Since suffering a 2-1 setback to the Kelowna Rockets at home on Feb. 28, the Calgary Hitmen have gone on quite a roll.
On Friday, they’ll face off against the Rockets once again as the battle for the Ed Chenoweth Cup begins at the Pengrowth Saddledome (7:30 p.m., Shaw TV, Fan 960).
“If you look at the stats, (Kelowna) is the best team since the trading deadline,” said Hitmen head coach Dave Lowry. “It’s a really good challenge for our hockey team.”
Since that late February loss to the Rockets, the Hitmen won five of their final six regular season games on the road before reeling off 12 straight playoff victories to qualify for the Western Hockey League championship series in convincing fashion. “It’s going to be awesome to play again in front of our home crowd,” said forward Brandon Kozun, who helped the Hitmen sweep the Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes and Brandon Wheat Kings.
The Hitmen will also host the Rockets on Saturday night (7 p.m.) before the series shifts to Kelowna for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday nights.
“Obviously they were able to beat us in our own rink during the season,” said Hitmen forward Brett Sonne, who was named WHL Player of the Year on Wednesday. “If we want to win the series, we’re going to have to become closer and better as a team.”
