Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 25 vs. Prince George
January 25, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (21-19-3-1, 46 pts.) vs. PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS (16-24-3-2, 37 pts.)
Friday, January 25, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play game two of a three-game homestand tonight as they host the Prince George Cougars at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Tonight's Calgary Board of Education (CBE) game, presented by Edward Jones, starts at 7:00 p.m. Both intermissions will feature a live performance from the James Fowler High School Brass Band.
The Hitmen head into play two points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot. The Wheat Kings are in Regina this evening.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Hunter Campbell (1g, 2a) is riding a career-high three-game point streak.
- James Malm (2a) has points in back-to-back games.
- Carson Focht (2g, 1a) saw his three-game point streak halted in Sunday's loss to the Red Deer Rebels while the two-game point streak for Riley Stotts (2g, 1a) and the two-game goal scoring streak for Luke Coleman (2g) also came to an end.
- Mark Kastelic (2g, 4a) has points in four of his last six games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. PRINCE GEORGE: Tonight is the first and only regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Cougars. Last season the two teams split the series with the home team 2-0. Kody McDonald led all Cougars in the series three goals. Jared Bethune and Aaron Boyd matched his three point effort with a goal and two assists each. Jake Bean was Calgary's top performer with two assists while Matteo Gennaro (1g) and Tristen Nielsen (1g) scored goals for the Hitmen. Over the last five years Calgary is 4-6-0-0 against the Cougars, including a 4-2-0-0 record at the 'Dome.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 10/17 at PG: PG 7 CGY 1...After a scoreless first period, Kody McDonald netted a hat-trick.
Oct. 22/17 at CGY: CGY 2 PG 1 SO... Jake Bean scored the game winner in round five of the shootout.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 57 PG 68 Power Plays: CGY 1-11 (9.1%) PG 2-17 (11.8%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 21-14-2-1.
SITTING OUT: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula has been issued a WHL imposed one-game suspension after being given a check to the head major and game misconduct last Sunday against Red Deer. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect will serve his suspension tonight. On the flip side the Cougars will be without the services of their second leading scorer Josh Maser who has been handed a three-game suspension under WHL supplemental discipline for an action last Sunday against Kamloops. Tonight Maser will serve game two of the suspension.
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday the Hitmen recalled affiliate players Brayden Peters and Orca Wiesblatt. The 16-year-old Peters is playing AAA Midget with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season. In 13 games the goaltender is 10-3 with a league-leading 1.74 goals against average, three shutouts and .936 save percentage. Wiesblatt, who started the season with Calgary, has been playing in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers. In 16 games, the 18-year-old forward has 15 points (6g, 9a).
WHL DEBUT: Calgary's first pick, fourth overall in the 2018 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, Sean Tschigerl made his WHL debut last Sunday against Red Deer. The 15-year-old forward is in the CSSHL this season with OHA Edmonton Prep. In 24 games, Tschigerl has 43 points including 18 goals.
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is in a two-way tie for sixth in the WHL in goals with 29 while his 15 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is in a two-way tie for sixth in defencemen scoring with 39 points. Dakota Krebs is in a three-way tie for 12th in plus/minus among defenceman at +18.
CAREER YEARS: With still 35.3 percent of the regular seasons schedule remaining, four Hitmen players have set new career highs in point totals. Their previous high is in brackets: Mark Kastelic 46pts (45), Kaden Elder 34pts (32), Egor Zamula 39pts (18), Jackson van de Leest 13pts (5) and Hunter Campbell 12pts (11).
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Jake Kryski after today's game. The 19-year-old will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
NHL ATTENTION: NHL Central Scouting has named two Hitmen players and one prospect among the top skaters available for the 2019 NHL Draft. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest along with forwards Mark Kastelic and Quinn Olson are all ranked among North American skaters. The 17-year-old van de Leest is among the ice time leaders on the Hitmen blueline. He makes the list at 145. Olson is ranked 154 with his rights acquired by the Hitmen in a Jan. 10, 2019 trade from the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old forward is currently playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers where he is third in team scoring with 49 points (18g, 31a) in 40 games. Kastelic, the 19-year-old Hitmen captain, leads the team in scoring with 47 points and is ranked at 196.
CORRAL SERIES LUNCHEON: The Hitmen have expanded "The Corral Series Luncheon" sponsored by Sportsnet 960-The Fan to a second Hot Stove Panel. The event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 in the Scotiabank Saddledome Chrysler Club will reunite the greatest junior hockey line in Calgary history, 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. The second panel of Calgary hockey legends will include Jim "Bearcat Murray, Dana Murzyn and Kelly Kisio. Kisio and Murzyn, both former Wranglers, had 13 and 14-year careers, respectively, in the NHL each having stints with the Calgary Flames while Murray was the Hall of Fame equipment manager for the Calgary Centennials, Cowboys, Wranglers and Flames. 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, Wranglers and Cowboys. Individual game tickets start as low as $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $74.25 for adults and $59.25 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes).
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 (week-to-week, lower body), Jake Kryski (indefinite, upper body), James Malm (day-to-day, upper body).
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (0-3-1-0), October (4-6-1-0), November (6-5-0-1), December (6-2-1-0), January (5-3-0-0).
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 27 vs. Kootenay 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 29 at Regina 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 1 vs. Brandon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Feb. 2 at Red Deer 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 6 vs. Regina 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. PG is CBE Night with Edward Jones the game sponsor
- 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 three assists away from 50 and seven games shy of 300.
- Egor Zamula needs four assists for 50 while Carson Focht is six assists away from 50.
- Riley Stotts is seven points short of 100.
- Hunter Campbell played game 100 on Jan. 12 in Prince Albert.
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Western Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2019
- McNabb Blanks Wheat Kings, 4-0 - Regina Pats
- Group and Family Ticket Packages Now Available for Corral Series - Calgary Hitmen
- Blazers Add Defenseman Ethan Brandwood to Roster for the Weekend - Kamloops Blazers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, January 25 vs. Prince George - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Brandon Friday in First of Back to Back Games against the Wheat Kings - Regina Pats
- Giants Take Down the League-Leading Raiders to Earn 7th Straight Win - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Drop Close Contest To Giants - Prince Albert Raiders
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