The final . . . pregame

DAY 10 AT THE 2010 MASTERCARD MEMORIAL CUP . . .

No surprises on the lineup sheets.
Brandon, the visiting team, has scratched F Jesse Sinatyski, D Jordan Hale and Ryley Miller. . . . Jacob DeSerres is the starting goaltender. . . . As in the semifinal, F Mark Stone is on the right side, with C Brayden Schenn and LW Matt Calvert. RW Scott Glennie, who started the tournament on the Schenn line, now is with C Brent Raedeke and LW Shayne Wiebe. . . . Brandon’s best line has had Jay Fehr between LW Toni Rajala and RW Aaron Lewadniuk. . . . Brandon’s other line has Paul Ciarelli between LW Michael Ferland and RW Brenden Walker. . . .
Windsor, the home team, has scratched D Saverio Posa and F James Woodcroft. . . . Philipp Grubauer will start in goal, as he has for all games here. . . . Windsor’s lines, left to right: Zack Kassian, Greg Nemisz and Kenny Ryan; Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique and Justin Shugg; Eric Wellwood, Scott Timmins and Dale Mitchell; and, Adam Wallace, Stephen Johnston and Derek Lanoue. . . .
The referees are Matt Kirk (WHL) and Darcy Burchell (OHL), with WHLers Chris Carlson and Kiel Muchison on the lines. Kirk, a lawyer in Vancouver in his other job, is from Brandon, so this has to be a real thrill for him. . . .
About 45 minutes before the game, Hall was hanging out the gate the Spitfires will use to enter and exit the ice surface. As he looked out onto the ice surface, he seemed most oblivious to the fans who were busy snapping pictures of him. . . .
The teams are on the ice for the warmup. . . . The Wheat Kings get a huge welcome from the 2,000 fans who are in their seats. . . .
If you’re wondering, the Wheat Kings spent at least last night in a hotel here. They moved into the rooms at the Canad Inns, the hotel that adjoins Westman Place, that had been vacated by the Moncton Wildcats. . . .
When I walked into Westman Place, the SOLD OUT signs were up on the front doors, the first time that has happened in this tournament. I wasn’t able to find tickets being sold (scalped?) anywhere, meaning it was happening well off the beaten path or everyone who had bought a ticket wanted to be here in the worst way. . . .