WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 14 vs. Kelowna

December 14, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (14-14-2-1, 31 pts.) vs. KELOWNA ROCKETS (15-16-2-0, 32 pts.)

Friday, December 14, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen, riding a season-high four game winning streak, welcome the Kelowna Rockets to the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. Game time is 7:00 p.m. It's a double theme night: Carols for Christmas and Pucks for Paws presented by WEB Consulting Ltd in support of the Four Feet Companion Foundation. Over 2,000 Calgary and surrounding area students will be in attendance to sing holiday carols before the game and during both intermissions while Santa will be in the building. During the first intermission fans will also be treated to the 2nd Annual World Famous Wiener Dog Race presented by Chasin' Tails Dog Care Center. Pucks for Paws sees both the Calgary Hitmen Foundation and WEB Consulting Ltd. direct $10 to the Four Feet Companion Foundation for every regular season point recorded by Riley Stotts. In addition, WEB Consulting Ltd. contributes $10 per point to Southwood Veterinary Hospital for animal owners unable to afford veterinary care. So far this season Stotts has 22 points in 25 games.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com

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STREAKS

- James Malm (3g, 3a) and Egor Zamula (4g, 3a) are both riding four-game point streaks.

- Riley Stotts (1g, 7a) is on a three-game streak.

- Dakota Krebs (3a) and Carson Focht (2a) both have points in back-to-back games.

- Goaltender Jack McNaughton has won his last four starts stopping 93 of 102 shots for a .912 save percentage.

- Josh Prokop (1g, 2a) and Luke Coleman (2a) both saw their two-game point streaks halted Sunday against Kamloops.

NOTEWORTHY

LAST GAME RECAP: Hitmen forward Kaden Elder scored a breakaway goal 4:18 into the first period of The Brick Teddy Bear Toss 2018, triggering a waterfall of 29,635 stuffed toys on Sunday at the Scotiabank Saddledome. That tally set a new franchise record for most bears collected in a single toss breaking the previous mark of 28,815 established in 2015. Nearly 70 local agencies, including the Salvation Army, Calgary Food Bank, Siksika Nation and Hospice Calgary will share the bears this holiday season. The Brick also donated 25 cents for every bear tossed to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation for a total of $7,408.75. Each bear was counted one by one by over 100 volunteers which included students, teachers, grandparents and hockey fans. Since the inaugural 1995 toss, the Hitmen, with generous support from their partners and fans, have provided the community with 377,583 teddy bears. The Hitmen went on to win the game beating the Kamloops Blazers 6-3. Egor Zamula (2g, 1a) and Riley Stotts (3a) led the Calgary scoring attack with three points each. Jake Kryski, Tye Carriere and James Malm also found the back of the net in helping the Hitmen extend their home ice winning streak to five games.

VS. KELOWNA: Tonight is the first and only regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Rockets. They split their season series last year with the road team going 2-0. This is only Kelowna's third visit to Calgary in the last six seasons.

2017-18 SERIES RECAP

Oct. 13/17 at KEL: CGY 4 KEL 3... Hitmen goalie Nick Schneider made 31 saves in a first-star performance.

Jan. 7/18 at CGY: KEL 3 CGY 1...The Rockets rallied from a 1-0 deficit scoring three times in the final 23:28.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 48 KEL 64 Power Plays: CGY 1-9 (11.1%) KEL 2-14 (14.2%)

BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 14-9-1-1.

RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 17 of a possible 22 points in their last 11 games posting a record of 8-2-0-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 11-33 (33.3%) while the penalty kill is 35-40 (87.5%).

WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is sixth in the WHL in goals with 22 while his 122 shots on goal are in a three-way tie for 11th. Josh Prokop is tied for 11th in rookie scoring with 16 points. Egor Zamula is in a four-way tie for 11th in defencemen scoring with 24 points.

ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday, Dec. 13, the Hitmen recalled goaltender Matthew Armitage from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. The 19-year-old has a 2.62 goals against average and .924 save percentage in the BCHL this season.

GAME-WORN AND GAME-ISSUED JERSEY AUCTION: During The Brick Teddy Bear Toss 2018, Hitmen players wore special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo. They are now being sold in an online auction which closes Sunday Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. MT. Fans can bid on the jerseys along with five team-signed helmets at https://elevateauctions.com/TeddyBearJerseys2018 with proceeds benefiting the Children's Miracle Network.

HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 7-6-2-0 at home while Kelowna is 8-9-1-0 on the road.

POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet Luke Prokop after today's game. The rookie defenceman will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.

DID YOU KNOW?: Hitmen defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko is with Team Belarus at the 2019 IIHF World U20 Championship in Germany. Belarus is 3-1 at the Division I Group A tournament with their final round-robin game Saturday against Latvia. This is the third trip to the World Juniors for Yeryomenko. He won gold in 2017.

HITMEN HOLIDAY STOCKING STUFFER: The Hitmen are offering fans a special gift idea this holiday season. For $19.99 plus GST you receive a Hitmen single game voucher redeemable for any remaining regular season game in Scotiabank Saddledome, a signed Hitmen puck and a $5 Scotiabank Saddledome Card. Some exclusions do apply. Go to hitmenhockey.com to purchase yours today.

CANADA WINTER GAMES: Two Hitmen prospects have been named to play in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Forward Sean Tschigerl will suit up for Team Alberta with defenceman Tyson Galloway on Team British Columbia. Manitoba has yet to name its roster for the tournament which will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.

CORRAL SERIES: The Hitmen will play a trio of games this season at the historic Stampede Corral. Tickets start at $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $69 (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports, will see Calgary host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, Feb. 1, the Regina Pats on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb. 8. All are 7:00 p.m. starts in the vintage building that first opened on Dec. 15, 1950 and was the original home of the Calgary Flames from 1980-83. Each game will be dedicated to a former elite team who once called the Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Wranglers and Cowboys. The series features a number of exciting events including an opening night pre-game celebration and beer gardens, a luncheon, merchandise and other activities that will make this a week to remember.

HITMEN GO GREEN: The Calgary Hitmen are participating in an environmental initiative called One Ticket, One Tree. The pilot project will see a tree planted for reforestation projects in the province for each game day and group ticket sold to the One Ticket, One Tree Hitmen game against Edmonton on Mar. 8. Hitmen players are also in the community this season doing their part to reduce their ecological footprint and raising awareness to local environmental issues.

MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS HITMEN INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (6-8 weeks, lower body), Tye Carriere (Indefinitely, upper body).

HITMEN VS: (BDN 1-0), (EDM 1-1), (EVT 0-1), (KAM 1-0), (KEL 0-0), (KTN 2-1), (LET 1-2), (MH 1-1), (MJ 2-0), (POR 1-0), (PA 0-2), (PG 0-0), (RD 0-4-1-0), (REG 0-0-1-0), (SAS 1-2), (SEA 1-0), (SPO 1-0), (SC 1-0), (TC 0-0-0-1), (VAN 0-0), (VIC 0-0).

IN THE COMMUNITY: This holiday season the Hitmen are once again partnering with the Calgary Zoo for Zoolights. Hitmen players will visit the Zoo's outdoor arena on four occasions for public skating. The first appearance was Dec. 8 when Carson Focht, Josh Prokop and mascot Farley the Fox all dropped by. Weather permitting Hitmen players will also visit the rink on Dec. 27, Dec. 29 and Jan. 3.

UPCOMING GAMES

All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.

DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST

Dec. 15 at Edmonton 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Dec. 16 vs. Lethbridge 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Dec. 28 at Edmonton 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Dec. 30 vs. Vancouver 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Jan. 1 vs. Victoria 1:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

PROMO CALENDAR

Upcoming home game highlights include:

- Carols for Christmas and Pucks for Paws on Dec. 14 vs. KEL

- Novice Jamboree and Sunday Funday on Dec. 16 vs. LET

- Soccer Day and Sunday Funday on Dec. 30 vs. VAN

- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC

- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH

- Sunday Funday on Jan. 20 vs. RD

- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG

- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN

- The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA. Tickets on sale starting Nov. 26

- Family Game and Sunday Funday on Feb. 10 vs. MJ

- Lunar Celebration/Calgary Catholic on Feb. 15 vs. MH

- TELUS BE BRAVE on Feb. 27 vs. SC

- Multicultural Night on Mar. 1 vs. BDN

- WHL Suits up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation - Presented by RE/MAX and Sunday Funday on Mar. 3 vs. KTN

- One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM

- Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM

CAREER MILESTONE WATCH

- James Malm is five games shy of 200 and four assists away from 100. He reached the 150 point mark on Sunday against Kamloops.

- Jack McNaughton is 35 minutes away from 1,000.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2018


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