Hitmen grab 2-0 series lead

Odd Occurrence of the Game

Medicine Hat’s Tristan King and Tyler Shattock were ‘joined at the hip’ as King’s skate was wedged into Shattock’s equipment and needed the referee’s assistance to wiggle free from the entrapment.

Save of the Game

Martin Jones makes a key pad save in the first period on Tiger’s defenceman Thomas Kundratek to keep the score locked at goose-eggs.

Hit of the Game

28 on 28

The Hitmen’s 28, Michael Stone, lays out the Tiger’s 28, Bretton Cameron, in the corner of Hitmen zone less than a minute into play to set the tone of the game.

Post-Game Quotes

Brandon Kozun - one goal


With the slow first period, what was said in the locker room?

“I think we didn’t come out the way we wanted to. I think we’re relying on getting that first goal first. Once we get that it seems that we start to get going, but we got to make sure that next game we come out right off the bat.”

You only allowed 19 shots against a tough Tiger team

“Yeah, we know what kind of team they are. They are a run’n’gun team, and we wanna play our style of game out there.”

Talk about how you just signed an entry level deal with the Kings

“It’s definitely a huge honour. It’s been a goal of mine for the entire year. It’s definitely something I’m pretty happy about.”

Lengthy negotiations or quick deal?

“It was a little bit of both. It was pretty painless. I am just happy to get it done with.”

The Kings have a lot of good young prospects, what is your take on their team?

“They definitely have a bright young future and obviously a lot guys there have done a good job. Dean Lombardi obviously has come in and done a very good job. So it’s definitely a huge honour to be apart of the organization. Hopefully I will start my pro career there.”

What do they expect from you in the fall?

“Actually we haven’t talked about it much. Maybe, we will talk a little bit more at the end of the playoffs. You know I am just trying to do my best here right now, and try and win the Memorial Cup and then go from there.”

“I’m focused on winning a Memorial Cup and that’s where I am right now.”

Martin Jones – 19 save shutout

Talk about the defensive effort from the team

“Yeah, especially against a team like Medicine Hat, they got a lot of team speed and they can really get a lot off the rush. It’s been a good two games for us. We have played well defensively and we have done all the little things right. Winning battles at the blue line, having a good high guy, things like that. All that’s been a huge factor for us.”

Up 2-0 instead of down 2-0 like last series

“It’s nice to be up for a change, but I don’t think our mindset is going to be any different. We still have to play with that desperation, play like we are down two games. Every game is a must win, because if you give a team like that momentum, they are going to run with it. They are too good and too fast of a team to give them any life. So we got to make sure we come into Medicine Hat and play with that urgency.”

You are 12-0 against the Tigers personally

“I didn’t even know that, so it’s fun to play those guys. It’s fun to play those guys in the regular season. They are always fun division games and important games so it’s nice to be able to play well against that team. Other than that, there is not much else to it.”

Tyler Shattock – two goals

Defence first mindset

“Absolutely, we definitely have a defence first mindset against a team like Medicine Hat. You can see they have a pretty fast, quick team. I think we are doing a good job of clogging up the neutral zone to shut that down. We got to carry that on into Medicine Hat. We know it is going to be a tough place to play, I think we can pull her out.”

How did you guys change your game tonight?

“I think we were being a bit too fancy early on. We only had three shots after the first period. After that I think we got pucks to the net. He is a young goalie and he hasn’t played many playoff games, so I think we can get to him.”

Head Coach Mike Williamson

Defence team effort

“Our penalty kill was much sharper tonight. As the game went on, our guys did a pretty good job of getting in lanes and keeping pucks to the outside. Defence is just about hard work, commitment and paying attention and our guys did that as the game went on.”

Tuesday night, what do you have to do?

“They were in this position last round, so they have a lot of confidence going back to their own rink. They play very well there. They have one of the best records in the league at home during the regular season. It’s a tough building to go into and you just can’t stress enough for our guys, that if you don’t play close to sixty minutes and have a better start, that’s definitely going to play into their advantage.”