome
- - -
There was a slight furrow in Kelly Kisio's brow as he wrapped up Thursday's practice at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
The head coach and GM of the Calgary Hitmen admitted he was a little nervous as he prepared his Central Division troops for tonight's Western Hockey League opener against the visiting Red Deer Rebels at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Earlier in the day, his club had been listed No. 2, behind the London Knights, in the pre-season Canadian Hockey League rankings. The fact 10 of his players made it to NHL camps this fall speaks volumes for the skill level of the club.
"Just what we need," sighed Kisio, whose club was ranked between No. 1 and No. 5 for most of the 2005-06 season. "A lot of times, kids read their own press and get too much strut to their own game when they don't deserve it. It's important that we don't pay attention to it, care less about it, actually. We need to go out and earn it."
There's no denying this 2007-08 edition of the Hitmen sizes up as a prime contender on paper. There's veteran goaltending, an experienced defensive corps and some proven veterans up front to go with some energetic and gifted newcomers.
Two years ago, the Hitmen earned top rankings behind the all-star goaltending of Justin Pogge and possibly the league's top defensive corps led by Brett Carson and Jeff Schultz. Scoring came by committee but it wasn't enough to get past Round 2 of the playoffs.
Last season, the team came on late behind an experienced group of forwards, a better-than-average defence and the steady goaltending of Daniel Spence in making it all the way to the Western Conference final.
"I don't think the rankings can affect a team's play in a negative way," said Spence. "You take it for what it is. The season hasn't started yet and I don't think too highly of those pre-season rankings. Obviously, we've got a good team and it's nice that we get that kind of respect, but it doesn't mean much until the first puck drops."
Like last season, the Hitmen will be missing some key pieces to start the campaign. Veteran defencemen Dan Mercer and Keith Seabrook are out with injuries. No. 1 centre Ryan White and defenceman Alex Plante remain with their NHL clubs. Hard-nosed Ryan Letts is nursing a bad knee and sometimes-flashy winger Keegan Dansereau is under team suspension.
But they'll still be able to field a six-man defensive corps from the nine on the roster, anchored by first-round draft pick Karl Alzner, and four swift lines with one spare forward.
The strength of the club, once again, will be down the middle. In fact, they have so many pivots that two, rookie Brandon Kozun and veteran Brett Sonne, have been moved to the wings. Kisio even admits White could start at wing when he returns from the Canadiens.
That leaves veteran Ian Duval, highly rated newcomer T.J. Galiardi, sophomore Brendan Rowinski and 16-year-old rookie Chase Schaber to take the faceoffs. At least, for now.
There's also going to be interest in the performances of zippy European imports Martin Stepan and Bostjan Golicic and Quebec league transplant Adam Ross, the only 20-year-old forward.
Schaber, the diminutive and shifty Kozun and rugged Ian Schultz form a capable all-rookie line.
"You kind of have a picture of what you have but, until you see the whites of their eyes, you don't know exactly," said Kisio. "The Europeans have looked pretty solid but, when we drop the puck for real, we'll see how they handle the games and all the games we play."
The Hitmen now have a target on their backs and it'll be interesting to see how they respond to the hype.
Calgary Hitmen Roster
(Player, year born, 2006-07 club)
- Goaltenders:Dan Spence, 1988, Hitmen; Martin Jones, 1990, Hitmen.
- Defence: Karl Alzner, 1988, Hitmen; Alex Plante, 1989, Hitmen; Ryan Gillen, 1987, Hitmen; Eric Frere, 1988, Hitmen; Brett Plouffe, 1989, Hitmen; Michael Stone, 1990, Hitmen; Dan Mercer, 1987, Hitmen; Keith Seabrook, 1988, U of Denver; Matt Mackenzie, 1991, B.C. midget AAA.
- Forwards: Ryan White, 1988, Hitmen; Keegan Dansereau, 1988, Hitmen; Brett Sonne, 1989, Hitmen; Ian Duval, 1988, Hitmen; Bostjan Golicic, 1989, Slovenia; Ian Schultz, 1990, Calgary midget AAA; Devon Kalinski, 1990, Hitmen; Carson McMillan, 1988, Hitmen; Brandon Kozun, 1990, Calgary Royals/Hitmen; Adam Ross, 1987, Victoriaville; Ryan Fox, 1990, Prince Albert midget Mintos; Chase Schaber, 1991, Red Deer midget Rebels; T.J. Galiardi, 1988, Dartmouth College; Brendan Rowinski, 1990, Hitmen; Martin Stepan, 1989, Slovakia; Ryan Letts, 1989, Hitmen.
- Injured: Mercer, Seabrook, Letts.
- Suspended: Dansereau.
- At NHL Camps: Plante, White.
- Coach-GM: Kelly Kisio.
- Associate Coach: Dave Lowry.
- Assistant Coach: Joel Otto.
- Video-Assistant GM: Brent Kisio.
All games broadcast on FAN 960 Radio or FAN 960.com with play-by-play man Brad Curle.
Top 10 Ranked Teams in The CHL
1. London Knights
2. Calgary Hitmen
3. Halifax Mooseheads
4. Everett Silvertips
5. Niagara IceDogs
6. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
7. Sarnia Sting
8. Rimouski Oceanic
9. Val-d'Or Foreurs
10. Oshawa Generals
© The Calgary Herald 2007
Prime contenders
Hitmen ranked No. 2 in CHL, favourites to win WHL's Central Division
John Down, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007
Game Day
Red Deer Vs Calgary
7 p.m. at the Saddledome
- - -
There was a slight furrow in Kelly Kisio's brow as he wrapped up Thursday's practice at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
The head coach and GM of the Calgary Hitmen admitted he was a little nervous as he prepared his Central Division troops for tonight's Western Hockey League opener against the visiting Red Deer Rebels at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Earlier in the day, his club had been listed No. 2, behind the London Knights, in the pre-season Canadian Hockey League rankings. The fact 10 of his players made it to NHL camps this fall speaks volumes for the skill level of the club.
"Just what we need," sighed Kisio, whose club was ranked between No. 1 and No. 5 for most of the 2005-06 season. "A lot of times, kids read their own press and get too much strut to their own game when they don't deserve it. It's important that we don't pay attention to it, care less about it, actually. We need to go out and earn it."
There's no denying this 2007-08 edition of the Hitmen sizes up as a prime contender on paper. There's veteran goaltending, an experienced defensive corps and some proven veterans up front to go with some energetic and gifted newcomers.
Two years ago, the Hitmen earned top rankings behind the all-star goaltending of Justin Pogge and possibly the league's top defensive corps led by Brett Carson and Jeff Schultz. Scoring came by committee but it wasn't enough to get past Round 2 of the playoffs.
Last season, the team came on late behind an experienced group of forwards, a better-than-average defence and the steady goaltending of Daniel Spence in making it all the way to the Western Conference final.
"I don't think the rankings can affect a team's play in a negative way," said Spence. "You take it for what it is. The season hasn't started yet and I don't think too highly of those pre-season rankings. Obviously, we've got a good team and it's nice that we get that kind of respect, but it doesn't mean much until the first puck drops."
Like last season, the Hitmen will be missing some key pieces to start the campaign. Veteran defencemen Dan Mercer and Keith Seabrook are out with injuries. No. 1 centre Ryan White and defenceman Alex Plante remain with their NHL clubs. Hard-nosed Ryan Letts is nursing a bad knee and sometimes-flashy winger Keegan Dansereau is under team suspension.
But they'll still be able to field a six-man defensive corps from the nine on the roster, anchored by first-round draft pick Karl Alzner, and four swift lines with one spare forward.
The strength of the club, once again, will be down the middle. In fact, they have so many pivots that two, rookie Brandon Kozun and veteran Brett Sonne, have been moved to the wings. Kisio even admits White could start at wing when he returns from the Canadiens.
That leaves veteran Ian Duval, highly rated newcomer T.J. Galiardi, sophomore Brendan Rowinski and 16-year-old rookie Chase Schaber to take the faceoffs. At least, for now.
There's also going to be interest in the performances of zippy European imports Martin Stepan and Bostjan Golicic and Quebec league transplant Adam Ross, the only 20-year-old forward.
Schaber, the diminutive and shifty Kozun and rugged Ian Schultz form a capable all-rookie line.
"You kind of have a picture of what you have but, until you see the whites of their eyes, you don't know exactly," said Kisio. "The Europeans have looked pretty solid but, when we drop the puck for real, we'll see how they handle the games and all the games we play."
The Hitmen now have a target on their backs and it'll be interesting to see how they respond to the hype.
Calgary Hitmen Roster
(Player, year born, 2006-07 club)
- Goaltenders:Dan Spence, 1988, Hitmen; Martin Jones, 1990, Hitmen.
- Defence: Karl Alzner, 1988, Hitmen; Alex Plante, 1989, Hitmen; Ryan Gillen, 1987, Hitmen; Eric Frere, 1988, Hitmen; Brett Plouffe, 1989, Hitmen; Michael Stone, 1990, Hitmen; Dan Mercer, 1987, Hitmen; Keith Seabrook, 1988, U of Denver; Matt Mackenzie, 1991, B.C. midget AAA.
- Forwards: Ryan White, 1988, Hitmen; Keegan Dansereau, 1988, Hitmen; Brett Sonne, 1989, Hitmen; Ian Duval, 1988, Hitmen; Bostjan Golicic, 1989, Slovenia; Ian Schultz, 1990, Calgary midget AAA; Devon Kalinski, 1990, Hitmen; Carson McMillan, 1988, Hitmen; Brandon Kozun, 1990, Calgary Royals/Hitmen; Adam Ross, 1987, Victoriaville; Ryan Fox, 1990, Prince Albert midget Mintos; Chase Schaber, 1991, Red Deer midget Rebels; T.J. Galiardi, 1988, Dartmouth College; Brendan Rowinski, 1990, Hitmen; Martin Stepan, 1989, Slovakia; Ryan Letts, 1989, Hitmen.
- Injured: Mercer, Seabrook, Letts.
- Suspended: Dansereau.
- At NHL Camps: Plante, White.
- Coach-GM: Kelly Kisio.
- Associate Coach: Dave Lowry.
- Assistant Coach: Joel Otto.
- Video-Assistant GM: Brent Kisio.
All games broadcast on FAN 960 Radio or FAN 960.com with play-by-play man Brad Curle.
Top 10 Ranked Teams in The CHL
1. London Knights
2. Calgary Hitmen
3. Halifax Mooseheads
4. Everett Silvertips
5. Niagara IceDogs
6. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
7. Sarnia Sting
8. Rimouski Oceanic
9. Val-d'Or Foreurs
10. Oshawa Generals
© The Calgary Herald 2007