WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, October 25 at Moose Jaw

Published on October 25, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (6-2-1-0, 13 pts.) at MOOSE JAW WARRIORS (5-5-1-0, 11 pts.)

Friday, October 25, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Mosaic Place

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen open a two-game Saskatchewan road trip tonight in Moose Jaw against the Warriors. The Hitmen, winners of two in a row, are coming off Sunday's come-from-behind 6-3 home ice victory over Medicine Hat. Jackson van de Leest led the way with a goal and two assists while Mark Kastelic and Riley Stotts both netted a pair of markers helping the Hitmen erase a 3-0 deficit. Carson Focht with his team-leading seventh added a single while James Malm, Jonas Peterek and Orca Wiesblatt were also drivers of the offence, recording two assists each. Hitmen rookie goaltender Brayden Peters played a large role in his first appearance of the season. The 17-year-old from Taber, AB, came off the bench to stop all 26 shots he faced in just under 52 minutes of work.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com

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STREAKS

- Egor Zamula (4g, 9a) is riding a nine-game point streak, a new career high. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect had a pair of six-game streaks last season.

- Mark Kastelic (6g, 2a) and Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 5a) are both on five-game streaks while Kastelic (6g) is also on a four-game goal scoring streak.

- Jonas Peterek (1g, 4a), Riley Stotts (2g, 2a) and Riley Fiddler-Schultz (3a) are all on a three-game point streaks.

- Carson Focht (3g) and Sean Tschigerl (1g, 1a) have points in back-to-back games.

NOTEWORTHY

VS. MOOSE JAW: Tonight is the second of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Warriors. Calgary took the opener seven days ago at the "Dome. Dating back to last season, the Hitmen are 5-0 against their Eastern Conference rivals after having lost the previous 11 games. The two teams won't meet again until Saturday, Nov. 23 in Moose Jaw.

2019-20 SERIES RECAP

Oct. 18/19 at CGY: CGY 6 MJ 3...Orca Wiesblatt led the Hitmen attack with two goals and an assist.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 46 MJ 16 Power Plays: CGY 0-5 (0%) MJ 1-4 (25%)

INSIDE THE STREAK: Calgary enters tonight's game having won back-to-back games by a combined score of 13-6. Of note, none of their 13 goals have come on the power play. During their two-game run they have also fired a combined 92 shots, 46 in each game.

WHL ACCOLADE: Hitmen forward Orca Wiesblatt is the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending October 20. The 19-year-old recorded six points (3G-3A) and a plus-one rating in three games, helping Calgary finish the week with a 2-1 record,

TRADE WINDS: On Tuesday, the Hitmen acquired 18-year-old forward Blake Allan from the Regina Pats in exchange for a conditional eighth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft. Allan has appeared in 73 career games during stops with Kootenay and the Pats. He was a third-round pick of the ICE in 2016.

TEDDY BEAR TICKETS: Single game tickets for the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss are on sale. 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. There is demand for over 24,000 teddy bears this holiday season 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.

2019 CIBC CANADA RUSSIA SERIES: Three Hitmen will play in the Western Hockey League leg of the 2019 CIBC Canada Russia Series. Carson Focht and Jett Woo have been named to Team WHL while Egor Zamula will suit up for Russia. 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 dates in the WHL; in Saskatoon on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and in Prince Albert on Thursday, Nov. 14.

WHL CUP: Three Hitmen are taking part in the 2019 WHL Cup featuring the top 2004-born players in Western Canada. Grayden Siepmann is on Team BC, Billal Noori is a member of Team Alberta and Ethan Buenaventura is with Team Manitoba. All three were selected by the Hitmen in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft with Siepmann taken in the first round. Noori and Buenaventura were selected in round four. The four-team tournament, which began Wednesday at WinSport in Calgary wraps up with the Gold Medal Game on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 1:00 p.m.

SITTING OUT: Forward Adam Kydd serves the fourth and final game of his 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.

FAST FACTS: Tonight's game in Moose Jaw is the start of four straight and six of their next seven games for Calgary against teams from outside their division...At nine games, Calgary is tied with Victoria for the fewest games played in the WHL this season. On the flip side, Vancouver and Saskatoon have already played 14 times.

WORLD STAGE: Hitmen forward Sean Tschigerl will play for Hockey Canada at the 2019 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge as a member of Canada Black. 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, week-to-week), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite,).

ROSTER MOVES: On Monday, the Hitmen reassigned 16-year-old forward Zac Funk to 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. During two stints with the Hitmen this season, Funk appeared in four games.

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. For one night only the Hitmen will also wear a specially designed jersey inspired by Hart's ring attire. Fans can purchase a discounted $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 game 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 wrestling icon, the Hitmen and 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.

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 including volunteer opportunities.

HITMEN HOCKEY HOUR: Saturday's on Sportsnet 960-The Fan catch the Hitmen Hockey Hour. This week's show on Oct. 26 is from Noon to 1:00 p.m. and includes the following guests: Jackson van de Leest, Adam Kydd and Orca Wiesblatt.

EARLY START: Calgary is back in the "Dome on Monday, Oct. 28 for a 6:00 p.m. start against Seattle. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with kids encouraged to dress in their Halloween costume and trick-or-treat on the concourse at marked concessions. It's also Wizarding Night as fans are encouraged to wear their best wizard inspired costumes, try butter brew and take photos on platform 9 ¾.

UPCOMING GAMES

All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.

Date Opponent Time Broadcast

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)

Sun., Nov. 3 vs. EDM 2:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)

Wed., Nov. 6 vs. PA 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

PROMO CALENDAR

Hitmen single game tickets including The ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:

- 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

- Nov. 8 vs. TC is RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck where four lucky participants will win a hot air balloon ride courtesy of RE/MAX

- ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 1 vs. RD

- Carols for Christmas 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

MILESTONE WATCH

- Mark Kastelic is tied with Jakob Stukel for eighth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 94, one back of Ryan Getzlaf and Brady Brassart who share sixth spot with 95 goals. Kastelic is also tied with Jake Bean for 16th place on the all-time points list at 175, two back of Greg Chase who sits 15th with 177 points.

- James Malm eclipsed the 200 point mark on Sunday against Medicine Hat. Sixty-seven of his 201 career points have come with the Hitmen.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2019


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