By / Scott Fisher
The Calgary Hitmen have surprised everyone.
Everyone — except themselves.
After losing a number of key players to the pro ranks over the off-season, many Junior hockey pundits expected the Hitmen to struggle.
On paper, it looked like they had a squad good enough to qualify for the post-season. But they’d have to scrap for every point to get there.
That hasn’t been the case.
The Hitmen exploded out of the gates with a 13-3-0-0 record and, in late October, were ranked No. 6 in the CHL.
Sniper Brandon Kozun, among the league leaders with a dozen goals through 16 games, said his team isn’t rebuilding, just retooling.
“Any time you have a team that goes to the Eastern Conference final two years in a row, you’re thinking ‘hey, this team has to rebuild once in a while,” Kozun told the Calgary Sun.
“But you know what? Vancouver does it every year, too. Personally, I didn’t expect them to be doing as good as they have. But they’re obviously a good team.”
The Giants hadn’t lost in regulation time through their first 13 tilts (10-0-0-3) and were ranked seventh in the country.
The OHL’s Windsor Spitfires (12-1-0-0) were at No. 1.
Perhaps the Hitmen’s record shouldn’t be all that shocking. There are, after all, seven NHL draft picks on the roster, including Brett Sonne (St. Louis Blues).
“It’s not a shock we’re ranked,” Sonne told the Sun.
“We’re a skilled team that is hard-working. When we come out with both every night, we’re going to get recognized.”
Some people are still waiting for the other shoe to drop — a string of five or six losses in a row that would bring the Hitmen back down to earth.
Kozun said those nay-sayers might be waiting for a long time.
“I don’t think a lot of people thought we’d do as good as we’re doing, but they didn’t know what kind of talent we have in this room.
“We knew there were guys who could step up. We’re pretty deep and when we have every guy going, we’re a hard team to beat.
“I think there’s still a lot of doubters out there, but people are starting to realize this team is really good.”
HIT PARADE
It didn’t take Dan Spence long to find a new home.
Less than a week after being cut by the Hitmen so the team could get down to the maximum number of three 20-year-olds, the Langley, B.C.-product signed with the OHL’s Sarnia Sting.
Earlier this season, Spence set the Hitmen’s franchise record for career victories with 75.
— Scott Fisher covers the WHL for the Calgary Sun. |
