Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, April 23 vs. Lethbridge
Published on April 23, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (6-6-2-0, 14 pts.) vs. LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (7-8-2-0, 16 pts.)
Friday, April 23, 2021 - 2:00 p.m. MT - Seven Chiefs Sportsplex
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a three-game set with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this afternoon on Tsuut'ina Nation at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex. Game time is 2:00 p.m. It's the first action for Calgary in 18 days following an April 5th shootout victory in Medicine Hat where Riley Stotts scored the winner in round three to give the Hitmen a 5-4 win. Riley Fiddler-Schultz led Calgary's scoring parade with three assists while Sean Tschigerl notched his first career two-goal game in the WHL. Cael Zimmerman and Orca Wiesblatt also found the back of the net for the visitors. Captain Josh Prokop chipped in a pair of helpers. Oren Shtrom was the top performer for Medicine Hat with two goals. Calgary fired a season-high 45 shots on goal and received a 29 save performance from goaltender Jack McNaughton to split their three-game set with the Tigers going 1-1-1-0.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at watch.chl.ca
________________________________
STREAKS
- Josh Prokop (2g, 5a) and Sean Tschigerl (4g, 3a) are both riding five-game point streaks. The team high this season is six games, established by Josh Prokop from March 12-21. Prokop also has points in 11 (6g, 8a) of his last 12 outings.
- Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 4a), Blake Allan (1g, 1a) and Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY VS. LETHBRIDGE: Today marks the fourth meeting of 2021 between the Hitmen and Hurricanes. The Hitmen have taken two of the first three by a combined score of 12-9. Tyson Galloway (2g, 2a), Josh Prokop (2g, 2a) and Tristan Zandee (4a) are Calgary's leading scorers against the 'Canes this season with four points each. Zack Stringer (2g, 3a) and Alex Cotton (5a) are the top performers for Lethbridge. Both have five points.
SERIES RECAP March 19/21 at LET: LET 3 CGY 1...'Canes goaltender Bryan Thomson made 34 saves to earn first-star. March 20/21 vs. LET: CGY 4 LETH 3 OT...Hitmen defenceman Tyson Galloway scored twice including the game winner. March 21/21 at LET: CGY 7 LET 4...Adam Kydd scored twice for Calgary while Zac Funk added 1g, 1a.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 115 LET 97 Power Plays: CGY 0-12 (0%) LET 4-13 (30.8%)
BROADCAST NEWS: Under AHS COVID-19 protocols, fans are not permitted to enter WHL facilities but are invited to watch games with a subscription to the all-new WHL Live on CHL TV at watch.chl.ca. Today's game is also available on the Alternative Stream at www.sportsnet.ca/960.
DOWN THE STRETCH: Today kicks off a run of 7 games in 12 days for the Hitmen to end this abbreviated 2021 season. Their 21-game schedule will culminate in Red Deer on May 4th.
STATS PACK: The Hitmen are averaging the fourth most shots on goal per game in the WHL this season at 35.2. Conversely they are also giving up the fifth most shots at 34.6 per game....Calgary is 5-1-1-0 when scoring first and 4-1-2-0 in one goal games....Josh Prokop tops the Hitmen in shots on goal with 53. Riley Fiddler-Schultz is next with 42...Josh Prokop owns the team lead in plus/minus at +9....Adam Kydd and Josh Prokop have at least one shot on goal in all 14 games this season....Calgary netted their first power play goal of the season in the April 5th shootout win in Medicine Hat...A total of 13 Hitmen have scored two goals or more this season....Calgary is 3-2-1-0 at home while Lethbridge is 3-3-2-0 on the road.
DID YOU KNOW? Tyson Galloway returned to the Hitmen lineup on April 5th in Medicine Hat after missing four games due to injury. In three of those games Calgary played with just five defencemen.
FAMILIAR FACES: When the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers won the 2017 AMBHL Championship, Hitmen forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz was teammates with three members of the Hurricanes in Noah Boyko, Alex Thacker and Jacob Boucher. Hitmen centre Cael Zimmerman and 'Canes forward Logan Barlage were teammates on the Prince Albert Mintos in 2016-17.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Conrad Mitchell (day-to-day, lower body).
ALUMNI WATCH: Ben Thomas, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen, made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 4th. He is the 47th Hitmen grad to play at least one game in the National Hockey League. During his time in Calgary, Thomas appeared in 153 games recording 65 points (14g, 51a). He was also co-winner of the Hitmen RE/MAX Rookie of the Year Award with Travis Sanheim in the 2013-14 season.
NEWS FEED: On Monday, in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic while citing restrictions on travel across both provincial and international borders, the WHL announced they will not be holding playoffs this season. Earlier this month the Canadian Hockey League also cancelled the 2021 Memorial Cup.
UPCOMING GAMES: The Calgary Hitmen 2021 schedule will end May 4th. Here are the next three games; Saturday, April 24: Calgary Hitmen at Lethbridge Hurricanes - 7 p.m. MT Sunday, April 25: Lethbridge Hurricane at Calgary Hitmen - 7 p.m. MT Thursday, April 29: Calgary Hitmen at Red Deer Rebels - 7 p.m. MT
HALF IS BEST
For the remainder of the 2021 season and for home games only, the Hitmen will host an online RE/MAX 50/50 draw.
Tickets go on sale at hitmenhockey.com/50-50 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The next draw is TODAY!
Proceeds support the Calgary Hitmen Foundation.
AGLC License #570101.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Josh Prokop is one assist away from 50.
- Jack McNaughton needs 46 saves to reach 2,000.
- Conrad Mitchell is five games shy of 100.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2021
- Chiefs Fall 6-1 against Everett - Spokane Chiefs
- Late Charge Comes up Short in 4-1 Loss to ICE - Saskatoon Blades
- ICE Beat Blades 4-1 - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Hub: April 24 - Portland Winterhawks
- Fresh Hitmen Pound Hurricanes - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Look to Preserve Lead in Final Days of East Division Race - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Pre Game Report Presented by Imperial Steel - ICE vs Blades - April 23, 2021 - Winnipeg Ice
- Pats Look for Bounce Back After Win Streak Halted - Regina Pats
- Broncos Double up Pats 4-2 - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Preview: Blades at ICE - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, April 23 vs. Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Broncos End Pats Win Streak - Regina Pats
- Wolf Earns Another Shutout as Silvertips Cruise past Spokane, 5-0 - Everett Silvertips
- Broncos Double up Pats 4-2 - Swift Current Broncos
- Oil Kings Shutout Tigers for Second Straight Win - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Tigers Fall to Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Spokane Shut out 5-0 in Return to Game Action - Spokane Chiefs
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.
