MEMORIAL CUP GAME DAY

GAME DAY
What: 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Preliminary Round
Who: Calgary Hitmen vs Windsor Spitfires
When: 9:00 pm
Where: Keystone Centre, Brandon, Manitoba

CALGARY HITMEN
Regular season record: 52-17-1-2 (107 points)
League regular season ranking: First overall, first in Eastern Conference
Combined regular season and playoff road record: 33-12-1-0
Regular season goal differential: 269-177
Playoff goal differential: 96-56
Playoff record: 16-7
Memorial Cup appearances: 1999
Memorial Cup championships: None
League championships: 1999, 2010
Preview: Rogers Sportsnet

WINDSOR SPITFIRES
Regular season record: 50-12-1-5 (106 points)
League regular season ranking: Second overall, first in Western Conference
Combined regular season and playoff road record: 29-10-1-3
Regular season goal differential: 331-203
Playoff goal differential: 90-54
Playoff record: 16-3
Memorial Cup appearances: Two (1988 and 2009)
Memorial Cup championships: One (2009)
League championships: Two (2009 and 2010)
Preview: Rogers Sportsnet

LOOKING TO ADVANCE
The Windsor Spitfires are looking to advance to the Memorial Cup Final with a win today.

"I think our guys can smell an opportunity," Spitfires head coach Bob Boughner said.

"We'll let the other things settle themselves out," said Calgary head coach Mike Williamson, whose team rallied from a late two-goal deficit to beat Moncton 5-4 Saturday. "It just might be a different path than someone else." (National Post)

HALL RECOVERS FROM SCARY HIT
In the opening seconds of Friday game at the Memorial Cup, highly touted prospect Taylor Hall found himself performing a face plant into the end boards. Hall was left with a few marks on his face following the hit.

"The biggest call was from my mom, she was really worried," said Hall. "I felt bad -- she had to watch the replay on TV about 10 times." (Winnipeg Free Press)

KOZUN IS “DOUBTFULL”
Hitmen sniper Brandon Kozun is not likely to play tonight. Kozun, who led Calgary in playoff scoring, was in the lineup for Saturday’s game against Moncton but rarely saw a shift.

"I would say it's doubtful if he'll play," said Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson who sat Kozun after a half-dozen shifts in the first period and a power play in the second against Moncton.

His replacement on the top line will likely be Tyler Fiddler who scored Calgary's first goal on a feed from Del Cowan Saturday. (Calgary Herald)


LOOKING SHARP
Spitfires’ Dale Mitchell has been impressive at the Memorial Cup – with his moustache.

“I joined the Toronto Marlies for the (Calder Cup) playoffs, and they all grew moustaches, and it took them to the conference final,” Mitchell said. “Going into Windsor the following year, I thought it would be funny to do a moustache for the playoffs and change things up from my previous years of doing a full beard.” (Toronto Sun)

MAKING AN IMPRESSION
Brandon Wheat Kings goaltender Jacob DeSerres made sure he didn’t waste his opportunity Sunday afternoon by posting a shutout against the Wildcats.

“I was pretty upset about not getting the start,” DeSerres said of the opener in which he was inserted into the game after the Spitfires pumped five first-period goals past Andrew Hayes.

“Like any goalie, I did (think I should start). But I respect Kelly’s (McCrimmon) decision. He’s a great GM and coach, and he has a reason for every decision he makes. (Toronto Sun)

WE REALLY SUCK
Rogers Sportsnet columnist Patrick King had a solid piece yesterday about why the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League continues to suck at the Memorial Cup.

There was a time when the QMJHL was a constant threat to the other two leagues in this tournament.

But ever since 2006 when both the host Wildcats and Québec Remparts made it to the final, no QMJHL team has advanced past the semifinal.

The only team from their league to make it as far as the semis was the Drummondville Voltigeurs a year ago when the tournament was hosted by Rimouski.

CRAZY TIME
Subway has been running a unique intermission event during the tournament. Video courtesy of Loose Pucks.


MEDIA
Television: Rogers Sportsnet, RDS, and NHL Network (USA)
Webcast: Sportsnet.ca