Tri-City stands in Calgary’s way

CALGARY, Alberta – The Calgary Hitmen want to close the deal this time.

The Western Hockey League’s regular-season champions for the second straight year want the league title to go with it.

The Hitmen and Tri-City Americans open their best-of-7 championship series, the Ed Chynoweth Cup, today in Calgary.

Calgary was upset in last year’s final by the Kelowna Rockets in six games. The Hitmen have 11 players returning from that lineup.

“That feeling when you lose is something you never forget and I’m going to try and use that for motivation and bring it home this time,” Hitmen forward Brandon Kozun said. “Anything but a victory would be a letdown.”

The series pits the big, powerful star-studded Hitmen against the small, quick Americans. Calgary has eight draft picks in its lineup, while the Americans have just two.

The winner advances to the Memorial Cup tournament May 14-23 in Brandon, Manitoba.

The Ontario Hockey League final is under way between the Windsor Spitfires, the defending Memorial Cup champions, and the Barrie Colts. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League representative will be decided in all-New Brunswick final series also starting today between the Moncton Wildcats and Saint John Sea Dogs.