2010 MasterCard Memorial Cup, Game 1:

PREGAME NOTES:
There certainly isn’t a ban on airhorns in this facility. It’s bedlam and the opening faceoff still is more than 30 minutes away. . . . The Wheat Kings get a standing ovation as they skate onto the ice for the opening ceremonies. . . . With CFB Shilo nearby, there is a heavy military presence in the facility and that’s great to see. Who deserves to be recognized more than our military? . . . Let’s remember, too, that the Memorial Cup pays tribute to those who gave their live in the First World War. . . . It is rather interesting to note that the WHL’s Matt Kirk is one of the referees for the opener. He is from this area of Manitoba. . . . Former Wheat Kings captain Chris Dingman, who will handled the ceremonial faceoff, gets a rousing ovation. He’s got two Stanley Cup rings, so why not?
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FIRST PERIOD:
It wasn’t supposed to start like this if you’re a Brandon fan. The game isn’t five minutes old and Windsor has a 4-0 lead. Spitfires create a deep 2-on-1 and it’s 1-0 at 2:01. . . . Brandon G Andrew Hayes stops another 2-on-1 but the Wheat Kings turn it over and it’s 2-0 at 3:25. . . . It’s 3-0 at 4:27 on another goal off transition. . . . Brandon calls timeout after that goal but it’s 4-0 just 18 seconds later as Windsor again gets in deep and scores off transition. . . . All of this came after Brandon D Travis Hamonic absolutely hammered Windsor star Taylor Hall into the boards in the Wheat Kings zone. Hall was skating hard on the forecheck and the two met shoulder-to-shoulder. The left side of Hall’s face hit the boards and he needed some help before getting to his feet. He didn’t miss a shift, though, and came back to score his side’s fourth goal. . . . The shots are 10-1 and Hayes gets the old raspberry from the hometown crowd when he makes a save. . . . Shots end up 23-10 and the score is 5-0 after one. . . . Hall picks himself up after that hit and scores twice. The scouts will love that. . . . Does Brandon GM/head coach Kelly McCrimmon make a goaltending change, sending in Jacob DeSerres for Hayes? . . . McCrimmon played on the 1978-79 Wheat Kings who won the WHL championship. Their starting goaltender was Rick Knickle and the backup was Scott Olson. Neither played well at the Memorial Cup in Quebec. In those days, teams could add a third goaltender. The Wheat Kings added Bart Hunter of the Regina Pats and he ended up being the tournament’s MVP. Brandon lost 2-1 in OT to the Peterborough Petes in the championship game. . . . The Wheat Kings, who hadn't played in 20 days, spent the period in full retreat. They didn't get any kind of spark from the Hamonic hit on Hall. Windsor used its speed, especially on the left side, to create odd-man rushes. Brandon is going to have to standup more at its line and not back in to the top of the circles.