WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 27 at Lethbridge

Published on December 27, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (16-10-3-1, 36 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (20-10-0-5, 45 pts.)

Friday, December 27, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen open their post-Christmas schedule tonight on the road in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. It's the third consecutive meeting between the Southern Alberta rivals following a home-and-home split before the break. Calgary last played 12 days ago posting a 5-2 win over the 'Canes on Dec. 15 at Scotiabank Saddledome. Riley Fiddler-Schultz netted a pair of goals, once on the power play and once shorthanded, to lead the Hitmen attack. Riley Stotts and Josh Prokop each tallied a goal and assist while Carson Focht rounded out the scoring. The Hitmen were aided by a dominant first period, outshooting Lethbridge 14-1 and outscoring the visitors 3-0. D-Jay Jerome and Justin Hall replied for the Hurricanes who were outshot 38-17.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)

Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com

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STREAKS

- Goaltender Jack McNaughton is 6-1-1-0 in his last eight starts, posting a 2.46 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.

- Riley Stotts (7g, 6a) has points in eight of his last nine games.

- James Malm (3a) has points in three of his last four games.

- Carson Focht (1g, 1a) and Orca Wiesblatt (3a) both have points in two of their last three games.

NOTEWORTHY VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the third of seven regular season meetings between the two clubs. They have split their first two games with the home team victorious on both occasions. Riley Fiddler-Schultz (2g), Josh Prokop (1g, 1a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 1a) lead the Hitmen against Lethbridge with two points each. Logan Barlage (1g, 2a) is the top Hurricanes performer with three points. D-Jay Jerome (1g, 1a) and Zach Stringer (2a) are next with two points each. The Central Division rivals will meet again in eight days, once again at the ENMAX Centre on Saturday, Jan. 4.

2019-20 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP Dec. 14/19 at LET: LET 3 CGY 0...Carl Tetachuk posted a 31 save shutout. Logan Barlage tallied 1g, 1a. Dec. 15/19 at CGY: CGY 5 LET 2...Riley Fiddler-Schultz netted a pair of goals for Calgary.

INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 69 LET 46 Power Plays: CGY 3-8 (37.5%) LET 1-11 (9.1%)

TIGHT AT THE TOP: Four Hitmen are all within four points of each other atop the team scoring race. Riley Stotts leads the way with 32. Mark Kastelic is next with 30 while Orca Wiesblatt has 29 and Egor Zamula 28.

ROSTER MOVE: The Hitmen have recalled 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway as an affiliate player. The product of Kamloops, BC has spent this season in the BCHL with the Merritt Centennials. In 27 games he has five points (2g, 3a). Galloway made his WHL debut last season appearing in three games with the Hitmen after Calgary selected him in the second round, 25th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.

GAME DATA: Today is the third of eight straight games for the Hitmen against Central Division opponents. During this span they will face Lethbridge four times, Medicine Hat on three occasions and Edmonton once. Calgary is 6-6-2-0 against Central Division foes this season.

SWEATER SWAP: As with annual tradition, all teams in the Western Hockey League flip their home and road jerseys from before Christmas. That means starting tonight the Hitmen black jersey becomes their look on the road while they will wear white at home.

FAST FACTS: The Hitmen are 4-4-3-1 in one goal games this season...Tonight is Game 31 for the Hitmen in the 2019/20 campaign. Last season they played their 31st game on Dec. 9...Egor Zamula is tied for fifth among defencemen in league scoring with 28 points...Mark Kastelic is tied for eighth in goals in the WHL with 18 and shares the league lead with three shorthanded markers.

GO TIME: The post-Christmas schedule has Calgary storming out of their 11 day break as tonight's game in Lethbridge is their first of seven games in 10 days. Four are on the road and three at home.

HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 8-4-2-0 on the road this season, going 5-2-1-0 in their last eight games away from the 'Dome. Lethbridge is 9-5-0-4 at home, 2-0-0-1 in their last three games at ENMAX Centre.

MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (lower body, week-to-week). Total man-games lost: 89

TOP PROSPECTS INVITE: Hitmen defenceman Luke Prokop will play in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game, which showcases the top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft, takes place on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, and will be hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs. Prokop will become the 27th Hitmen player to compete in the Top Prospects Game. Jake Bean was the last to appear, suiting up in 2016.

WORLD JUNIORS: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula is a member of Team Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Zamula netted a pair of goals in Russia's Boxing Day tournament opening loss to the host Czech Republic. Hitmen Assistant Coach & Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is a member of Team Canada as the Goaltending Coach. The tournament runs until Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.

MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is seven points ahead of their pace 30 games into last season when they were 13-14-2-1.

MAC'S TOURNAMENT: Two Hitmen prospects are playing in the 42nd annual Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament presented by Circle K. The prestigious Calgary tournament began Boxing Day with the final on January 1. Representing the Hitmen are Zac Funk of the Okanagan Rockets and Owen Palfreyman from the Cariboo Cougars. Hitmen rookie goaltender Brayden Peters played in the Mac's Tournament last season.

HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (2-3-1-0).

GET FESTIVE: The Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Fans can take advantage of a special Hitmen/ZOOLIGHTS Family Pack. For $99.99 plus GST receive four Hitmen ticket vouchers and four ZOOLIGHTS tickets (2 Adults, 2 Child). Full details are available at hitmenhockey.com/zoolights with Zoolights on every night until January 4th.

HITMEN ALUMNUS: Tyler Fiddler, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2007-11, is playing pro hockey in Germany. The 29-year-old has 15 points (5g, 10a) in 21 games with EC Bad Nauheim. Fiddler recorded 103 points (43g, 60a) in 175 games while with Calgary. That has him 50th all-time on the franchise's regular season points list. He was also a member of the 2010 WHL Champion Hitmen.

PROSPECT PROFILE: James Gibson, Calgary's fourth round pick, 71st overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is in the CSSHL with OHA Edmonton. In 23 games of Midget Prep, the 16-year-old forward has 37 points (16g, 21a). Gibson played with the OHA Edmonton Elite 15's last season notching 46 points (27g, 19a) in 33 games.

UPCOMING GAMES All times MT. Schedule subject to change.

Date Opponent Time Broadcast

Sat., Dec. 28 at. MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Mon., Dec. 30 vs. EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Wed., Jan. 1 vs. MH 1:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Fri., Jan. 3 at MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Sat., Jan. 4 at LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

PROMO CALENDAR

Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include: - Soccer Day, presented by Allstate Canada on Mon. Dec. 30 vs. EDM - Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation on Jan. 1 vs. MH - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 5 vs. MJ - Pucks for Paws on Jan. 10 vs. LET - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 12 vs. SC - Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Sun. Jan. 26 vs. RD. It's also Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill

CAREER MILESTONE WATCH - Riley Stotts is one point away from 150.

- Mark Kastelic needs three points for 200. He is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, nine back of Brandon Segal's 206. Kastelic is also four goals behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.

- Jack McNaughton needs 29 saves to move into a tie with Brandon Glover for 11th place on the clubs all-time regular season saves list at 1,561.

- Josh Prokop is five games away from 100.

- Jett Woo reached the 100 assist mark in the final game before the Christmas break on Sunday, Dec. 15 against Lethbridge.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2019


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