Hitmen to face Red Deer in Eastern Conference Semi-Final

The Calgary Hitmen will play their closest geographical rival in the second round of the Western Hockey League playoffs.  The match-up against Red Deer was set after the Edmonton Oil Kings eliminated the Kootenay Ice Friday night.

The Hitmen have home ice advantage in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-Final after finishing the regular season as the number two seed with 97 points.  Their opponent in Red Deer was the number four seed after an 85 point regular season.

Calgary beat the Swift Current Broncos in five games in the opening round while Red Deer swept Prince Albert in four straight.

This will be their first post season meeting since 2004 when the Rebels beat the Hitmen in seven games.

Here is their complete second round schedule:

Husky WHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final CALGARY VS. RED DEER
(Series J)

Game 1 - Thurs Apr 4 7:00 PM Red Deer at Calgary
Game 2 - Fri Apr 5 7:30 PM Red Deer at Calgary
Game 3 - Monday, Apr 8 7:00 PM Calgary at Red Deer
Game 4 - Tuesday, Apr 9 7:00 PM Calgary at Red Deer
Game 5 - Thursday, Apr 11, 7:00 PM Red Deer at Calgary*
Game 6 - Saturday, Apr 13 6:00 PM Calgary at Red Deer*
Game 7 - Tuesday, Apr 16 7:00 PM Red Deer at Calgary *
  *if necessary

 REGULAR SEASON HEAD-TO-HEAD:  The Hitmen and Rebels met six times in the regular season with three meetings ending in either overtime or a shootout.  Calgary was 4-0-1-1 against Red Deer with five of their six meetings back in 2012.  Hitmen captain Cody Sylvester led Calgary in scoring against the Rebels with seven goals and two assists for nine points, while Brooks Macek (3g, 3a) and Alex Roach (6a) had six points each. 
                                                                SERIES RECAP
Sept. 21/12 at RD:  Hitmen 3 Rebels 2  C. Sylvester had a hand in all three Calgary goals scoring twice and setting up another.
Sept. 29/12 at CAL:  Rebels 3 Hitmen 2 OT Brady Brassart and Cody Sylvester each netted power play markers.
Oct. 13/12 at CAL:  Hitmen 4 Rebels 2  Cody Sylvester scored two goals including the game winner.
Oct. 27/12 at RD:  Rebels 4 Hitmen 3 SO B. Gaudet scored in the seventh round of the shootout lifting the Rebels to a 4-3 win.
Dec. 12/12 at RD: Hitmen 2 Rebels 1 B. Macek and V. Rask scored 26 seconds apart in the third period to secure the win.
March 10/13 at Cal: Hitmen 4 Rebels 3 OT calder brooks scored the game winner after the Rebels overcame a 3-1 second period deficit
                                                               INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 223 RD 164     Power Plays: CAL 9-24 (37.5%) RD 3-21 (14.3%)