NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, February 23 vs. Edmonton

February 23, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (18-33-5-2, 43 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (18-33-6-2, 44 pts.)

Friday, February 23, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen welcome the Edmonton Oil Kings to the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. It's the 12th annual Lunar New Year Celebration presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts. There's a wide variety of game night events including free fortune cookies for the first 3,000 fans through the doors with hundreds of giveaways. The grand prize is an A1 Chesney Service Experts and Hitmen gift pack valued at over $1,000. It includes a Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Thermostat, furnace tune-up, a 16 person suite for a Hitmen game and a team signed stick. Dragon dancers, presented by Nexen, will also perform during the first intermission and fans will be treated to a post-game fireworks show. Calgary is coming off Wednesday's 6-4 win over Red Deer. Trailing 4-3 early in the final frame, the Hitmen netted a trio of unanswered goals to improve to 3-1-0-1 against their Central Division rivals this season. Jakob Stukel (1g, 2a) and Jake Kryski (1g, 2a) recorded three points each for Calgary while Riley Stotts and Vladislav Yeryomenko both added a goal and an assist. Tristen Nielsen, Luke Coleman and Vladislav Yeryomenko rounded out the scoring for the Hitmen helping Calgary climb to 2-2 on this season-high seven-game home stand. The Hitmen, at 43 points, are 12 points behind Red Deer for the final Central Division playoff spot but with three games in hand on the Rebels. Edmonton hasn't played since Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Saskatoon Blades.

HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com

________________________________

STREAKS

- Nick Schneider has made six straight starts in goal.

- Jakob Stukel (2g, 2a) has goals in back-to-back games.

- Luke Coleman (2g, 3a) and Tristen Nielsen (2g, 1a) both have points in three of their last four contests.

NOTEWORTHY

VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the third of six meetings between the two Alberta rivals with the home team 2-0. Mark Kastelic (2g, 2a), Jakob Stukel (2g, 2a) and the departed Andrei Grishakov (2g, 2a) top the Hitmen with four points each against the Oil Kings this season while Riley Stotts (2g, 1a) and Jake Kryski (3a) both have two. The departed Davis Koch (2g, 3a) is the top performing Oil King with five points. Trey Fix-Wolansky (2g, 2a) is next with four. Calgary is 8-2 in their last 10 home dates against Edmonton. Their next meeting is one week from today on Friday, Mar. 1 at Rogers Place.

2017-18 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP

Dec. 13/17 at CGY: CGY 6 EDM 1...Riley Stotts led the Hitmen with a pair of goals.

Jan. 1/18 at EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4... Davis Koch scored the game winner with 3:34 remaining.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 43 EDM 71 Power Plays: CGY 2-9 (22.2%) EDM 2-13 (15.4%)

INSIDE THE HOME STAND: Luke Coleman (2g, 3a) leads all Hitmen on this season-high seven-game home stand with five points in four games. Jakob Stukel (2g, 2a) is next with four points. Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a), Carson Focht (2g, 1a), Jake Kryski (1g, 2a) and Tristen Nielsen (2g, 1a) all have three points each. Mark Kastelic (2a), Dakota Krebs (2g), Dom Schmiemann (2a), Riley Stotts (1g, 1a), Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 1a), Egor Zamula (2a) and Cael Zimmerman (2a) have picked up two points each while Layne Toder (1a) and Nick Schneider (1a) both have one.

DID YOU KNOW?: The Hitmen have outshot their opponents in three straight games recording 30 or more shots in every contest.

GO TIME: Tonight begins a stretch of seven games in 10 days for the Hitmen and 10 games in 16 days.

BIRTHDAY BOYS: One current and one former Hitmen turn a year older today. Tristen Nielsen is celebrating his 18th birthday today while alumnus John Lawrence who played parts of two seasons with the Hitmen and is currently playing men's hockey with the U of S Huskies is 26 today.

NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Following today's game fans can meet rookie defenceman Egor Zamula at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212 on the concourse.

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: Voting is underway for the Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program $50,000 grant. Fans can cast a ballot for one of three finalists: Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink. The online vote continues until March 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant. The heart of the Calgary Hitmen Foundation is the scholarship program which funds the post-secondary education of Hitmen players and alumni. To date, the Foundation has supported Calgary and area agencies with over $2.8 million.

ALUMNI WATCH: Victor Rask is in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 24-year-old centre has 24 points (12g, 12a) in 58 games. Rask, who played two seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-13, has now played 300 career games in the NHL collecting 150 points.

PROSPECT REPORT: Goaltender Brayden Peters is playing minor midget with the Lethbridge Hurricanes. In 20 games the 15-year-old has a 1.82 goals-against-average and .935 save percentage. Peters was selected by the Hitmen in the fifth round of the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft.

PROMO CALENDAR

Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:

- TODAY vs. EDM - Lunar Celebration, including post-game fireworks, presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts on Feb. 23 vs. EDM

- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Feb. 25 vs. BDN

- TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. SC

- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD

- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18

CAREER MILESTONES

- Jake Kryski needs three assists for 100 after reaching 150 points Wednesday against Red Deer.

- Nick Schneider is 63 saves shy of 5000.

- Mark Kastelic is four assists away from 50.

- Jakob Stukel played career game 250 on Feb. 18 against Saskatoon.

- Luke Coleman reached 50 career assists Feb. 14 against Tri-City.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...

Western Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Calgary Hitmen Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central