Calgary Hitmen defenceman Giffen Nyren.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

BRANDON, Man. - Calgary Hitmen defenceman Giffen Nyren thinks the Brandon Wheat Kings might be intimidated by his team after beating them the last four times they have played, including the final four games of the Western Hockey League Eastern final.

"I would assume so," he said. "It's tough to beat a team that's beat you four in a row."

The two teams meet Wednesday night (Sportsnet 8 pm ET / 5 pm; webcast on sportsnet.ca) in the final round-robin game of the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

The coveted final change is about all that's at stake for Friday's semifinal featuring these two teams. The Wheat Kings will have the home crowd on their side regardless of whether they're named the visiting team or retain their role as home team.

"Everyone wants to put on a good showing - we're on national TV," Hitmen forward Tyler Shattock added.

When asked if his team was cheering for Windsor in Tuesday's round-robin game against Moncton, Nyren said, "I think both (Calgary and Brandon) were."

THINGS TO WORK ON

Good habits and home ice. Those are the only two things remaining to gain from Wednesday's game between rivals Brandon and Calgary.

The Hitmen will start goaltender Martin Jones, who has not carried over his stellar play from the playoffs into the MasterCard Memorial Cup. Jones knew there was room for improvement in his game.

"I felt good and just a couple sloppy errors here and there," he said. "It's nothing major. I just have to make sure I'm mentally sharp for 60 minutes and cleaning up a little bit of that sloppiness."

Brandon head coach Kelly McCrimmon would not reveal his starter to the media prior to the game, but Jacob De Serres is expected to get the start after posting a 31-save shutout over the Moncton Wildcats on Sunday. Both De Serres and Andrew Hayes practised on Wednesday.

KOZUN ON THE SHELF

Calgary will be without Brandon Kozun for the second consecutive game while Cody Sylvester is also expected to be out. Neither practised this morning with the rest of the team.