hitmenhockey.com

Calgary, AB. - Despite leading the playoff scoring race, Brandon Kozun didn’t feel like he was contributing as much as he could against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

That all changed on Friday night as Kozun counted a pair of goals and two assists to lead Calgary to a 6-1 win over the Wheaties to earn the Hitmen a spot in the Western Hockey League final for the second straight post-season.

“It felt good,” said Kozun of his first-star performance. “I haven’t played to my full ability in this series. I was having a little bit of trouble getting around the ice. They were doing a pretty good job on me.”

The regular season scoring champ said he changed up his game plan by chipping pucks around the Brandon defence and then using his speed in pursuit to create scoring chances.

“I think I started to figure out a few things,” said Kozun, who has scored seven goals and added 19 helpers through 18 playoff games so far. “That really helped me out and gave me a little bit more room out there.”

After losing the first game of the Husky Eastern Conference Championship Series, the Hitmen reeled off four consecutive wins to capture the best-of-seven affair in five games.

“At the end of the day we’re going back to the championship and that’s all that matters,” Kozun said.

Calgary goalie Martin Jones made 20 saves to improve his post-season record to 12-6 was chosen as the Eastern Conference final most-valuable player.

“It’s a bonus,” Jones said. “It’s nice to get that award, nice to be recognized, but at the end of the day we’re happy with the way we came and played 60 minutes today and we’re building towards the next series.”

Rookie defenceman Jaynen Rissling scored his first-ever WHL goal for the Hitmen then added a pair of assists for good measure.

“Mark Stone on their team kind of fell so I had some extra time and I just kind of lofted one on net and it found its way in,” said Rissling of his milestone marker.

Hitmen forward Kris Foucault fished out the puck from the Brandon net for Rissling to save as a keepsake while the rest of his teammates congratulated him.

“They were really happy for me,” Rissling said. “I think they were happier than I was. It was really surprising that they would do that.”

Joel Broda and Misha Fisenko tallied a goal and an assist each for the Hitmen, while Matt MacKenzie also scored.

“I didn’t think we had any passengers tonight,” said Hitmen Head Coach Mike Williamson. “I thought everybody right through the lineup played well, but our big guys did step up and they needed to. We knew they had a little bit more to give.”

Mark Stone scored the lone goal of the game for the Wheat Kings, while goalie Jacob DeSerres finished with 31 saves.

“We didn’t have much going,” said Brandon bench boss Kelly McCrimmon. “I thought we were okay out of the gate. I thought really from the 1-0 goal that Calgary scored (by Broda at 10:40 of the first period) I thought they grabbed momentum from that and built on the lead. We just didn’t push back like we had earlier in the series in similar situations.”

Despite the loss, the Wheat Kings will still advance to play in the MasterCard Memorial Cup from May 14-23 in Brandon as the host team.

Meanwhile, the Hitmen battle either the Tri-City Americans or Vancouver Giants for the Ed Chynoweth Cup starting next Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

EASTERN CONFERENCE MVP

Martin Jones, Hitmen

HARDEST WORKING HITMAN

Ben Wilson

WHEAT KINGS 1 at HITMEN 6

First period
1. Calgary, Broda 12 (Cowan) 10:40

2. Calgary, Fisenko 4 (Kozun) 18:27

Penalties - Wiebe Bdn (roughing), Beach Cal (unsportsmanlike conduct – diving) 4:53, Rissling Cal (holding) 8:39, Fehr Bdn (checking from behind) 12:05, Wilson Cal (cross-checking) 17:57, Rajala Cal (high-sticking) 18:14.

Second period

3. Calgary, Kozun 6 (Nyren, Broda) 0:15

Penalties – Ciarelli Bdn (interference) 1:48, Bubnick Cal (checking from behind) 5:57, Calvert Bdn (fighting, misconduct), MacKenzie Cal (fighting) 12:22, Miller Bdn, Foucault Cal, Schultz Cal (unsportsmanlike conduct) 13:08, Schenn Bdn (misconduct) 13:30, Fehr Bdn (interference), Fiddler Cal (unsportsmanlike conduct - diving) 13:40, Walker Bdn (elbowing) 15:52, Raedeke Bdn (slashing) 16:47.

Third period

4. Calgary, Rissling 1 (Kozun, Fisenko) 6:29

5. Brandon, Stone 1 (Raedeke, Schneider) 12:00

6. Calgary, Kozun 7 (Stone, Rissling) 17:51 (pp)

7. Calgary, MacKenzie 4 (Beach, Rissling) 18:18 (pp)

Penalties - Calvert Bdn, Fiddler Cal (roughing) 8:20, Raedeke Bdn (slashing) 9:16, Glennie Bdn (double high-sticking) 16:37, Raedeke Bdn (slashing), Stebner Cal (roughing) 16:55, Calvert Bdn (hooking) 17:42

Shots on goal by:
Brandon       6      6     9   -  21
Calgary      14    13   10  -  37

Goal - Brandon: DeSerres (L, 8-4); Calgary: Jones (W, 12-6).
Powerplays (goals-chances) - Bdn: 0-5; Cal: 2-9.

Referees - Andy Thiessen, Chris Savage. Linesmen - Jeff Jobson, Scott Sharun.

Attendance: 11,222.