Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, October 18 vs. Moose Jaw Warriors
October 18, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (4-2-1-0, 9 pts.) vs. MOOSE JAW WARRIORS (5-4-0-0, 10 pts.)
Friday, October 18, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play Game 2 of a three-game homestand tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome as they welcome the Moose Jaw Warriors in a 7:00 p.m. start. The Hitmen will honour local Hometown Heroes in a special pre-game ceremony paying tribute to all members of the Calgary Police Service, RCMP, Calgary Fire Department, EMS, Alberta Sheriffs, Canadian Armed Forces, Registered Nurses, Doctors and Healthcare staff. It's also RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck where four lucky participants will win a hot air balloon ride courtesy of RE/MAX. Calgary is coming off Monday's 9-3 loss to Saskatoon where Eric Florchuk netted a hat trick for the Blades. Mark Kastelic scored twice for Calgary with Orca Wiesblatt adding a single. Special teams loomed large for Saskatoon as the Blades went 3-6 on the power play while killing all five Calgary chances.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 6:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
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STREAKS
- Four Hitmen take point scoring streaks into today's game;
- Egor Zamula (4g, 6a) is riding a seven-game point streak, a new career high. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect had a pair of six-game streaks last season.
- Mark Kastelic (3g, 2a), Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 2a) and Riley Fiddler-Schultz (3a) are all on three-game point streaks.
- Carson Focht (4g, 5a) saw his five-game point streak end Monday against Saskatoon. A two-game run for Jackson van de Leest (2a) ended the same day.
NOTEWORTHY VS. MOOSE JAW: Tonight is the first of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Warriors. Calgary went 4-0 against their Eastern Conference rivals last season after having lost the previous 11 games. Kaden Elder (4g, 3a), and Riley Stotts (1g, 6a) led the Hitmen in the season series with seven points each. Mark Kastelic (3g, 3a) was next with six while Jack McNaughton posted a 2-0 record with a 1.44 goals against average and .957 save percentage. Josh Brook (1g, 2a) topped all Warriors with three points. The two teams will meet again in just seven days on Friday, Oct. 25 but this time at Mosaic Place in Moose Jaw.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP Oct. 19/18 at MJ: CGY 5 MJ 1...Carl Stankowski made 30 saves in a first-star performance. Dec. 2/18 at CGY: CGY 5 MJ 1...Riley Stotts led Calgary with four assists. Jan. 9/19 at MJ: CGY 3 MJ 2...Dakota Krebs forced OT for Calgary with 2:35 remaining. Feb. 10/19 at CGY: CGY 6 MJ 2...Calgary scored twice in each period. Carson Focht tallied three assists.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 156 MJ 132 Power Plays: CGY 4-19 (21.1%) MJ 2-18 (11.1%)
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This season the Hitmen, in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports (9309 Macleod Trail South), are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Borys Protsenko, spent three seasons with the Hitmen after he was selected first overall in the 1995 CHL Import Draft. In 208 career regular season games, the product of Kiev, Ukraine tallied 229 points (121g, 108a). He sits tied for 7th on the clubs all-time scoring list with Cody Sylvester. Protsenko also helped the Hitmen to their first post-season berth in 1998 where he added 14 points (6g, 8a) in 18 games.
TEDDY BEAR TICKETS: Single game tickets for the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss went on sale this week. Fans are encouraged to act fast to secure a seat to the world-famous toss set for Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:00 p.m., when the Red Deer Rebels visit the 'Dome. Tickets start as low as $21.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes) and are available online at Ticketmaster.ca, in person at the Scotiabank Saddledome box office or any Ticketmaster location and by phone at 1-855-985-5000. The upcoming holiday season sees demand for over 24,000 teddy bears to be shared by more than 60 local agencies. Since the inaugural toss on Dec. 16, 1995, the Hitmen, with the support of their partners and fans, have collected 377,583 stuffed toys for Calgary and area community groups.
TEAM WHL: Teammates Carson Focht and Jett Woo have been named to Team WHL for the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Both players attended Hockey Canada's Summer Development Camp this past summer in preparation for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The CIBC Canada Russia series opens next month with games in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League before closing with a pair of games in the WHL; in Saskatoon on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and in Prince Albert on Thursday, Nov. 14.
FAST FACTS: Import forward Jonas Peterek picked up his first career WHL point on Monday against Saskatoon recording a third period assist. On the flip side, a scoring change following last Saturday's game in Edmonton took away an assist from goaltender Jack McNaughton which would have been his first career point.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Orca Wiesblatt after tonight's game against Moose Jaw. Wiesblatt will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
WORLD STAGE: Hitmen forward Sean Tschigerl will play for Hockey Canada at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The eight-team tournament runs Nov. 2-9 in Medicine Hat, AB and Swift Current, SK. The 16-year-old will become the 29th player in franchise history to participate in the tournament joining fellow teammates Luke Prokop (2018), Jackson van de Leest (2017), Carson Focht (2016) and Riley Stotts (2016) who have also played in the international event. Focht won gold with Canada White while van de Leest helped Canada Red capture silver.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Tye Carriere (indefinite, upper body), Riley Fiddler-Schultz (lower body, day-to-day), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite,).
SITTING OUT: Forward Adam Kydd serves Game 2 of a four-game WHL imposed suspension tonight against the Warriors. Kidd received the discipline for his check to the head major and game misconduct in Edmonton on Oct. 12.
ROSTER MOVES: On Tuesday the Hitmen reassigned goaltender Carl Stankowski to a yet to be determined team. During the past two seasons the 19-year-old appeared in 27 games for Calgary posting a record of 11-12-1. On Sunday, Oct. 13, the Hitmen recalled 16-year-old forward Zac Funk from the Okanagan Rockets of the BCMML. Funk was taken by the Hitmen in the second round of the WHL Bantam Draft in 2018. Last season he was named a BC Major Midget League All-Star recording 58 points (34g, 24a) in 38 games with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
DRAFT CLASS: Two Hitmen players have been named to NHL Central Scouting's 'Players to Watch' list for the 2020 NHL Draft. Goaltender Jack McNaughton and defenceman Luke Prokop have both received a 'B' rating which indicates a second- or third-round candidate.
HITMEN IN THE NHL: Nine Hitmen alumni are on National Hockey League rosters this season; Johnny Boychuk (NYI), Ryan Getzlaf (ANA), Martin Jones (SJS), Andrew Ladd (NYI), Victor Rask (MIN), Travis Sanheim (PHI), Michael Stone (CGY), Carsen Twarynski (PHI) and Jake Virtanen (VAN). Twarynski scored his first career NHL goal on Oct. 12 in Vancouver. Ironically, Sanheim drew one of the assists.
BRET 'THE HITMAN' HART NIGHT: On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Hitmen will honour their namesake by hosting Bret 'The Hitman" Hart Night presented by Kal Tire. Fans can purchase a special $15 ticket with $5 directed to Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre. This offer is available by visiting the event page at http://www.prostatecancercentre.ca/bret-the-hitman-hart-night/. The night includes a $20 pre-game concourse photo opportunity with Bret in an authentic WWE Wresting Ring. A tax receipt will be issued with proceeds to Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre. As a tribute to the legendary professional wrestler, the Hitmen and the Prairie Wrestling Alliance will host a post-game wrestling card that is FREE with a game ticket. A wrestling ring will be set up on the ice for a four-match 'Battle in the Dome' with a special Bret Hart career retrospective live on the Energy Board.
AUCTION ALERT: Time is running out to own a piece of franchise history. More than 80 game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from seasons past are available for bid in a historical jersey auction. Bidding concludes Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. MST with proceeds supporting the Calgary Hitmen Foundation. Full details are available at elevateauctions.com/HitmenHistoricalAuction.
HITMEN PLEDGE: 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' is here. As part of the 25th anniversary season, this charitable initiative hopes to raise 25,000 hours of community service. 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.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2019-20 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale now and includes 33 game tickets plus one ticket voucher to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a FREE special 25th anniversary jersey, $50 Scotiabank Saddledome gift card and a complimentary ticket to a select Flames, Roughnecks or Stampeders game. Passes start at less than $7 per ticket for kids and under $15 for adults.
UPCOMING GAMES All times in MT. Schedule subject to change. Date
Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Oct. 20 vs. MH 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Oct. 25 @ MJ 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Oct. 27 @ REG 4:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Mon., Oct. 28 vs. SEA 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Nov. 2 vs. SAS 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Every Sunday Funday is presented by Ricky's All Day Grill and includes face painters, concourse activities, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Upcoming home game highlights include: - 2nd annual Diwali Celebration presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Oct. 20 vs. MH. Don't miss the first intermission Bhangra dancers and post-game fireworks. - Wizarding Day on Oct. 28 vs. SEA - Bret 'The Hitman' Hart Night presented by Kal Tire on Nov. 2 vs. SAS
- Tim Hortons Minor Hockey Day & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Nov. 3 vs. EDM
- ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 1 vs. RD
- Carols for Christmas presented by Peak Medical on Dec. 6 vs. EDM - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 8 vs. EVT - Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET - Soccer Day on Dec. 30 vs. EDM - Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation on Jan. 1 vs. MH
MILESTONE WATCH - James Malm needs one point to reach 200.
- Mark Kastelic is tied with Kris Beech and Ryan White for 11th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 91, one back of Brandon Kozun who is 10th with 92 goals. Kastelic is also one point away from tying Jakob Stukel for 17th place on the all-time points list at 173.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2019
- Oil Kings Claim Two Points After Trip Down Highway 2 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hurricanes Take Ealy Lead, Hold on to Edge Pats, 2-1 - Regina Pats
- Rockets off to Kamloops tomorrow - Kelowna Rockets
- Pink in the Rink a Success - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Pokecheck's Birthday Party Presented by Save-On-Foods October 25th - Saskatoon Blades
- Unveil Bret 'The Hitman' Hart Jersey - Calgary Hitmen
- Kamloops Blazers Partner with Gord Bamford to Celebrate Memorial Cup and WHL Anniversary - Kamloops Blazers
- Nolan Foote named 25th captain of Kelowna Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Host Autograph Night November 19th - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, October 18 vs. Moose Jaw Warriors - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick-Off Mini Alberta Road Trip in Lethbridge Friday - Regina Pats
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