Brandon at Calgary

The Calgary Hitmen (27-17-2-1) play game four of a five game homestand tonight against Canadian World Junior Mark Stone and the Brandon Wheat Kings (24-22-1-2).  Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome.  The Hitmen enter play having won two in a row and 10 of their last 11 games.  Calgary is coming off Sunday's 4-2 home ice win over Red Deer.  Brandon meanwhile posted a 1-0 win in Cranbrook last night over the Kootenay Ice.  It snapped a two game losing streak for the Wheaties who have gone just 8-15-0-1 in their last 24 games.

The Hitmen enter play with 57 points, good for seventh in the WHL's Eastern Conference.  They sit six points ahead of Brandon, but trail Regina by a single point for sixth.  Brandon holds the eighth and final playoff spot with 51 points, six points ahead of ninth place Red Deer.

                                                Photo Credit:  Brad Watson

Tonight is the the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two teams.  The Hitmen lead the series 2-1.  Trevor Cheek tops all Hitmen with four points (3g 1a) against Brandon while Alessio Bertaggia (3g 2a) and Brendan Walker (2g 3a) both have five points to lead the Wheat Kings. 
-Nov. 4 in Brandon:  Wheat Kings 5 Hitmen 2.   The Brandon line of Brendan Walker (2g 2a), Mark Stone (1g 2a) and Michael Ferlund (2g 3a) combined for 11 points.
-Nov. 22 in Brandon:  Hitmen 6 Wheat Kings 3.  Alex Gogolev scored twice for Calgary while Cody Sylvester had three points (1g 2a)
-Dec. 11 in Calgary:  Hitmen 4 Wheat Kings 3.  Trevor Cheek scored twice for Calgary.
                                                             INSIDE THE SERIES
SHOTS ON GOAL: Cal 109  Bdn 78  POWERPLAYS: Cal 1-12 (8.3%)  Bdn 3-16 (18.8%)

DID YOU KNOW?  Brandon has three of the top 12 scorers in the WHL in Mark Stone (4th), Kevin Sundher (8th) and Michael Ferland (12th).  Calgary's top point producer, Cody Sylvester, is tied for 24th.

HOME AND AWAY:  Calgary is 13-8-0-1 on home ice this season while Brandon is 13-12-0-0.

STREAKIN':  Five Hitmen take point streaks into tonight's game: Danny Gayle (1g 4a), Victor Rask (3g 1a), Chase Clayton (2g 1a), Calder Brooks (1g 2a), and Brooks Macek (3a) have points in back-to-back games.  Chris Driedger is 5-0-0-1 in his last six starts.  No Brandon players are riding point streaks but Mark Stone has at least a single point in 36 of his 42 games this season

Top Scorers:

Calgary
Cody Sylvester 17g 34a 51pts
Jimmy Bubnick 21g 23a 44pts
Victor Rask 20g 16a 36pts
Brady Brassart 15g 21a 36pts

Brandon
Mark Stone 31g 44a 75pts
Kevin Sundher 23g 46a 69pts
Michael Ferland 25g 34a 59pts

Brandon Wheat Kings Drafted/NHL Signed Players:
F Kevin Sundher (Buffalo, 3rd Round, 75th overall in 2010 – SIGNED)
F Michael Ferland (Calgary, 5th Round, 133rd overall in 2010 - SIGNED)
F Mark Stone (Ottawa, 6th Round, 178th overall in 2010 - SIGNED)
G Brandon Anderson (Washington, SIGNED as a Free Agent in September, 2010).