MEMORIAL CUP GAME DAY

GAME DAY
What: 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup: Round-Robin
Who: Brandon Wheat Kings vs Calgary Hitmen
When: 9:00 pm
Where: Keystone Centre, Brandon, Manitoba

BRANDON WHEAT KINGS
Regular season record: 50-18-1-3 (104 points)
League regular season ranking: Second overall, second in Eastern Conference
Combined regular season and playoff home record: 31-10-0-2
Regular season goal differential: 321-204
Playoff goal differential: 56-51
Playoff record: 9-6
Memorial Cup appearances: Three (1979, 1995 and 1996)
Memorial Cup championships: None
League championships: Two (1979 and 1996)
Preview: Rogers Sportsnet

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

In a rematch on the Western Hockey League Final, the Calgary Hitmen take on the home town Brandon Wheat Kings in the last game of round-robin action at the Memorial Cup.




FAMILIAR FOES
The Calgary Hitmen and Brandon Wheat Kings know each other all too well. The last time the WHL rivals met was in game five of the semi-finals when the Hitmen advanced to the league final.

“We’ve got so much of a rivalry with Calgary,” said Wheat Kings’ defenceman Colby Robak to MemorialCup.com. “Out of the four years I’ve been here they have knocked us out three times. Personally and as a team, they are an easy team for us to want to beat.”

“I think there are probably still some hard feelings from our series earlier,” said Hitmen forward Tyler Shattock. “I don’t think you can expect anything but the best from both teams. Everyone wants to put on a good show. We’re on national TV and everyone wants to put in their say for Friday.”

SOMETHING TO PLAY FOR
Although tonight’s game has no meaning with regards to the standings, both teams will be bring their “A” game.

"If they pulled a win together against us, it could give them a boatload of confidence and we don't need that going into the semifinals of the biggest tournament of most of our lives," said Hitmen forward Kris Foucault, who has a goal and an assist in the tournament to the Calgary Herald.

"From our team's standpoint, it looks a lot better to come out (of the round robin with a record of) 2-1 than 1-2. If we don't beat them, that could put a dagger into some of us."

OUT OF THE LINEUP
From Rogers Sportsnet:

Calgary will be without Brandon Kozun for the second consecutive game while Cody Sylvester is also expected to be out. Neither practised this morning with the rest of the team.

WHAT NOW?
Is this the last year for the Memorial Cup? After this year’s tournament is complete, there will be no more room on trophy for team plaques. But CHL commissioner David Branch says not to worry.

"We set into motion a policy going back several years ago that the Memorial Cup will not change its shape or size because it's got such a distinctive structure and is so recognizable," said Branch on Wednesday to Luber’s Lounge, "So, what we'll, do as we need more space, we'll take some of the top plaques off and make them a little bit smaller, and we'll place the original ones will be placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame."

OWEN’S TIME
With Nicola Riopel on the shelf for last night’s game with an illness, backup Shane Owen suited up for his first game since March 11.

Despite picking up the overtime loss, Owen never missed a beat.

"We had a lot of confidence in him and we knew that if we needed him that he would deliver," Wildcats head coach Danny Flynn said to Rogers Sportsnet. "He played pretty much like that all year for us. He's got a lot of tools. He's got a real good mental side."

"We knew he could do the job," overage forward Randy Cameron added. "Really, really proud of him. He stepped in there and shut the door for us and made the big stops when we needed it and we could take momentum from those saves."


LIVE CHAT
Join Yahoo! Sports Jr. Hockey Editor Sunaya Sapurji and Buzzing the Net blogger Neate Sager live from the MasterCard Memorial Cup tonight at 9:00 pm for their LIVE BLOG.

OTHER STUFF
Full Preview from Yahoo! Sports blog “Buzzing the Net”



The Wildcats went to see Iron Man 2 on Monday night according to Andrew Flynn. Flynn, the son of Moncton’s head coach Danny, as been filing reports all week in the Times & Transcript.

Live with Regis and Kelly is going to be doing a show from PEI this summer. Unreal.

Terry Doyle of LoosePucks.com takes a look at an annual event at the Memorial Cup: complaints
Les Stoodley gives a big thank-you to everyone who accommodated the Wildcats in Brandon.

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