Schedule and tidbits

from whl.ca:

WHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

SERIES O (Game # - Visitor @ Home; Date)
All Start Times Are Local

#1 – Tri-City @ Calgary; Friday, April 30 (7:30pm MT)
#2 – Tri-City @ Calgary; Saturday, May 1 (8:00pm MT)
#3 – Calgary @ Tri-City; Tuesday, May 4 (7:05pm PT)
#4 – Calgary @ Tri-City; Wednesday, May 5 (7:05pm PT)
#5 – Tri-City @ Calgary; Friday, May 7 (7:00pm MT)**
#6 – Calgary @ Tri-City; Sunday, May 9 (5:05pm PT)**
#7 – Tri-City @ Calgary; Monday, May 10 (7:00pm MT)**
** - if necessary

"There was a discussion with both general managers and myself and (the format) was agreed upon," said WHL vice president Rick Doerksen. "I think had the teams been a little bit farther apart, it may have been 2-3-2. But they both thought it was workable."

"It's not often you get two regular-season winners meeting in the league championship," Doerksen said. "Both have good goaltenders who were their series MVPs, both teams can score and both play entertaining hockey. I think it will be an entertaining series for fans in both cities."  (Tri-City Herald)

Think it's rough riding a bus that much?  If there's a game 5-7, things will get easier as Drinnan reports:

The Americans will ride the bus to Calgary for Games 1 and 2, with both teams taking the bus to Kennewick, Wash., for Games 3 and 4.
After that, if necessary, its all jets all the time.
Both teams will fly to Calgary for Game 5, then fly to Kennewick for Game 6, and fly to Calgary for Game 7.  (Taking Note)

The Calgary Herald has several articles about the upcoming series, including the Winnipeg Connection:

The roster for the Tri-City Americans is rife with boys from the Peg.

So many, in fact, that the start of hockey season involves a minor migration from the Manitoba capital to Kennewick, Wash.

"A couple years ago, they actually drove a bus from Winnipeg to Tri-City for training camp because they had so many Winnipeg guys going," says Calgary Hitmen captain Michael Stone, a fellow Winnipegger.

"It's kind of different seeing a bunch of guys who played together throughout their minor hockey end up on the same team in the Western Hockey League, so it's kind of cool that way."

"I've probably played against or with all of them," says Stone.

This provides handy insight for a Calgary squad getting ready to face a team it met just once during the regular season.

"I know the way they play and what they're capable of," says Stone.  (Calgary Herald)

A lot is already being made about the size difference between the two teams:

The Tri-City Americans realize some of the so-called hockey experts just might conclude they don't measure up to the Calgary Hitmen.

Literally. And figuratively.

After all, centre Johnny Lazo stands all of five-foot-seven and weighs in at 166 pounds. The diminutive Kruise Reddick checks in at five-foot-eight, 177 pounds. Brendan Shinnimin is a tad taller (five-foot-nine) and a tad lighter (176 pounds.)

"People say we're too small," team general manager Bob Tory said after the Americans dispatched the Vancouver Giants 4-2 Sunday to win the Western Conference final in six games. "People say we're too small, but we work tremendously hard. We're a very disciplined team.  We're not intimidated. We'll take a punch in the face and take a power play if teams want to play us that way. That's fine with us."

The Calgary Hitmen, on the other hand, boast the likes of defenceman Michael Stone (six-foot-four, 207 pounds), and right wings Tyler Shattock (six-foot-three, 200 pounds), and Ian Schultz (six-foot-three, 208 pounds.)

As for the goalies? Well, Tri-City netminder Drew Owsley looks like he belongs in a 1980s highlight reel at five-foot-eight, 156 pounds.

Skyscraping goaltender Martin Jones can see over virtually all of his Calgary defencemen at six-foot-four, 193 pounds.

"The Hitmen? They're good all around," said Mike Brown, a Calgary native playing for the enemy of the moment in his home town. "They've got everything. They've got guys who can score. Guys who can play defence. They've got a good power play. Solid goaltending.  So it's going to be a challenge."

"We have a lot of skill," Brown said. "We have three great lines. And on our fourth one, it's me and Todd Kennedy, and we just go out there and bang and create some energy."  (Calgary Herald)

The Herald writers are not the only ones giving the size advantage to Calgary, Alan Caldwell over at Small Thoughts at Large does too:

Looking at the numbers, I see that the Americans are the smallest team in the league at an average of 5'11.4" and 184 lb, while the Hitmen are the 3rd-biggest at 6'1.2" and 190 lb. So the average Hitmen player is about two inches taller and 6 pounds heavier than the average American. And most of Tri-City's size is on the blueline, where they have a couple of 6'5" monsters - but up front, their six top-scoring forwards in the regular season average out at 5'9" - not one is over 6 feet. The Hitmen have only one defenceman under 6'1" so it's going to be size against speed.  (Small Thoughts At Large)

Size against speed you say?  Underdog?  So far a healthy Americans squad has taken care of larger squads.  If they can keep their game plan intact--use their speed.  Johnny, Shinny, Pokey--the smallest guys on the team (minus Drew)--can outskate the best of them.  Add Mason in that mix too.  In addition, they've shown they're not afraid of getting gritty and battling for the puck.  So Hitmen may have size advantage, but they're in for quite a challenge.

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According to Amsrgreat on teh message board, the Americans office sent out email about special ticket pricing.  I'm sure I got it too, but hit delete since I already have my playoff package.

Your Tri-City Americans are in the WHL Finals... for the first time ever!!!
WE NEED MORE COWBELL!
Support this record-breaking team by attending a Playoff Game at Toyota Center:
Tuesday 5/4/10 @ 7:05pm
And
Wednesday 5/5/10 @ 7:05pm
Western Conference Champion Tri-City Americans vs. Eastern Conference Champion Calgary Hitmen
The Americans are proud to offer you a special discounted rate for a limited time.
Save up to 28% over walk-up!

Special Rates:
$18 Adult (20-61 yr)
$13 Senior (62+)
$13 Student (10-19)
$10 Youth (3-9)

Please contact us via phone at
736-0606, or email at info@amshockey.com to order yours today!
Tickets subject to availability, cannot be combined with any other offer.
Hurry - Offer expires promptly at 5pm on 4/30/10, Sorry no exceptions! 

Puke at the "more cowbell" part, but loud and proud is great to have.  I don't know (since I deleted email, someone confirm?) that this special rate is for people who already have the playoff package, to buy additional seats.  Which is a little backwards I think but I understand the team still needs to make money.  Gotta feed and lodge 24 growing hungry young men when they're off to Calgary.  And I believe they have to chip in cost of flights for games 5-7 if it goes that far.

So get ahold of someone who has a playoff package if you want discounted rate.  Or not.  Let's just fill the building, which I know will be a challenge since we've got the weekday games.