PLAYOFFS START TONIGHT

"The playoffs are a whole new game," said Chilliwack coach Marc Habscheid. "Take the regular season and throw it out. They will be ready. They are a good team and Jim (Hiller) has done a good job with them. We have a lot of respect for them. We have managed to get a win or two against them, but we aren't under the illusion that we have them figured out. We don't, but those wins give us a glimmer of hope"

"That is the exciting part for every team," Hiller said of getting fresh start. "Every team and every player has a zero by their name. We played some good games this year and some not so good games. We had a solid season and put ourselves in a good spot for the playoffs. I just don't think we played very well when we played them. I don't think we competed at the level we needed to." (Herald)

Scotty Wazz says I should write up a whole thing including the season series stats between the teams, AMS past playoff performances (1st round) etc.  But that's a lot of work.  And the WHL did the season series stuff yesterday in their preview I cut and pasted.  

As for how they've done in the first round in the past, last year it was the Ogopogologo's from Kelowna who were able to defeat the Americans using their size and physicality, specifically Myers taking out Mitch Fadden.  Reese got hurt too if I remember right.  Jerks.

The year before that the AMS swept Kamloops in the first round, took out Seattle in the 2nd round, only to lose to the damn Chiefs in the Western Conference Final.  And we all know how that turned out.

I have no idea who will be in net.  I have no idea if coach will continue with the 5 forwards on the first shift of the power play.  What I do know is they are without Schmidt tonight.  And they need to stay out of the goddamn penalty box.

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From Drinnan:

Blogger Woody Wommack reports that the ECHL’s Florida Everblades are expected to announce the signing of D Mitch McColm on Friday. McColm, 20, played out his WHL eligibility with the Regina Pats this season. They acquired him from the Chilliwack Bruins on Jan. 10. McColm also played for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Tri-City Americans.

Congrats Uncle Mitch!!