Calgary Hitmen game notes
Published on January 22, 2007 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
HITMEN HEADLINES: Calgary is back in the 'Dome tonight to host Brandon following a Saskatchewan road trip which saw the Hitmen collect three of a possible six points. The trip wrapped up Sunday in Swift Current with Calgary falling 4-3 in a shootout. The Hitmen jumped out to an early lead when Keegan Dansereau scored in the game's first minute. Calgary added to their lead and was ahead 3-0 lead early in the second, but the pounding of three games in three nights began to take its toll. Swift Current scored the game's next three goals and forced overtime with 6:24 remaining. Neither team scored in the extra session, so a shootout was needed. Both teams were even through the first four shooters. The Hitmen's Robin Figren lost an edge on Calgary's fifth attempt and failed to get a shot, while the Bronco's Zack Smith beat goalie Martin Jones to claim victory for Swift Current. The Hitmen outshot the Broncos 34-26. Calgary went 0-4 on the powerplay while the Broncos were 3-6. The Hitmen are now 25-18-2-4. They are third in the Central Division with 56 points, one point ahead of Red Deer.
VS BRANDON: Tonight is the third of four meetings this season. The teams have split the season series with both compiling a 1-1-0-0 record. Their next meeting is Saturday February 10th in Brandon.
-Sept. 30th in BRAN: Hitmen 6 Wheat Kings 3. Steve Covington 2G
-Dec. 30th in CGY: Wheat Kings 4 Hitmen 2. Teegan Moore and Ryan Reaves each had 1G1A
INSIDE THE SEASON SERIES
Shots: Brandon 59 Calgary 56 Powerplays: Calgary 5-14 35.7% Brandon 3-13 23.1%
MID SEASON NHL DRAFT RANKINGS: Central Scouting has released its mid season rankings for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Four Hitmen are among the top North American prospects. Karl Alzner is 8th, Alex Plante 56th, Brett Sonne 91st and Eric Frere 181st among skaters.
DRAFTED PLAYERS: The Hitmen have 4 NHL picks ...Ryan White-(3rd round Montreal 2006), Robin Figren - (3rd round NYI 2006), Brodie Dupont-(3rd round NY Rangers 2005), Freddie Pettersson-(5th round Edmonton 2005).
IRON MEN: Only three Hitmen have played in all 49 games this season; Brodie Dupont, Carson McMillan and Ryan White.
THE ROSTER: Calgary is carrying 24 players; (14 forwards, 8 defencemen and 2 goalies)
Break down: 3 (20 year-olds), 5 (19 year-olds), 8 (18 year-olds), 4 (17 year-olds), and 4 (16 year-olds).
TOP TEN: Ryan White is currently sitting second in WHL scoring with 60 points (21G39A). He is also fourth in assists. Dan Spence is tied for third in shutouts with 5, is fifth in wins with 20, and eighth in save percentage with a mark of .909.
INJURIES: Brendan Rowinski (Shoulder day-to-day).
VS. EAST DIVISION: The Hitmen are 10-4-1-1 against teams from the East Division.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary is 64-314 on the powerplay. That's fourth in the WHL at 20.4%. The penalty kill has surrendered 57 goals on 347 chances. It's sixth at 83.6%.
HITMEN ALUMNI: Fredrik Sjostrom who played parts of two seasons with the Hitmen from 2001-02 to 2002-02 is in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes. The right winger has 11 points (5g6a) in 46 games.
SCHEDULE CHANGE: The Calgary/Kelowna game on January 28th originally scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Pengrowth Saddledome will now start at 1 o'clock. The change is to accommodate Rogers Sportsnet.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Hitmen return to action at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Sunday to take on the Kelowna Rockets. Game time is at 1 p.m. Calgary will then host Kootenay Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2007
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