Game 2 . . . pregame

DAY 2 AT THE MASTERCARD MEMORIAL CUP . . .
It’s the WHL-champion Calgary Hitmen against the QMJHL-champion Moncton Wildcats. . . . This game is huge for the Wildcats, who would much rather be 1-0 than 0-1 when they meet the host Brandon Wheat Kings on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats know that they will be meeting an ugly bunch of Wheat Kings, who were embarrassed 9-3 by the Windsor Spitfires in Friday’s opener. . . .
Calgary F Brandon Kozun, who led the WHL playoffs in points, took the pregame skate but is listed as questionable on the lineup sheet. Calgary listed Kozun and F Cody Beach as game-time decisions. . . .
Both teams wore dark jerseys in the pregame warmup, but I was told the Hitmen would be changing into their whites to start the game. . . .
Geez, that looks like Bruce Hamilton among the gang in the home team’s bench area. Must mean the Kelowna Rockets’ head honcho is part of the pregame ceremony. . . . Gotta think he really wants the 2013 Memorial Cup in Kelowna in order to force someone’s hand into installing a video scoreclock in what, otherwise, is a tremendous hockey facility. . . .
Wade Redden is there, too. The former Wheat Kings defenceman gets a standing ovation before he drops the puck as part of the opening ceremonies. . . . Plaid shirt. Sleeves rolled up. Must be the new look on Broadway. . . .
The Hitmen skate out to a decent round of applause. . . . Yes, Brandon Kozun is among them. But there are 24 players in uniform and on the blue line. . . .
Here come the Wildcats. More applause. But not as much as the Hitmen received. . . . There are 23 of them in uniform, so there will be three scratches. . . .
The referees are Pat Smith of the WHL and Darcy Burchell of the OHL. The linesmen are Justin Hull and Trent Knorr. The five linesmen working this event all are from the WHL. . . .
This has to be a thrill for Calgary F Del Cowan. He’s from Hartney, which just a bit southwest of here. And there’s a loud roar as he is introduced. . . .
There is quite a Kamloops connection to the Hitmen. There are four ex-Blazers in uniform in F Jimmy Bubnick, D Giffen Nyren, F Tyler Shattock and D Zak Stebner, all of whom were acquired in trades during the season. . . . Assistant coach Darcy Wakaluk is a former Blazers coach. He lost his job after the 2001-02 season, when the entire coaching staff, including head coach Dean Evason and assistant Craig Bonner, was dumped. . . . Jan Antos, the assistant trainer, was well-known in Kamloops sporting circles before moving to Calgary a couple of years ago. . . . Mike Moore, Calgary’s director of business operations, is a former Blazers general manager. . . .
F Nicolas Deschamps isn’t in uniform for the Wildcats. He is perhaps their top sniper, but is out with a leg injury. . . .
The Hitmen scratch Peter Kosterman, Justin Kirsch, Kyle Aschim and Cody Beach. . . . Of the Wildcats who were in uniform, they delete Tyler Howe, Scott Trask and Alex MacDonald. . . .
The 50/50 is at $10,500 as the game begins. . . .