Hitmen honour 2011-12 best

On Sunday the Calgary Hitmen honoured their best at the 2011-12 Awards Banquet at The Fairmont Palliser.  The afternoon featured special addresses from Bret “Hitman” Hart, one of the team’s founding owners, and Charlie Simmer, National Hockey League great and colour analyst for the Calgary Flames Sportsnet broadcasts.

Playing in his final Western Hockey League season, assistant captain Jimmy Bubnick earned four awards, including the Petro-Canada Player of the Year award.  Past recipients of this prestigious honour include Brad Moran and Ryan Getzlaf.  This season the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native, received Ed Williams Player of the Month recognition in November and February and has set career highs in goals (36), assists (41) and points (77), including posting a career-high five-point performance (2g, 3a) last month.

“Jimmy has been a vital part of our hockey club’s success this season,” said Calgary Hitmen Executive VP, Alternate Governor and General Manager Kelly Kisio.  “He worked incredibly hard to improve his skills on and off the ice, and is a respected mentor in the dressing room.  It has been a privilege to have Jimmy in our organization for three seasons and we wish him all the best in his post-WHL endeavors.”

2011-12 Calgary Hitmen Team Awards
Ed Williams Player of the Month for March Victor Rask
Calgary Hitmen Leading Scorer Award Jimmy Bubnick
Calgary Hitmen Booster Club Fan Favourite Award Trevor Cheek
National Sports Development Players Choice Award Peter Kosterman
ENMAX Humanitarian Award Cody Sylvester and Chase Clayton
Chrysler Canada Inc. Scholastic Player Award Jimmy Bubnick
Wendy’s Restaurant Rookie of the Year Award Victor Rask
Husky Energy Top Defenceman Award Collin Bowman
RE/MAX Three Star Award Jimmy Bubnick
TELUS Coaches Award Cody Sylvester
Petro-Canada Player of the Year Award Jimmy Bubnick

                                              Trevor Cheek wins "Fan Favourite"

The Hitmen will open the 2012 playoffs against the Brandon Wheat Kings on March 22 and 23.  Both games are 7:00 p.m. starts at the Scotiabank Saddledome.  Playoff tickets are available now at all Ticketmaster locations and online at http://www.ticketmaster.ca/.  For information on playoff packages and group tickets, call Customer Service at 403-777-4646.

A buffet will be served in the Avison Young Club Dining Room before each playoff game, open two hours prior to puck drop.  For buffet reservations, call 403-571-9733.  The reservation line is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.