Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, April 30 vs. Edmonton
April 30, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (9-7-2-0, 20 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (17-1-0-1, 35 pts.)
Friday, April 30, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Seven Chiefs Sportsplex
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play their second game in as many days, this time tonight at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on Tsuut'ina Nation. Last night Calgary was in Red Deer and posted a 4-3 overtime victory. Cael Zimmerman netted the game winner 4:19 into the extra session. Calgary never trailed building leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 before the Zimmerman heroics. Captain Josh Prokop, Jackson van de Leest and Riley Fiddler-Schultz provided the other Hitmen goals while Riley Stotts also chipped in a pair of helpers. The Rebels outshot the Hitmen 35-29 but goaltender Jack McNaughton made 32 saves to record the victory and in the process eclipsed 2,000 career saves.
BROADCAST INFORMATION Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at watch.chl.ca
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STREAKS
- Sean Tschigerl (8g, 6a) is riding a career high nine-game point streak. It's the longest run by any Hitmen player this season and longest since former captain Mark Kastelic (14g, 7a) rattled off a 13-game point streak last season from Feb. 9 - Mar. 6, 2020.
- Goalie Jack McNaughton has won his last three starts.
- Josh Prokop (5g, 8a) has points in eight of his last nine games.
- Riley Fiddler-Schultz (2g, 6a) has points in five of his last six games. Cael Zimmerman (4g, 3a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 4a) have points in four of their last five contests. Adam Kydd (2g, 3a) has points in three of his last four games.
NOTEWORTHY VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the fourth and final regular season meeting in the 2021 season between the two teams. Edmonton is 2-1. Five Hitmen in Riley Stotts (2g), Sean Tschigerl (2g), Adam Kydd (2a), Josh Prokop (2a) and Evan Toth (2a) share the team lead in scoring against their provincial rivals with two points each. Jake Neighbours (2g, 2a) is the top performer for the Oil Kings with four points. Jalen Luypen (2g, 1a), Dylan Guenther (1g, 2a), Carson Latimer (1g, 2a) and Carter Souch (3a) all have three points each.
2021SERIES RECAP March 26/21 at EDM: EDM 4 CGY 3 ...The Oil Kings built a 4-1 second period lead. March 27/21 vs. EDM: EDM 5 CGY 2...Edmonton scored twice in the first 4:21 of the third period to open a 4-1 lead. March 28/21 at EDM: CGY 2 EDM 1... Hitmen goaltender Brayden Peters made 41 saves in a first star performance.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 82 EDM 118 Power Plays: CGY 0-11 (0%) EDM 3-14 (21.4%)
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. Tonight's game is also available on the home of Hitmen Hockey, Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 6:00 p.m.
STATS PACK: Calgary is 4-1 in their last five games and 4-3-1-0 on home ice this season ....The Hitmen have been to overtime more than any other team in the Central Division at five times. Edmonton has played the fewest times beyond 60 minutes, just once....Josh Prokop tops the Hitmen in shots on goal with 64. Riley Fiddler-Schultz is next with 54...Josh Prokop leads the team lead in plus/minus at +13. Tyson Galloway is next at +12....Josh Prokop has at least one shot on goal in all 18 games this season.... As a team, Calgary is 53.3 percent in the face-off circle....Riley Fiddler-Schultz is third in the Central Division in face-off wins with 221 trailing only Edmonton's Josh Williams (247) and Medicine Hat's Ryan Chyzowski (257).
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Conrad Mitchell (day-to-day, lower body).
NHL DEBUT: Two former Hitmen defencemen have made their NHL debut this season, Egor Zamula with the Philadelphia Flyers and Ben Thomas with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Zamula, appeared in 120 games during parts of three seasons in Calgary from 2017-18 to 2019-20 while Thomas skated in 153 games from 2012-13 to 2015-16. They are the 47th and 48th Hitmen grads to play at least one game in the National Hockey League.
ALUMNI WATCH: Chris Driedger, who played three seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-14 and is second in all-time wins with 88, is in the NHL with the Florida Panthers. The 26-year-old goalie is 13-6-3 with a 2.17 goals against average and .923 save percentage.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Riley Stotts is in his fourth season with Calgary and fifth in the WHL after breaking into the league with the Swift Current Broncos before a trade to the Hitmen. The product of Winnipeg, MB has appeared in 265 career regular season games while recording 195 points including 76 goals and 119 assists. His 176 points with Calgary are 17th best in franchise history, just a single point behind Greg Chase while his 65 goals are tied for 19th place with Carson Focht, one tally back of Jordan Krestanovich.
HITMEN VS: (EDM 1-2-0-0), (LET 4-2-0-0), (MH 2-3-1-0), (RD 2-0-1-0).
UPCOMING GAMES: Following tonight, the Calgary Hitmen just two games remaining in their 2021 schedule; Sunday, May 2: Red Deer Rebels at Calgary Hitmen - 4 p.m. MT Tuesday, May 4: Calgary Hitmen at Red Deer Rebels - 7 p.m. MT
HALF IS BEST
For all remaining home games, 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
- Luke Prokop is one game shy of 150.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 30, 2021
- Oil Kings Thump Hitmen, Win Fifth Straight - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Western Hockey League Statement on COVID-19 Testing Results - WHL
- Game Day Hub: April 30 - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, April 30 vs. Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Rockets Down Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- A Late Third Period Comeback Leads Rockets over Giants - Vancouver Giants
- Rebels Fall Just Short Despite Spirited Effort - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Take One from the Canes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Zimmerman's Winner Leads Hitmen over Rebels in OT - Calgary Hitmen
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