Brandon Kozun has big game experience as a member of the Canadian junior team in 2010.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

The 2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup gets underway on May 14 in Brandon, Manitoba. The host team along with Calgary, Windsor and Moncton will compete for junior hockey supremacy and SPORTSNET.CA columnist Patrick King previews the four teams and runs down the strengths and weaknesses of each team ahead of the tournament.

CALGARY HITMEN

Regular season record: 52-17-1-2 (107 points)

League regular season ranking: First overall, first in Eastern Conference

Combined regular season and playoff road record: 33-12-1-0

Regular season goal differential: 269-177

Playoff goal differential: 96-56

Playoff record: 16-7

Memorial Cup appearances: 1999

Memorial Cup championships: None

League championships: 1999, 2010)

Hitmen's Memorial Cup Schedule:

Calgary vs. Moncton, Saturday, May 15 - 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Calgary vs. Windsor, Monday, May 17 - 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Calgary vs. Brandon, Wednesday, May 19 - 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Tie-breaker (if necessary), teams TBD, Thursday, May 20 - 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Semi-final: teams TBD, Friday, May 21 - 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Championship: teams TBD, Sunday, May 23 - 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT

Better late than never for the Calgary Hitmen. The Hitmen won only its second championship in franchise history, which is surprising given the team has been a perennial powerhouse the past decade. Calgary had a better team on paper a year ago and that team that will go down in history as one of the best not to win a championship. The bitterness of its defeat to the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL final was felt by the returning players and provided them with the motivation to make amends this season.

After finishing first overall in the regular season, Calgary's playoff run nearly ended before it started. The Hitmen lost the first two games on home ice to the No. 8 Moose Jaw Warriors and eventually trailed 3-1. That adversity may have been a blessing in disguise, as the Hitmen were nearly unbeatable from there on. In last year's run, playoff adversity came too late and the team found itself unable to climb out of a hole against another elite team.

The Hitmen got better as each series advanced, defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers in six games the second round. Calgary's best performance came in the Eastern Conference final against a team they will face in the tournament: the host Brandon Wheat Kings. Although the series ended quickly, as the Hitmen needed just five games, it was a tougher test than the final result would indicate.

It appeared from the outset when the Hitmen met the Tri-City Americans in the final that it was a battle of David vs. Goliath. Calgary would not be denied its second title and outscored the Americans 21-7 in the five-game final.

A large core of players return from last year, but the team also added some new faces prior to the deadline. Forwards Tyler Shattock and Jimmy Bubnick and defencemen Giffen Nyren and Zak Stebner joined the fold in two separates trades with Kamloops and provided the Hitmen with the balanced scoring needed in the playoffs.

Strengths:

The Hitmen don't have the same dynamic offensive attack as a year ago, but are still a hard team to slow. The leader is Brandon Kozun, whose game has risen to new heights this season. The shifty and elusive Kozun can create with his speed and vision and doesn't need much time or space. Kozun led the league in regular-season and playoff points.

Calgary has a balanced offensive attack and drives the net hard. Overage forward Joel Broda is also one of the league's top snipers, but this team can receive production from any line. Sophomore forward Cody Sylvester may have seen his draft stock rise after finishing second on the team in playoff goals with 11.

Meanwhile, captain Michael Stone boasts a hard and heavy point shot while Nyren has been nothing short of exceptional leading the rush since his acquisition.

Goaltending shouldn't be a concern with veteran and Canadian world junior backup, Martin Jones. He gives his team a chance to win every night and has the ability to shut the door after allowing soft goals.

Weaknesses:

The overall defensive core is not quite as strong as some of the other participants in this tournament. Calgary boasts a lunch pail crew willing to dig and work hard for results. They don't, however, have the same type of shutdown pair some of the other teams possess and that might present a problem in the short tournament.

Keys to victory:

The Hitmen are strong on the transition and uses its speed to an advantage. Calgary is able to capitalize on chances due to its balanced scoring and opportunistic style. They were able to shut down a very good offensive team in Brandon en route to the league title and will need a similar style against a team like Windsor.

Noteworthy:

Calgary won both its WHL championships on the same calendar day: May 7 … The Hitmen came within a goal of winning the Memorial Cup in 1999, its only other entry in the tournament. The host Ottawa 67's beat the Hitmen 7-6 in overtime in the final … The Hitmen won the Central Division for the third consecutive season and were crowned regular season champions twice in a row … The Hitmen are ranked fifth in the final CHL Top 10 rankings.

NHL Drafted Hitmen:

Michael Stone, 3rd round in 2008 (Phoenix Coyotes); Ian Schultz, 3rd round in 2008 (St. Louis Blues); Joel Broda, 5th round in 2008 (Washington Capitals); Kris Foucault, 4th round in 2009 (Minnesota Wild); Tyler Shattock, 4th round in 2009 (St. Louis Blues); Jimmy Bubnick, 6th round in 2009 (Atlanta Thrashers); Brandon Kozun, 6th round in 2009 (Los Angeles Kings)

2010 NHL Draft Eligible Players:

Matt MacKenzie, D; Cody Sylvester, C; Cody Beach, RW