WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen This Week: Hitmen Go Home And Home With Edmonton Then Host Red Deer Sunday

Published on March 9, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN NEWS AND NOTES

HITMEN HEADLINES: The Calgary Hitmen, winners of six in a row, open a home and home series with the Oil Kings in Edmonton Wednesday night. Calgary is coming off Sunday afternoon's 6-1 home ice win over Saskatoon. The Hitmen tied a franchise record with six powerplay goals. Joel Broda and Michael Stone each scored twice while Tyler Shattock and Brandon Kozun added singles. Broda (2g 1a), Stone (2g 1a), Kozun (1g 2a) and Misha Fisenko (3a) all finished the game with three points each. Calgary overcame an early 1-0 deficit to outshoot the Blades 33-28. Calgary has now picked up at least a point in 21 of their last 23 games going 20-2-0-1. Overall, the Hitmen are 49-17-1-2. At 101 points they lead the Eastern Conference and WHL Standings by three points over Brandon. The Hitmen and Wheat Kings both have three regular season games remaining.

VS EDMONTON: Wednesday is the fifth of six meetings with the Oil Kings. Calgary leads the season series 4-0.

-Sept. 19 in Edmonton; Hitmen 4 Oil Kings 2. Ian Schultz broke a 2-2 tie with 3:53 remaining in the third period.

-Oct. 21 in Calgary; Hitmen 4 Oil Kings 0. Edmonton was held to 18 shots on goal.

-Oct. 23 in Edmonton; Hitmen 5 Oil Kings 2. The Hitmen went 5-6 on the powerplay.

-Nov. 4 in Calgary; Hitmen 3 Oil Kings 2. The Hitmen scored twice in the final two minutes to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: Cal 93 Edm 76 Powerplays: Cal 6-16 37.5% Edm 0-12 0%

The Hitmen and Oil Kings will meet again Friday in Calgary.

IN PERSUIT OF NUMBER ONE: The Hitmen magic number to clinch the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL Regular season champs is two. Any combination of Hitmen wins or Brandon losses totaling two and Calgary will clinch number one overall for the second straight season and fourth time in franchise history.

100 POINTS: For the fifth time in franchise history the Hitmen have broke the 100 point plateau. 200/10 (101pts) 2008/09 (122pts), 1999/2000 (120pts), 1998/99 (110pts), 2005/06 (101pts).

PLAYOFF DATES: The Hitmen will open the 2010 WHL Playoffs at home. The first two games of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series will be played at the Pengrowth Saddledome. Game 1 is Thursday, March 18th with Game 2 Saturday, March 20th. Both are 7pm starts.

OFFENSIVE DEPTH: Kris Foucault's hat trick Saturday in Kootenay gives him 20 goals on the season and helps tie a franchise record set last season for most 20 goal scorers on one team. The Hitmen now have seven and could break the mark. Michael Stone is two goals shy of 20.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS: For the sixth time in franchise history and for the third consecutive season, the Calgary Hitmen have clinched the Central Division pennant. The Hitmen have also earned a playoff spot for the 13th straight season.

GOLDEN GETZLAF: Former Hitmen Ryan Getzlaf won an Olympic Gold Medal helping Team Canada beat the U-S in men's hockey. Getzlaf had an assist in Canada's gold medal 3-2 overtime win. The 24-year-old Getzlaf played four seasons with the Hitmen (2001-02 to 2004-05) collecting 215 points.

JONESING TO THE TOP: Martin Jones owns the franchise record for career regular season saves, wins (104), shutouts (15) and minutes played (8,464). He took over the saves lead from Dan Spence in Saturdays win in Kootenay and now has 3,335.

REGULAR SEASON CAREER MILESTONES: Michael Stone needs one goal for 50.

DID YOU KNOW? The Hitmen franchise record for most shutouts in a season is 11, set by the 2005/06 tandem of Justin Pogge (11) and Dan Spence (0). This year's team has 10; Martin Jones (8) and Michael Snider (2).

HALL OF FAMER: Hitmen General Manager Kelly Kisio will be inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame on March 27th. He will go in as an athlete for his 13 year NHL career. Earlier this season Kisio reached an exclusive milestone with the Hitmen, his 500th victory General Manager.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary is has both the #1 ranked powerplay and the #1 ranked penalty kill in the WHL. Calgary has only given up one powerplay goal on the oppositions last 33 chances.

D-FENCE: The Hitmen have allowed the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference at 173. That's also third fewest in the WHL. Only Spokane (167) and Everett (168) have surrendered fewer.

STREAKIN: Joel Broda (7g 5a) is on a seven game point streak. Michael Stone (3g 4a) has points in four straight games. Matt MacKenzie (1g2a) has points in three straight. Brandon Kozun (1g12a) has points in seven of his last eight. Martin Jones is 4-0 in his last four starts with three shut-outs, stopping 117 of 118 shots a 0.250 goals-against average and remarkable 0.992 save percentage. Michael Snider is 3-0 in his last three starts with a 2.00 GAA and a.900 save percentage stopping 54 of 60 shots.

CAREER YEAR: 12 Calgary Hitmen are having career years in the Western Hockey League; Kyle Aschim 6 points (1), Rigby Burgart 5 points (2), Del Cowan 26 points (22), Tyler Fiddler 55 points (23), Misha Fisenko 43 points (28), Kris Foucault 39 points (17), Matt MacKenzie 36 points (12), Mackenzie Royer 8 points (7), Ian Schultz 51 points (41), Tyler Shattock 75 points (69), Cody Sylvester 21 points (14), Michael Snider 15 wins (10). *Previous career high in brackets

NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Two Hitmen have cracked NHL Central Scouting's Mid Term Rankings for the 2010 Entry Draft. Matt MacKenzie is #85 among North American Skaters while Cody Beach is ranked 181. The NHL Entry Draft will be held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles from June 25 to 26.

HITMEN TEAM LEADERS:

Goals (37) Joel Broda

Powerplay Goals (22) Joel Broda

Points (98) Brandon Kozun

Plus/Minus (+20) Tyler Fiddler

Assists (67) Brandon Kozun

Wins (34) Martin Jones

PIM (157) Cody Beach

HITMEN VS: (Bran 1-3), (Cwk 1-1), (Edm 4-0), (Evt 1-0), (Kam 1-0), (Kel 2-1), (Ktn 5-3), (Leth 3-2), (MH 4-1-0-1), (MJ 2-2), (Port 1-0), (PA 2-1-1-0), (PG 2-0), (RD 4-0-0-1), (Reg 4-0), (Sask 2-2), (Sea 1-0), (Spok 0-1), (SC 4-0), (TC 1-0), (Van 3-0)

DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have eight NHL prospects... Jimmy Bubnick-(5th round Atlanta 2009), Joel Broda-(5th round Washington 2008), Kris Foucault-(4th round Minnesota 2009), Martin Jones-(FA signing LA Kings 2008), Brandon Kozun-(6th round LA 2009), Ian Schultz-(3rd round St. Louis 2008), Tyler Shattock-(4th round St. Louis 2009), Michael Stone-(3rd round Phoenix 2008).

BEATTIE HOMES HOCKEY MUMS FIGHT BREAST CANCER: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is proud to announce the Beattie Homes Hockey Mums Fight Breast Cancer Campaign raised $22,151.20 with all funds to be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Money was collected from an online Hitmen game worn jersey auction, skate-a-thon, Great Clips head shave, sale of pink teddy bears along with Booster Club and Fan Attic merchandise sales. Ten Hitmen players Kyle Aschim, Del Cowan, Tyler Fiddler, Justin Kirsch, Peter Kosterman Matt MacKenzie, Jaynen Rissling, MacKenzie Royer, Ian Schultz and Ben Wilson played a large role in this great cause by having their head shaved.

UP NEXT: Calgary returns home for a pair of games to wrap up the regular season, hosting Edmonton Friday night at 7pm and Red Deer Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Both games are at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2010


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