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| Matt MacKenzie |
So what do you do for encore when you have a season like the Hitmen just had?
After winning 52 games in the regular season and then running over the competition in the post-season en route to a WHL Championship, the Hitmen are faced with a daunting task.
With possibly 13 players returning from last year’s championship team, there will definitely be some new faces in the dressing room this time around.
With the likes of Brandon Kozun, Michael Stone, Joel Broda, Martin Jones and possibly Ian Schultz moving on into the professional ranks, that leaves some mighty big shoes to fill on a roster in need of some new leadership.
Leading the way should be defence partners Matt MacKenzie and Zak Stebner who will be counted on to be the leaders on blue line; continuing there progress from late last season where there became the shutdown pairing in charge of stopping the opposition’s best players. Stebner is one of six other 20 year olds vying for three spots on this team (Every WHL team can have three 20-year olds). My bet is that you see Stebner back with the Hitmen and being a big part of the Calgary’s success this season.
Up front, look for Cody Sylvester to parlay his playoff success into regular season riches as he will emerge as one the top goal scorers on this team. His 11 goals in the playoffs not only eclipsed his total of 10 in the regular season, but he was counted on in key situations by Head Coach Mike Williamson when the Hitmen were in need of a boost.
In goal, it will be Michael Snider’s job to lose. Snider backed up All Star Martin Jones all of last season. Snider did not disappoint when he was called upon last season going 16-5-2 with a GAA of 2.52 and very modest save percentage of .902. Snider will be given every opportunity to succeed in Calgary and I think he will flourish as the new ‘man’ between the pipes.
The Hitmen will definitely have a new look this season, but don’t expect that winning mentality to waver and expect to see the Masked Men contending for yet another Ed Chynoweth Cup.
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