Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 11 at Saskatoon
January 11, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (20-16-3-1, 44 pts.) at SASKATOON BLADES (26-12-5-0, 57 pts.)
Friday, January 11, 2019 - 6:00 p.m. MT - SaskTel Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play Game 2 of a four-game road trip tonight in Saskatoon against the Blades. Calgary opened the swing with a 3-2 shootout win in Moose Jaw on Wednesday. Josh Prokop scored the winner in round four of the shootout after Dakota Krebs notched the tying goal for Calgary with 2:35 remaining. Kaden Elder also found the back of the net helping the Hitmen extend their winning streak to five games. Both goaltenders were named stars as Jack McNaughton made 33 saves for Calgary and Adam Evanoff recorded 35 stops for the Warriors.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Mark Kastelic (2a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (2a) have points in back-to-back games.
- Jack McNaughton has won his last five starts in goal, posting a goals against average of 2.16 and a .924 save percentage.
- Jake Kryski (5g, 7a) saw his career high nine-game point streak end Wednesday in Moose Jaw while Luke Coleman's (3g, 1a) three-game goal scoring streak was also halted the same night.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. SASKATOON: Tonight is the fourth and final regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Blades. Calgary is 1-2 against Saskatoon with the road team a perfect 3-0. Josh Prokop (2g, 2a) leads the Hitmen with four points against the Blades while Carson Focht (2g, 1a) is next with three. Kirby Dach (3g, 3a) is the top performer for Saskatoon with six points. Dawson Davidson (1g, 3a) and Max Gerlach (4a) are next with four. Over the last five seasons Calgary is 9-5-1-0 against Saskatoon including a 5-1-1-0 mark at SaskTel Centre.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 5/18 at CGY: SAS 3 CGY 0... Dorrin Luding made 42 saves to record the shutout.
Oct. 17/18 at SAS: CGY 5 SAS 4 OT... Josh Prokop scored his second goal of the night 2:31 into overtime.
Oct. 28/18 at CGY: SAS 5 CGY 3... Kristian Roykas-Marthinsen scored with 7:17 remaining to break a 3-3 tie.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 124 SAS 111 Power Plays: CGY 0-12 (0%) SAS 3-13 (23.1%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 20-11-2-1.
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 30 of a possible 40 points in their last 20 games posting a record of 14-4-1-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 20-66 (30.3%) while the penalty kill is 66-73 (90.4%).
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is sixth in the WHL in goals with 27 and tied for 10th in shots on goal with 155 while his 14 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is fifth in defencemen scoring with 36 points.
FAST FACT: Calgary has scored 11 even strength goals in the last three games.
DID YOU KNOW?: The Hitmen are 5-1 against teams from the East Division...There have been 16 penalty shots in the WHL this season where shooters are a combined 4-16. Two of those have been against the Hitmen with goalies Carl Stankowski and Jack McNaughton perfect on both attempts. On the flip side Calgary has yet to be awarded a penalty shot...The Hitmen have killed 25 of their last 26 shorthanded situations.
PLAYOFF CHASE: With 28 games remaining in the regular season Calgary holds the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot, sitting six points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Brandon is home to Red Deer tonight.
FAMILIAR FACE: The Blades lineup includes Zach Huber, traded to Saskatoon from Calgary on Oct. 30, 2018 in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. In 27 games with the Blades the former fourth-round pick of the Hitmen in 2015 has four goals and an assist.
CANADA WINTER GAMES: Three 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 and defenceman Rory Neill on Manitoba. The tournament will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (2-3 weeks, lower body), Tye Carriere (2 weeks, upper body).
TRADE WINDS: The WHL Trade Deadline passed yesterday with Calgary making one move. They acquired the rights to 17-year-old forward Quinn Olson from the Prince Albert Raiders in exchange for 17-year-old forward Bryce Bader. The deal also sees the two teams swap conditional sixth-round picks in the 2021 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Olson is playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers where he is second in team scoring with 42 points (17g, 25a) in 35 games. The Calgary, AB product is the younger brother of Tri-City Americans winger and Anaheim Ducks prospect Kyle Olson.
ROSTER MOVE: On Dec. 31, the Hitmen added 16-year-old goaltender Ethan Hein to the roster as an affiliate player. The product of Saskatoon, SK has been playing in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League with the Swift Current Legionnaires. In 14 games he has a 2.75 goals against average and .900 save percentage. The Hitmen acquired Hein last season in a November 27, 2018 multi-player trade with the Swift Current Broncos.
CORRAL SERIES LUNCHEON: The Hitmen have announced plans to reunite the greatest junior hockey line in Calgary history for "The Corral Series Luncheon" sponsored by Sportsnet 960-The Fan. The event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 in the Scotiabank Saddledome Chrysler Club will feature a Hot Stove Panel with the trio of Danny Gare, Jerry Holland and Mike Rogers. That line combined for 806 points during three seasons with the Calgary Centennials from 1971-74. Tickets for the luncheon are $60 each (plus applicable fees and taxes) and include the following:
- Buffet Lunch
- Special Corral Series gift
- Additional guests to help celebrate hockey in the Stampede Corral
A table of eight tickets is also available for $400 (plus applicable fees and taxes) with full details available online at http://hitmenhockey.com/corral-series-luncheon In February, the Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games at the historic Stampede Corral in "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports. As a tribute to the city's hockey history, the Hitmen are dedicating each game on Feb. 1, 6 and 8 to former local teams who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Calgary Wranglers and Calgary Cowboys. Tickets are still available with three-game pack starting at $59.25 for kids and $74.25 for adults.
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Hitmen are hosting an open practice at the Siksika Sportsplex on the Siksika Nation starting at 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 15. Hitmen Hockey staff will host a general coaching info session for coaches and parents from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on the upper level of the rink followed by a post-practice meet and greet with Hitmen players, dinner and ceremony.
PROSPECT WATCH: Sheldon Kwiatkowski, Calgary's third-round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft is in the Alberta Midget Hockey League with the Grande Prairie AAA Storm. The 16-year-old has 10 goals and 17 assists in 25 games. He has also appeared in three games with the AJHL's Whitecourt Wolverines recording one assist.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 12 at Prince Albert 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 19 at Edmonton 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 20 vs. Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 25 vs. Prince George 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 27 vs. Kootenay 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill 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.
- Family Game and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill 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 presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 3 vs. KTN
- One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM
- Fan Appreciation and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Kaden Elder is three helpers shy of 50. Elder eclipsed the 100 point mark on Jan. 4.
- Hunter Campbell is two games away from 100.
- Riley Stotts recorded his 50th assist on Wednesday in Moose Jaw.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2019
- Close Game Decided in the Third Period - Portland Winterhawks
- Kastelic Scores in OT to Lift Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Announces Five-Game Suspension for Blazers' Faith - WHL
- Cougars Solidify Blue-Line - Prince George Cougars
- Game Preview: Blades Aim to Take out Hitmen - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 42 vs Regina - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Prince Albert - Game #42 - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos Put 'C' on Nagel and Name Leadership Group - Swift Current Broncos
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 11 at Saskatoon - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Head to Medicine Hat for Final Meeting of 2018-19 with Tigers - Regina Pats
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