Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, October 26 vs. Lethbridge
October 26, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (4-7-2-0, 10 pts.) vs. LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (6-4-1-2, 15 pts.)
Friday, October 26, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen, winners of three of their last four, open a four-game home stand tonight against the Lethbridge Hurricanes. It's Roughnecks Night at the Scotiabank Saddledome featuring the same Hitmen hockey but with Roughnecks in-game entertainment, chants and giveaways! This includes music throughout the game; something that has never been done before in the Western Hockey League. The Roughnecks professional dance team Drill Crew and mascot Howie the Honey Badger will be in attendance and the Hitmen will use the 'Necks goal song. The party kicks off with a Roughnecks style Happy Hour from 5:30 p.m. until the opening face-off at 7:00 p.m.
Happy Hour includes:
- $5 14 oz. Bud or Bud Lite, 1 oz. Highball, OR 6 oz. House Wine
- $5 Cheeseburger, Mini Mac & Cheese, Pop & Hot Dog, OR a Pizza Slice*
*Concession stands only, not valid in the Scotiabank Saddledome restaurants
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Egor Zamula (1g, 3a) and Jake Kryski (1g, 2a) are riding three-game point streaks.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko (2a) has points in back-to-back games.
- In his last two starts, goaltender Carl Stankowski has a 1.50 GAA and .951 SV%.
NOTEWORTHY
LAST GAME RECAP: Calgary is coming off Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Red Deer. Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Alexeyev scored a pair of goals to lead the Rebels. Brandon Hagel, into an empty net, also scored for the Rebels. Egor Zamula, on a first period power play, tallied the lone goal for Calgary. The loss snapped a season-high three-game winning streak for the Hitmen. Both goaltenders were among the three stars with Carl Stankowski making 28 saves for Calgary and Ethan Anders recording 29 stops for Red Deer.
VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the second of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Hurricanes. Calgary took the opener two weeks ago at the 'Dome. The two teams will meet again in 14 days on Friday, Nov. 9 in Lethbridge. Over the last five seasons Calgary is 11-7-1-0 against the 'Canes including a 7-3 mark at home.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 12/18 vs. LET: CGY 6 LET 5...Mark Kastelic led Calgary with two goals and an assist.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 37 LET 39 Power Plays: CGY 1-3 (33.3%) LET 1-4 (25%)
HEATING UP: Calgary is 4-2-1-0 in their last seven games.
WHL HONOURS: Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic has been named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending Oct 21. Kastelic recorded eight points (5g, 3a) and a plus-two rating in four games during a road trip through the East Division, highlighted by a pair of multi-goal performances. Originally selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, the 19-year-old tops the Hitmen with 17 points (10g, 7a) in 13 games.
NHL WATCH: Jackson van de Leest is among NHL Central Scouting's 'Players to Watch' list for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 17-year-old received a 'C rating' which indicates fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate. The second year Hitmen blueliner was Calgary's first-round pick, 16th overall, in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
WORLD STAGE: Luke Prokop has been selected to play for Hockey Canada at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The eight-team tournament will take place from Nov. 3-10 in Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B. The 16-year-old will become the 28th player in franchise history to participate in the tournament joining fellow teammates Jackson van de Leest (2017), Carson Focht (2016), Jake Kryski (2014), Tristen Nielsen (2016), Carl Stankowski (2016) and Riley Stotts (2016) who have also played in the international event. Focht and Nielsen won gold with Canada White while van de Leest helped Canada Red capture silver. Prokop will skate for Canada White.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Forward Hunter Campbell is in his second season with the Hitmen after being selected in the third round, 60th overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. In 71 career regular season games the 17-year-old has recorded 14 points (5g, 9a).
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Riley Stotts after tonight's game. Stotts will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
PROSPECT WATCH: Tristan Galloway, Calgary's second-round pick, 25th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is in the BC Major Midget League with the Thompson Blazers. The 15-year-old defenceman has five assists in 10 games.
CORRAL SERIES: The Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games this season at the historic Stampede Corral. "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports, will see the Hitmen host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, Feb. 1, the Regina Pats on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb. 8. All will be 7:00 p.m. starts in the vintage building that first opened on Dec. 15, 1950 and was the original home of the Calgary Flames from 1980-83. Each game will be dedicated to a former elite team who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Calgary Wranglers and Calgary Cowboys. The series will feature a number of exciting events including an opening night pre-game celebration and beer gardens, a luncheon, merchandise and other activities that will make this a week to remember. Tickets go on sale Nov. 26.
RECENT MOVES: On Oct. 6 the Hitmen acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2020 from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for defencemen Dom Schmiemann. On Oct. 4 the Hitmen reassigned goaltender Matthew Armitage and forward Orca Wiesblatt. Armitage, a 19-year-old from Creston, BC, played 20 games for the Hitmen during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons while Wiesblatt, an 18-year-old Calgary product, played in 51 contests with the Hitmen during that same time. On Sept. 27 the Hitmen acquired 20-year-old forward Kaden Elder from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. On Sept. 26 Calgary added Josh Prokop to the roster. He had started the season in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers. The Hitmen acquired the rights to Prokop last season in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos.
HITMEN GO GREEN: On National Tree Day, the Hitmen announced their participation in an environmental initiative called One Ticket, One Tree. The Hitmen will begin a pilot project where a tree will be planted for reforestation projects in the province for each game day and group ticket sold to the One Ticket, One Tree game when they host the Oil Kings on Mar. 8 at 7:00 p.m. In addition, Hitmen players will be in the community this season doing their part to reduce their ecological footprint and bring awareness to local environmental issues.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2018-19 Hitmen Hockey Pass includes 34 tickets to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a $50 Scotiabank Saddledome gift card and a FREE ticket to a select Flames, Roughnecks or Stampeders game. Passes start at less than $7 per ticket for kids and under $15 for adults. Also available is the 10-game Hitmen Flex Pack to be used for any game, in any combination. Students and kids tickets are $10 per game, adults and seniors $20. Applicable fees and taxes apply.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Oct. 28 vs. Saskatoon 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 2 vs. Medicine Hat 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 3 vs. Red Deer 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 4 at Medicine Hat 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 9 at Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
- Roughnecks Night on Oct. 26 vs. LET
- Hometown Heroes and Sunday Funday on Oct. 28 vs. SAS
- Diwali Celebration on Nov. 3 vs. RD
- The Brick Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 9 vs. KAM
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 14 vs. KEL
- Novice Jamboree on Dec. 16 vs. LET
- Soccer Day on Dec. 30 vs. VAN
- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC
- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH
- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- 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. Tickets on sale starting Nov. 26
- Family Game 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 on Mar. 3 vs. KTN
- One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM
- Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH
- Carson Focht needs two points for 50.
- Dakota Krebs is seven games away from 200.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2018
- Ice Sign 2018 Draft Pick Evan Waldie - Kootenay Ice
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Spokane - Game #12 - Portland Winterhawks
- 2018 Tip a Wheat King Plans Announced - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game 15 at Regina - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Game Preview: Blades Open Weekend Road Swing in Red Deer - Saskatoon Blades
- ICE, Oil Kings Meet up for Second Time in a Week - Kootenay Ice
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Four Game Home Stand against Medicine Hat - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, October 26 vs. Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
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