Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 10 vs. Lethbridge
January 10, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (20-12-4-1, 45 pts.) vs. LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (23-10-2-5, 53 pts.)
Friday, January 10, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play game two of a three-game homestand tonight against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome for Pucks for Paws presented by Chasin' Tails Dog Care Center and WEB Consulting Ltd. in support of Four Feet Companion Foundation, a local volunteer-run agency that provides financial grants to registered animal charities in Calgary and area. Among the highlights is the first intermission World Famous Wiener Dog Race presented by Chasin' Tails Dog Care Center. Over 20 dogs will race from the goal line to the far blueline with prizes for first place, best dressed dog and best dressed handler. As a fundraiser for the Four Feet Companion Foundation, fans can pick their favourites prior to the race behind section 226 then meet the dogs and their owners during the second intermission. There is also a section give-away where 200 lucky fans will win a free day of doggy day care while all in attendance receive a $50 coupon to Chasin' Tails Dog Care Center upon exit. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 45 points while Lethbridge is third in the Central Division with 53 points.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 7:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
ATTACHMENT: Media Kit
STREAKS
Five Hitmen take point streaks into tonight's game;
- Jett Woo (1g, 5a) is on a five-game streak.
- Riley Stotts (3a) has points in three consecutive outings.
- Luke Prokop (4a), Mark Kastelic (2g, 1a) and Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.
- Goaltender Brayden Peters has won his last two starts while posting a 1.50 goals against average and .935 save percentage.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the fifth of seven regular season meetings between the two clubs. Calgary is 2-2 against the 'Canes with their last two meetings both decided in overtime. Riley Stotts (2g, 4a) leads the Hitmen against Lethbridge with six points. Four others are next with three points each in Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 1a), Mark Kastelic (1g, 2a), Jett Woo (1g, 2a) and Josh Prokop (1g, 2a). Logan Barlage (1g, 4a) is the top Hurricanes performer with five points. Alex Thacker (4a) is next with four. The Central Division rivals will meet again on Sunday, Feb. 9, once again at the 'Dome.
2019-20 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 14/19 at LET: LET 3 CGY 0...Carl Tetachuk 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.
Dec. 27/19 at LET: LET 5 CGY 4 OT... Dino Kambeitz scored the winner three minutes into the extra session.
Jan. 4/20 at LET: CGY 2 LET 1 OT...Mark Kastelic netted the winner 18 seconds into extra time.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 134 LET 96 Power Plays: CGY 5-14 (35.7%) LET 4-22 (18.2%)
ROSTER MOVES: The Hitmen made a pair of trades on Thursday. In the first transaction, they acquired 18-year-old forward Conrad Mitchell and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft in exchange for 18-year-old forward Hunter Campbell. The second deal of the day had Calgary add 18-year-old forward Connor Gabruch (pronounced Gab-ruck) from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This 25h anniversary season, the Hitmen in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports, are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Jakob LaPointe played 91 games during parts of three seasons with the Hitmen from 2015 to 2017. The defenceman collected 11 points, all assists.
WORLD JUNIORS: Two members of the Hitmen claimed medals at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera won gold with Team Canada as Goaltending Coach while Egor Zamula struck silver with Team Russia becoming the 23rd player in franchise history to play in the prestigious event. Zamula had five points (2g, 3a) in seven games. On Thursday the Hitmen announced Zamula will undergo season ending back surgery, a procedure that includes an expected recovery time of three to four months. The injury is a result of a degenerative condition that intensified at the World Juniors.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Riley Stotts after today's game. Stotts will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212. Another pillar to the Pucks for Paws program sees both the Calgary Hitmen Foundation and WEB Consulting Ltd. direct $10 each to the Four Feet Companion Foundation for every regular season point recorded by Stotts this season. The 19-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs prospect currently leads the team in scoring with 39 points (16g, 23a) in 36 games.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 11-6-1-1 at home this season, grabbing points in eight of their last 10 games while posting a 6-2-1-1 record at the 'Dome. Lethbridge is 12-5-0-1 on the road going 2-2 in their last four road dates.
SPENGLER CUP: Three former Hitmen were members of Team Canada's 2019 Spengler Cup winning performance in Adam Tambellini, Paul Postma and Brendan Burke. Tambellini finished the tournament with three assists while Postma tallied a goal.
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Three Hitmen are all within four points of each other atop the team scoring race. Riley Stotts leads the way with 39. Mark Kastelic is next with 37 while Orca Wiesblatt has 35.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Kyle Olson (lower body, week-to-week).
Total man-games lost: 95
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 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.
ALUMNI UPDATE: Chris Driedger, who played three seasons with the Hitmen from 2011-14, is in the NHL with the Florida Panthers. The 25-year-old goalie is 4-2 with a 2.16 goals against average and .935 save percentage. Driedger started the season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds where he appeared in 14 games while posting a 2.09 goals against average and .938 save percentage.
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.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (3-4-2-0), January (3-1-0-0).
IN THE COMMUNITY: Tomorrow, Saturday, January, 11 Hitmen players Mark Kastelic, Dakota Krebs, Josh Prokop and Orca Wiesblatt will all be at Adrenalin Source for Sports (9309 Macleod Trail South) from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. They will be signing autographs and taking part in an accuracy challenge with fans in the new Adrenalin alley.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Jan. 12 vs. SC 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Wed., Jan. 15 at SC 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Jan. 17 at BDN 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Jan. 18 at WPG 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Jan. 25 at WPG 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Pucks for Paws on Jan. 10 vs. LET presented by Chasin' Tails Dog Care Center and WEB Consulting in support of Four Feet Companion Foundation
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 12 vs. SC. Game sponsor is Superstore.
- 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
- Orca Wiesblatt is two games away from 100 while Jackson van de Leest is three game shy of 150.
- Josh Prokop needs one point for 50.
- Brayden Peters is 22 minutes away from 1,000.
- Mark Kastelic is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, one back of Brandon Segal's 205. Kastelic is also one goal behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Jack McNaughton needs 17 saves to move into a tie with Nick Schneider for 10th place on the clubs all-time saves list at 1,651.
- Blake Allan played career game 100 last Saturday in Lethbridge.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2020
- Short-Handed Blades Uncrown Oil Kings in Shootout - Saskatoon Blades
- Late Regulation Goal Spurs Blades to Shootout Win over Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Americans Trade Newell to Kelowna - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Acquire Prospect Defenceman Luke Rybinski - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE Acquire 2020 8th Round Draft Pick from Victoria - Winnipeg Ice
- ICE Acquire Dallas Stars Prospect and Rebels Captain Dawson Barteaux from Red Deer Rebels - Winnipeg Ice
- Broncos Acquire Toman, Ashcroft, Draft Pick from Saskatoon - Swift Current Broncos
- Broncos Acquire Bode Hagan from Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Royals Complete Trade with Ice - Victoria Royals
- Bode Hagan Exchanged for 2021 Bantam Draft Pick - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Spokane Trades Balas to Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Martin Fasko-Rudas Joins Blades from Swift Current - Saskatoon Blades
- Rebels Trade Barteaux To ICE - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Acquire Prospect Defenceman Luke Rybinski - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rockets acquire Jarod Newell from Tri-City - Kelowna Rockets
- Silvertips Acquire C Ethan Regnier, NHL CSS Ranked D Kasper Puutio from Swift Current - Everett Silvertips
- Blazers Acquire Carpendale, Make Two Other Minor Deals - Kamloops Blazers
- T-Birds Trade Tyler Carpendale to Kamloops - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Saskatoon Acquires Caiden Daley from Regina - Saskatoon Blades
- TRADE: Pats Acquire Cole Carrier from Kelowna - Regina Pats
- Rockets trade Cole Carrier to Pats for a pair of picks - Kelowna Rockets
- Pats Trade Caiden Daley to Saskatoon for 2021 Draft Pick - Regina Pats
- Broncos Acquire Two Players, Two Picks from Everett - Swift Current Broncos
- Hitmen Acquire a 2021 Draft Pick from Kelowna - Calgary Hitmen
- Rockets acquire Jonas Peterek from Hitmen - Kelowna Rockets
- Schneider Named to Leadership Group for 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Gameday Hub: January 10 - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 41 vs Moose Jaw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Schneider & Wiesblatt Named to Leadership Groups for 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game - WHL
- GM Alan Millar Talks About Thursday's Trades - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 10 vs. Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Hub: January 10 - Portland Winterhawks
- Wheat Kings and Cougars Swap Forwards - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Acquire Rhinehart & Pick from Cougars - Saskatoon Blades
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