Hitmen hot streak turning heads
Squad revved to face Oil Kings
Looking upward, there’s not much for the Calgary Hitmen to see.
Only two squads in the Western Hockey League — Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers — have accumulated more points. Meaning above the Hitmen in the Eastern Conference? Nothing but blue sky.
“For the most part we’ve been really good,” says centre Greg Chase. “We’ve had a really good start and we’re doing what we have to do to win hockey games. We know that our confidence is high right now.
“We know we’re got a great hockey club in there. We know when we play our best, there’s not many teams that can compete with us.”
The Hitmen reach the unofficial midpoint of their campaign Tuesday against the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Yes, it is only Game 35, but seeing how it’s the last stop before a nine-day holiday break, it stands as a handy breaking-off juncture.
So how about that high-end first half?
“We’ve been playing some really great hockey at times,” replies centre Brady Brassart.
“But, obviously, for a few games, we fell asleep. It’s been a roller-coaster, but mostly good. When you’ve got everyone pulling their weight, giving 100-per-cent effort and doing their part, then things kind of click.
“It’s fun to see everything come together.”
Around the hockey world, the Hitmen have undoubtedly turned heads. After all, they weren’t mentioned with the glamour boys at the season’s start.
“Obviously, there’s teams like Edmonton, and Prince Albert started out real hot,” says Brassart. “And, obviously, Portland, in the U.S. Division, is a great team. I think people looked at those teams. They didn’t consider us a top contender. But we just put our nose to the grindstone and kind of proved a few people wrong.”
Adds goalie Chris Driedger: “At the start of the season, Edmonton was looking to be the team in the East. Right now, we’re beating them in points and are 4-1 against them. So I
It’s been a rollercoaster, but mostly good. BRADY BRASSART
think a couple people should be surprised — and probably are surprised — that we’ve come together like this.”
The Hitmen currently possess a 23-7-4 record.
Since Halloween, in particular, the local lads have been rolling, going 15-3-1. In that span, 12 different players have contributed gamewinning goals, an indicator of their balanced attack.
Only one Calgarian resides in the WHL’s top 30 scorers. That’s Brooks Macek, who has collected 40 points.
“We’ve got a really deep forward group,” says Chase. “We’ve got guys that can score from any line. When you’ve got a 16-year-old (Jake Virtanen) going through every line, it’s pretty impressive. A lot of fun.”
Probably unanimous among the Hitmen is the wish that they could shore up their log at the Saddledome.
As it is, they’re 11-6-3 in Calgary dates.
Not actually rotten, until it’s compared it to their unbelievable display on the road, 12-1-1.
“It’s cool to know that we’re going to another team’s barn and chances are, we’re going to beat them,” said Driedger, who’s playing no small role in the team’s ride — 18-5-3, 2.22 goals-against average, .924 save percentage. “And after the games, there’s nothing better than driving back to Calgary with a win under your belt.”
It’s almost enough to make the boys forget about Oct. 26, the night they got starched 10-1 by the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers.
“We look at it, like, ‘That happens to a lot of good teams,’ ” says Brassart. “It’s almost like everyone falls apart — and doesn’t come to the rink prepared — all at the same time. It’s in the past right now. A learning experience. We don’t want to ever have that happen again.”
Adds Chase: “That’s the league we play in — anybody can win in any situation. That game’s out the window. After that, we’ve shown teams that we’re going to be ready to play, no matter what. We’re trying to be the best we can and finish at the top of this league.”