Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, March 2 at Edmonton
March 2, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-35-6-2, 46 pts.) at EDMONTON OIL KINGS (18-37-6-2, 44 pts.)
Friday - 7:00 p.m. MT - Rogers Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen close a mini two-game road trip tonight at Rogers Place against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Calgary is coming off Wednesday's 3-2 overtime loss in Red Deer. Reese Johnson scored the winner 2:12 into the extra session. Mason McCarty and Chris Douglas also scored for the Rebels who jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Riley Stotts in the middle frame and Conner Chaulk in the third period replied for Calgary. Chaulk's goal forced overtime with 5:13 remaining. Hitmen goaltender Nick Schneider made 35 saves in a first star performance and also hit a milestone eclipsing 5,000 career saves in the Western Hockey League. Red Deer outshot Calgary 38-20. The Rebels went 2-5 on the power play while killing the lone Hitmen chance. The Hitmen, at 46 points, are two points up on Edmonton for fifth in the division. The Oil Kings last played on Tuesday and fell 5-2 at home to Medicine Hat.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jakob Stukel (5g, 6a) is riding a six-game point streak.
- Jake Kryski (4g, 7a) has points in five consecutive games.
- Riley Stotts (2g) has scored in back-to-back games and has points (3g, 3a) in four of his last five outings.
- Conner Chaulk (2g) has scored in two of his last three games.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko (2g, 3a) saw his four game point streak snapped in Red Deer on Wednesday while Mark's Kastelic's (2a) two-game point streak was also halted that same night.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the fourth of six meetings between the two Alberta rivals with the home team a perfect 3-0. Calgary has outscored Edmonton 14-7. Jakob Stukel (3g, 4a) leads the Hitmen with seven points against the Oil Kings this season while Jake Kryski (2g, 4a) is next with six points. Trey Fix-Wolansky (2g, 3a) and the departed Davis Koch (2g, 3a) are the top-performing Oil Kings with five points each. Tomas Soustal (1g, 3a) is next with three points. Calgary is 5-3-2-0 in their last 10 visits to Edmonton. The two teams won't meet again until the final weekend of the regular season in a home-and-home set beginning Saturday, Mar. 17 at Rogers Place.
2017-18 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 13/17 at CGY: CGY 6 EDM 1...Riley Stotts led the Hitmen with a pair of goals.
Jan. 1/18 at EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4... Davis Koch scored the game winner with 3:34 remaining.
Feb. 23/18 at CGY: CGY 4 EDM 1...Jake Kryski, Jakob Stukel & Riley Stotts combined for eight points
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 69 EDM 86 Power Plays: CGY 3-12 (25%) EDM 2-17 (11.8%)
GO TIME: Today is the third of five games in six days for Calgary. The Hitmen will then play their next five games in span of eight days.
DID YOU KNOW?: Luke Coleman is the only Hitmen skater to appear in all 62 games this season...Jakob Stukel has reached the 30 goal mark for the second time in his career. With 31 goals, he is three shy of his career high of 34 scored during the 2015-16 season...Calgary has been to overtime 15 times this season including three times in their last 11 outings...The Hitmen power play was blanked for the first time in four games on Wednesday in Red Deer.
WHAT'S LEFT: Including today, of Calgary's 10 remaining regular season games four are at home with six on the road.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play is 20th in the WHL at 17.8%. The penalty kill is tied for 11th at 77.9%.
THE OLYMPIC FIVE: Two former Calgary Hitmen forwards won medals in men's hockey at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Brooks Macek struck silver for Germany as they lost in overtime to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the gold medal game. Brandon Kozun and Team Canada won bronze after beating the Czech Republic 6-4. Three other Hitmen alumni were also in the tournament: Bostjan Golicic with Slovenia, Freddie Petterson with Sweden and Alex Plante with Korea.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: Voting is now in the homestretch for the Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program $50,000 grant. Fans can cast a ballot for one of three finalists: Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink. The online vote continues until Saturday, Mar. 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant.
ALUMNI WATCH: Former Hitmen Brendan Burke received a Canada West men's hockey award on Wednesday. The 22-year-old goaltender with the University of Alberta Golden Bears teamed with former Moose Jaw Warrior Zach Sawchenko to win the Adam Kryczka Memorial Trophy awarded to the team with the lowest goals-against-average. Burke and Sawchenko combined for a 2.14 GAA this season. Burke appeared in 26 games with the Hitmen from 2014-16 posting a 2.27 GAA.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Game Sponsor - Ashley HomeStore vs. REG on Mar. 3
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONES
- Jakob Stukel needs three goals for 100 while Mark Kastelic is two assists away from 50.
- Nick Schneider is three games shy of 200.
- Jake Kryski eclipsed 100 career assists Tuesday against Swift Current after reaching 150 points Feb. 21 against Red Deer.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2018
- Wheat Kings Score Huge Win Friday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Blades Burned by Former Backstop - Saskatoon Blades
- Overtime Unkind to Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Rally For Shootout Win Over Swift Current - Prince Albert Raiders
- Winterhawks to Induct Hossa, Morrow, Ference, Robinson to Hall of Fame and Will Reunite and Honor 1998 Memorial Cup Team - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Alumni Experience Olympic Success - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- 49 WHL Graduates Set for 2018 CW Final; Collins Named WHL Grad of the Month - WHL
- Pizza Hut Delivery Fan Bus Hits the Road to Regina - Swift Current Broncos
- Kelowna Rockets Complete King of the Pins Tournament - Kelowna Rockets
- ICE Travel to Red Deer for Crucial Central Division Match Up - Kootenay Ice
- Wheat Kings Facing Tough Weekend Assignment - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, March 2 at Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Blades Host Hurricanes for Friday Fracas - Saskatoon Blades
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
