The future looks brighter than perhaps ever for the Calgary Hitmen. Read More
The future looks brighter than perhaps ever for the Calgary Hitmen. It’s just too bad that look-ahead will have to wait until next year after their Western Hockey League season ended Wednesday evening. A 3-1 home loss to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes in Game 7 of the WHL’s Eastern Conference semifinal halted what was an
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The future looks brighter than perhaps ever for the Calgary Hitmen.
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It’s just too bad that look-ahead will have to wait until next year after their Western Hockey League season ended Wednesday evening.
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A 3-1 home loss to the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes in Game 7 of the WHL’s Eastern Conference semifinal halted what was an upturn campaign of the Hitmen, much to the heartbreak — and shock — of everyone in attendance for the must-win at Scotiabank Saddledome.
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“We had the talent — we had everything — to go further,” said Hitmen captain Carson Wetsch, his voice filled with emotion moments after the defeat in front of 4,608 fans. “Every single person in that room is super skilled and super special. We battled and worked hard every single game, but it just didn’t go our way (Wednesday).”
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“Everyone’s really disappointed, obviously,” agreed Hitmen head coach Paul McFarland. “One thing I’d say about this group is everybody poured everything they had into this season and into this series, for that matter. And when you do that, that’s why you feel as disappointed as everyone does.
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“But it definitely wasn’t for a lack of effort.”
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Indeed, the Hitmen were full marks for their effort all year, finishing third in the Eastern Conference during the regular season with a superb 45-17-3-3 record.
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They then followed up what was their best campaign in more than a decade with a sweep of the Saskatoon Blades in the first round of the post-season and this furious seven-game second-round set with the Hurricanes.
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The difference was digging themselves a two-game hole early in this conference semifinal, losing twice on home ice to start the best-of-seven.
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But doggedness, which has been the Hitmen calling card all season, did get them back in it with the ’Canes to the tune of triumphs in Games 3, 4 and 5.
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The Hurricanes, however, halted that determined run with answers in Game 6 last Saturday in Lethbridge and in the series clincher Wednesday at the Dome.
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These last two losses, though, shouldn’t take away from what was a successful season.
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“It’s hard right now to have perspective on it,” said McFarland, feeling the sting of the elimination just as much as his charges. “You thought you were going to win this game and get on the bus for more hockey tomorrow. So for that not to happen, there’s shock, I think, at this stage.”
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But the promise, for certain, of a club on the upswing … finally.
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“Yeah … last year, we didn’t even make playoffs,” said Wetsch, putting a positive spin on the evening. “So this year is a huge step for the franchise, and it was especially good for that experience in the playoffs.