Brandon 3 Calgary 2 OT

The 2012 Calgary Hitmen playoff run is over, ending at the hands of the Brandon Wheat Kings Thursday night in Winnipeg.

Paul Ciarelli scored his scored goal of the game at 8:26 of overtime giving the Wheat Kings a 3-2 victory and lifting Brandon to a 4-1 series win.

After a scoreless first period Wheat Kings import Alessio Bertaggia scored the lone goal of the second period, tipping home a point shopping while jumping about a foot off the ice. 

Calgary bounced back with a strong start to the third period getting goals from Alex Gogolev and Chase Clayton 33 second apart to give the Hitmen their first lead of the night at 2-1. 

However the advantage was short lived as Ciarelli notched the tying goal less than three minutes later.

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but I didn't have any internet access until arriving back in Calgary this afternoon.  I'll add some more post series reaction in the days ahead.  But for now upon returning home I had a chance to catch up with the three graduating 20-year-olds, Collin Bowman, Jimmy Bubnick and Brock Sutherland.

Click here to listen to the interview

Calgary Hitmen 2 at Brandon Wheat Kings 3 (OT)Thursday, March 29, 2012 - MTS Centre - Winnipeg, MB

Calgary 0 0 2 0 - 2
Brandon 0 1 1 1 - 3

1st Period
No Scoring.
Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period
1, Brandon, Bertaggia 3 (Roy, Sundher), 0:36.
Penalties-Kosterman Cal (tripping), 1:50; Cheek Cal (hooking), 11:39.

3rd Period
2, Calgary, Gogolev 3 (Bubnick, Bowman), 1:12.
3, Calgary, Clayton 1 (Macek, Cheek), 1:45.
4, Brandon, Ciarelli 1 (Dziurzynski, Meilleur), 4:14.
Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period
5, Brandon, Ciarelli 2 (Dziurzynski, Meilleur), 8:26.
Penalties-Kosterman Cal (tripping), 4:46.

Shots on Goal-Calgary 14-10-12-8-44. Brandon 9-15-17-2-43.
Power Play Opportunities-Calgary 0 / 0; Brandon 0 / 3.
Goalies-Calgary, Glover 1-1-1-0 (43 shots-40 saves). Brandon, Boes 4-1-0-0 (44 shots-42 saves).
A-4,002
Referees-Brett Montsion (54), Reagan Vetter (79).
Linesmen-Bryden Hutlet (114), Darrell Surminski (37).