Hitmen advance to Eastern Conference Final

The Calgary Hitmen booked their ticket to the Western Hockey League's final four Thursday night with a 5-1 win over Red Deer at Scotiabank Saddledome to capture their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-Final with the Rebels in five games.

The Hitmen opened the scoring for the fifth time in the series when Greg Chase tallied his second of the post season just under three minutes into the first period.  But the lead didn't last long as Calgary Flames prospect Turner Elson pulled the Rebels even just 61 seconds later.

Zanes Jones restored the Calgary advantage tipping a Brooks Macek shot into the top corner to send the Hitmen to the intermission break ahead 2-1.

In the second period, Calder Brooks added an insurance marker striking on the powerplay when he banged home a centering pass while fending off a Rebels defender.

It stayed that way until late in the third period when Red Deer, on a powerplay, elected to pull goaltender Patrik Bartosak for an extra skater but Spencer Humphries and Elliot Peterson scored back-to-back empty net shorthanded goals to seal the game and clinch the series.

Calgary will now face the defending WHL Champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the Eastern Conference Final which begins Thursday, April 18th at Rexall Place.

Red Deer Rebels 1 at Calgary Hitmen 5
Thursday, April 11, 2013 - Scotiabank Saddledome - Calgary, AB

Red Deer 1 0 0 - 1
Calgary 2 1 2 - 5

1st Period
1, Calgary, Chase 2 (Clayton, Kosterman), 2:32.
2, Red Deer, Elson 5 (Maxwell, Gaudet), 3:33.
3, Calgary, Jones 1 (Macek, Rask), 10:37.
Penalties-Zgraggen Cal (interference), 8:02; Dumba R.d (hooking), 14:20; Fafard R.d (slashing), 15:41; Chase Cal (high sticking), 19:53.

2nd Period
4, Calgary, Brooks 1 (Chase, Jones), 4:32 (PP).
Penalties-Musil R.d (high sticking), 2:51; Bellerive R.d (tripping), 7:04; Dumba R.d (roughing), 17:54; Jones Cal (hooking), 18:27; Elson R.d (high sticking), 18:39.

3rd Period
5, Calgary, Humphries 1 (Rask), 17:58 (SH EN).
6, Calgary, Peterson 3 (Clayton), 18:40 (SH EN).
Penalties-Fafard R.d (interference), 4:32; Gaudet R.d (high sticking), 6:32; Virtanen Cal (tripping), 17:30.

Shots on Goal-Red Deer 7-2-8-17. Calgary 11-8-15-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Red Deer 0 / 3; Calgary 1 / 8.
Goalies-Red Deer, Bartosak 5-3-1-0 (32 shots-29 saves). Calgary, Driedger 8-0-2-0 (17 shots-16 saves).
A-6,416
Referees-Nathan Wieler (18), Steve Papp (17).
Linesmen-Sean Donnelly (109), Cory Lundquist (128).