Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, March 19 at Lethbridge
March 19, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (2-2-1-0, 5 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (2-3-0-0, 4 pts.)
Friday, March 19, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a three-game weekend series with the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight on the road at ENMAX Centre. The Hitmen are coming off last Sunday's 5-4 home-ice win over Medicine Hat. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest netted a pair of goals with Cael Zimmerman, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Blake Allan adding singles. Ryan Chyzowski, Nick McCarry, Oasiz Wiesblatt and Brett Kemp replied for the Tigers. Both teams finished with 41 shots on goal as Brayden Peters made 37 saves to pick up his second win of the young season while Washington Capitals prospect Garin Bjorklund turned aside 36 shots for Medicine Hat.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Hurricanes radio at 1067rock.ca
Webcast: WHL Live at watch.chl.ca
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STREAKS
- Josh Prokop (2g, 1a) is on a three-game point streak.
- Riley Fiddler-Schultz (2g, 1a) has points in two of his last three games.
- Tyson Galloway (2a) saw his two-game point streak end Sunday against Medicine Hat.
NOTEWORTHY VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the first meeting of 2021 between the Hitmen and Hurricanes. Last season Calgary went 2-4-1-0 against their division rivals despite recording 47 more shots. Riley Stotts (4g, 7a) led the Hitmen with 11 points in the season series. Mark Kastelic (3g, 5a) was next with eight. Logan Barlage (1g, 6a) was the top Hurricanes performer with seven points while Dino Kambeitz (5g, 1a) was next with six. Calgary is 4-6-2-0 in their last eight visits to ENMAX Centre.
2019-20 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP Dec. 14/19 in LET: LET 3 CGY 0...Carl Tetachuk 31 save shutout. Logan Barlage tallied 1g, 1a. Dec. 15/19 in CGY: CGY 5 LET 2...Riley Fiddler-Schultz netted a pair of goals. Dec. 27/19 in LET: LET 5 CGY 4 OT... Dino Kambeitz scored the winner three minutes into the extra session. Jan. 4/20 in LET: CGY 2 LET 1 OT...Mark Kastelic netted the winner 18 seconds into extra time. Jan. 10/20: in CGY: LET 4 CGY 2...The 'Canes scored twice in the final eight minutes to break a 2-2 tie. Feb. 9/20 in CGY: LET 6 CGY 4... Brett Davis snapped a 4-4 tie with 6:57 remaining. Mar. 1/20 in CGY: LET 3 CGY 2...Dino Kambeitz led the 'Canes with 1g, 1a.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 228 LET 181 Power Plays: CGY 9-25 (36%) LET 7-35 (20%)
BROADCAST NEWS: Under AHS COVID-19 protocols, fans are not permitted to enter WHL facilities but are invited to watch games with a subscription to the all-new WHL Live on CHL TV at watch.chl.ca. Tonight's game is also available on the Hurricanes radio broadcast at 1067rock.ca.
HITMEN STATS PACK: Defenceman Luke Prokop tops the team in shots on goal this season with 21 while Riley Fiddler-Schultz is next with 19...Five games into action Calgary is averaging 36.6 shots per game while surrendering an average of 33.6. The Hitmen power play is 0-15 to start the season however three of Calgary's top-4 power play point producers from last season have graduated to pro hockey in Jett Woo (4g, 21a), Carson Focht (9g, 10a) and Mark Kastelic (10g, 8a).
FAST FACTS: Eight Hitmen have at least one shot on goal in all five games this season in Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Zac Funk, Connor Gabruch, Adam Kydd, Josh Prokop, Luke Prokop, Sean Tschigerl and Jackson van de Leest. Tonight is Game 6 of 24 for the Hitmen in this abbreviated 2021 campaign.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Conrad Mitchell (day-to-day, upper body).
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Adam Kydd in his second season with the Hitmen. The product of Regina, SK joined the organization as a protected list addition and was signed on September 1, 2019. Kydd, who was the Hitmen Chrysler Canada Inc. Scholastic Player of the Year in 2019-20, has appeared in 58 career WHL games recording 13 points (6g, 7a).
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (22): WHL Bantam Draft (13): Fiddler-Schultz, Funk*, Galloway, Neill*, Peters, L. Prokop, Siepmann*, Toth, Tschigerl, van de Leest, Whynott* Zandee*, Zimmerman Listed (4); Kydd, McNaughton, Palfreyman*, Wiesblatt Trade (5): Allan, Gabruch, Mitchell, J. Prokop, Stotts *Denotes rookie
UPCOMING GAMES: The Calgary Hitmen schedule is finalized to the end of March. Here are the next four; Saturday, March 20 Lethbridge Hurricanes at Calgary Hitmen - 7 p.m. MT Sunday, March 21 Calgary Hitmen at Lethbridge Hurricanes - 6 p.m. MT Friday, March 26 Calgary Hitmen at Edmonton Oil Kings - 7 p.m. MT Saturday, March 27 Edmonton Oil Kings at Calgary Hitmen - 2 p.m. MT
PROMO CALENDAR
Every weekend in March, fans in the province can purchase tickets to the Jackpots for Junior Hockey 50/50 presented by RE/MAX.
Sales open Friday's at 9:00 a.m. and close Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m.
Proceeds support the WHL's 5 Alberta based teams and the AJHL's 15 teams.
Full details at whl.ca/50-50.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Jack McNaughton needs 24 saves to tie Justin Pogge for seventh place on the clubs all-time saves lists at 1,891.
- Orca Wiesblatt is one assist shy of 50.
- Last Friday against Medicine Hat marked a career games played milestone for both Riley Stotts and Riley Fiddler-Schultz. For Stotts it was career game 250 while Fiddler-Schultz hit the 100 mark. Zak Funk also notched his first career goal last Saturday against the Tigers
Western Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2021
- Western Hockey League Statement on COVID-19 Testing Results - WHL
- Winterhawks Broadcasts Return to Portland's CW TV - Portland Winterhawks
- First Week in Review - Winnipeg Ice
- Blazers Sign 17-Year-Old Forward Dylan Sydor - Kamloops Blazers
- Vancouver Giants Announce Roster for 2020-21 Season - Vancouver Giants
- Broncos Looking to End Slide against Moose Jaw - Swift Current Broncos
- Regina Inks Forward Tanner Howe - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, March 19 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades and Raiders Collide for First Time this Season - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Return with Thrilling OT Victory - Tri-City Americans
- Slow Start Costs Broncos against Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Wheat Kings Tame Broncos 4-1 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Winterhawks Earn Point on Pacific Office Automation Opening Night - Portland Winterhawks
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