Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 6 vs. Edmonton
December 6, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (14-7-3-1, 32 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (18-6-4-2, 42 pts.)
Friday, December 6, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen, 5-1-2-0 in their last eight games, host the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It's Carols for Christmas presented by Pinnacle Medical. Nearly 1,900 Calgary and surrounding area students will be in attendance to sing holiday carols before the game and during both intermissions. The Hitmen have been idle since last Sunday's ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss which saw fans toss 25,025 stuffed toys when Carson Focht tipped home a Jackson van de Leest point shot 1:34 into the first period. Since the inaugural 1995 toss, the Hitmen, with generous support from their partners and fans, have provided the community with 402,608 teddy bears. The visiting Red Deer Rebels went on to defeat the Hitmen 3-2 in overtime. Josh Tarzwell netted the game winner 2:13 into the extra session. Cameron Hausinger and Joel Sexsmith added the other Red Deer markers while Riley Stotts completed the Calgary scoring.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 6:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 4a) is on a career high six-game point streak.
- Carson Focht (4g, 2a) has points in five straight games.
- Riley Stotts (3g, 2a) is on a four-game point streak and has at least a point in eight of his last nine games (5g, 5a).
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton is 4-0-1-0 in his last five starts, posting a 1.96 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.
- Mark Kastelic (1g, 4a) and Jonas Peterek (2g, 1a) both have points in three of their last four games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the sixth of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs. Since Calgary grabbed the opener in September, the Oil Kings have won the last four. Carson Focht tops the Hitmen in the season series with eight points (5g, 3a). Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 4a) is next with five. Josh Williams (5g, 3a), Jake Neighbours (2g, 6a) and Riley Sawchuk (1g, 7a) are the top performers for Edmonton with eight points each. The Central Division rivals will face each other tomorrow up in Edmonton before completing their season series on Dec. 30 at the 'Dome.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 27/19 in CGY: CGY 4 EDM 3 OT...Carson Focht (2g, 1a) and James Malm (1g, 2a) recorded three points each.
Oct. 12/19 in EDM: EDM 6 CGY 4...The Oil Kings struck for four power play goals.
Nov. 3/19 in CGY: EDM 3 CGY 2... David Kope broke a 2-2 third period tie with 54.5 seconds remaining.
Nov. 9/19 in EDM: EDM 4 CGY 2... The Oil Kings held the Hitmen to just 15 shots.
Nov. 30/19 in EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4...Edmonton overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 138 EDM 156 Power Plays: CGY 3-14 (21.4%) EDM 8-28 (28.6%)
FAST FACTS: Egor Zamula is fourth among defencemen in league scoring with 25 points...Mark Kastelic is tied for seventh in goals in the WHL with 16 and shares the league lead with three shorthanded markers...Calgary has scored four or more goals in seven of their last eight games.
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This season the Hitmen, in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports, are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Eric Frere appeared in 79 career games as a defenceman in parts of two seasons with the Hitmen from 2006-08. Post WHL, he attended the University of Calgary where he played four seasons for the Dinos and received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Frere is currently a realtor working in Calgary with the Frere Team at CIR Realty.
TOY DRIVE: The Hitmen are excited to present the Royal LePage Benchmark Toy Drive. The charitable initiative asks fans to bring a new unwrapped toy to any of the three remaining Hitmen home games before the holiday break and drop it off at the Royal LePage Benchmark booth located on the concourse;
- Friday, Dec. 6 vs. Edmonton at 7:00 p.m. (Section 223)
- Sunday, Dec. 8 vs. Everett at 4:00 p.m. (Section 223)
- Sunday, Dec. 15 vs. Lethbridge at 2:00 p.m. (Sections 227 & 228)
All donations will benefit The Children's Cottage Society helping families in crisis. For every toy donation, your name will be entered into a draw for two Calgary Flames tickets to the New Year's Eve game against Chicago, two club seat tickets to the Hitmen New Year's Day game against Medicine Hat and for the chance to win one of three team autographed Hitmen sticks. Cash contributions will also be accepted with donations matched by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Riley Stotts after today's game. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is 10 points ahead of their pace 25 games into last season when they were 10-13-2-0.
ENMAX TEDDY BEAR TOSS JERSEY AUCTION: During the 2019 ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss, Hitmen players wore wear special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo. These jerseys are now up for bid at elevateauctions.com. Bidding closes Monday Dec 16 at 8 p.m. MT.
POINT PARADE: Calgary has picked up at least a point in nine of their last 11 games posting a record of 6-2-2-1.
WORLD JUNIOR INVITES: Hitmen teammates Jonas Peterek and Egor Zamula will attend World Junior Selection Camps with Peterek heading to the Czech Republic and Zamula to Russia. Both players depart Calgary on December 9th. The 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
GAME DATA: This is an Eastern Conference matchup; this season the Hitmen have a record of 13-6-2-1 against Eastern Conference foes and are 4-4-2-0 against the Central Division.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 7-4-1-1 on home ice this season, going 2-0-1-1 in their last four games at the 'Dome. Edmonton is 8-3-4-1 on the road having last played in an enemy building nine days ago on Nov. 27 in Kamloops when they fell 5-3 to the Blazers.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: All four teams under the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation umbrella are providing special gift ideas until Dec. 13. There are a dozen days of deals for the Hitmen, Flames, Roughnecks and Stampeders. Today's Hitmen offer is Me + 3 (4 for the price of 3) to the Dec. 15 game vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes. Visit www.calgaryflames.com/12days for all the details including the Offer Code.
HITMEN PLEDGE: 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' is here. As part of the 25th anniversary season fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge and donate 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause. One lucky winner will receive $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice. Full details can be found at https://hitmenhockey.com/pledge.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Hunter Campbell (lower body, week-to-week), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Hitmen players visit the Zoo's outdoor rink for public skating with the final visit Friday, Dec. 13 when two more players will pop in from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. 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 available at hitmenhockey.com/zoolights
SIZABLE DONATION: The Hitmen have donated $16,317.75 to the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre through funds raised at the Bret 'The Hitman' Hart game presented by Kal Tire on Saturday, November 2. Funds were collected through a portion of ticket sales, 50-50, FanAttic merchandise sales, an online game-worn and game-issued jersey auction, as well as a pre-game photo opportunity with Bret in his WWE wrestling ring.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sat., Dec. 7 at EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Sun., Dec. 8 vs. EVT 4:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Dec. 14 at LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Dec. 15 vs. LET 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Dec. 27 at. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Carols for Christmas, presented by Pinnacle Medical on Fri. Dec. 6 vs. EDM
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 8 vs. EVT
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET
- Soccer Day on Mon. Dec. 30 vs. EDM
- Southland Transportation Airdrie Day 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
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Egor Zamula is one point shy of 100.
- Jett Woo needs one assist for 100.
- Mark Kastelic is tied for 13th on the clubs all-time points list with Kenton Smith at 193 points, three points behind Chris Nielsen who holds 12th spot. Kastelic is also six goals behind Brandon Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Jack McNaughton needs 18 saves to pull even with Gerry Festa for 12th spot on the clubs all-time saves list. McNaughton is also 22 saves shy of 1,500.
- Luke Prokop played career game 100 last Saturday in in Edmonton while Dakota Krebs reached the 50 point mark the same day.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2019
- Krane Lifts Pats to a Point in OT Loss - Regina Pats
- Raiders Fall To Rockets - Prince Albert Raiders
- Warriors Downed by Rebels Friday at Mosaic Place - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Early Deficit Too Much for Broncos in Loss to Everett - Swift Current Broncos
- Teddy Bear Toss Game Hub: December 7 - Portland Winterhawks
- Kelowna opens road trip with a 2-1 win in Prince Albert - Kelowna Rockets
- Knak Invited to Switzerland Camp - Portland Winterhawks
- Lang and Baragano to Attend U-20 National Team Camps - Kamloops Blazers
- Silvertips Acquire 4th Round Selection in '20 from Seattle for Patterson - Everett Silvertips
- T-Birds Acquire Max Patterson from Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game 28 at Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE and Pats Meet for Third Time this Season - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, December 6 vs. Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Conclude Seven-Game Road Stretch in Winnipeg Friday - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Acquire First, Second, and Fifth Round Picks from Kelowna for Matthew Wedman - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chiefs Acquire Veteran Forward Leif Mattson from Kelowna - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets acquire Matthew Wedman from Seattle, send Leif Mattson to Spokane - Kelowna Rockets
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