Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, September 28 at Red Deer
September 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (0-1-0-0, 0 pts.) at RED DEER REBELS (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.)
Friday, September 28, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centrium
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen travel up the QE2 for their first meeting of the season with the Red Deer Rebels tonight. Their last three visits to the ENMAX Centrium have all needed extra time. The Hitmen are coming off last Saturday's season opening 5-3 loss in Cranbrook to the Kootenay ICE. Rookie Connor McClennon scored a pair of goals helping the ICE build a 4-1 second period lead. Jake Kryski netted a pair of goals for Calgary while Luke Coleman added a shorthanded marker. The Hitmen went 1-5 on the power play. Kootenay was 2-6. Calgary outshot the ICE 36-34.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
Media Kit
________________________________
STREAKS
- None
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Tonight is the first of eight regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Rebels. Calgary went 4-1-1-1 against their Central Division rivals last season with four of their seven meetings needing overtime or a shootout. Jakob Stukel led the Hitmen with nine points (3g, 6a) against Red Deer while Jake Kryski (3g, 4a) tallied seven. Mason McCarty topped the Rebels with eight points (5g, 3a).
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 20/17 at RD: RD 4 CGY 2...The Rebels built a 4-0 lead.
Nov. 25/17 at CGY: CGY 2 RD 1 OT...Mark Kastelic scored 30 seconds into the extra session.
Dec. 2/17 at RD: CGY 4 RD 3 SO...The Hitmen erased a 3-1 second period deficit.
Feb. 7/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 2 SO...Kristian Reichel scored the lone goal of the shootout.
Feb. 21/18 at CGY: CGY 6 RD 4...The Hitmen overcame a 4-3 third period deficit.
Feb. 28/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 2 OT...Reese Johnson scored the winner on a power play.
Mar. 4/18 at CGY: CGY 6 RD 2...Trailing 2-0 after 40 minutes, Calgary scored six unanswered goals.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 200 RD 225 Power Plays: CGY 3-19 (15.8%) RD 5-23 (21.7%)
3-IN-3: Tonight launches the first three games in three days weekend for Calgary this season. They will face this busy scenario four times in 2018-19 with their next from Nov 2-4.
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday 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. The addition of Elder, rounds out Calgary's overage group giving the Hitmen a league maximum of three with Luke Coleman and Jake Kryski. On Wednesday 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. The November 27, 2018 deal saw Calgary obtain Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann, Riley Stotts and the rights to Prokop along with goaltending prospect Ethan Hein and a second-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft (Zac Funk) in exchange for graduating forwards Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn and a 2018 fifth-round bantam pick. This trade unites Josh with his younger brother Luke who is in his first full WHL season. On September 20, the Hitmen reassigned defenceman Andrew Viggars. The 18-year-old from Calgary played 39 games for the Hitmen last season.
DIVISIONAL DIET: Calgary starts the season with four straight games against Central Division opponents. Tonight is Game 2. Following this stretch seven of their next eight games will be against teams from the East Division.
WHL DEBUT: Riley Fiddler-Schultz played his first career WHL regular season game last Saturday against the ICE. The 16-year-old from Edmonton, AB finished the contest with four shots on goal. Only two other Hitmen have yet to make their debut: Tye Carriere and Jack McNaughton.
LET'S GO CAMPING: Four Hitmen roster players headed to NHL camps this month: Carson Focht (Boston), Riley Stotts (Toronto), Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) and Egor Zamula (Philadelphia). On September 20, Zamula signed a three-year entry level contact with the Flyers after attending camp on an amateur tryout.
LEADERSHIP GROUP: The Hitmen have named Mark Kastelic the 26th captain in franchise history. Luke Coleman and Dakota Krebs will serve as full-time alternate captains while Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts will share the third 'A'.
IT'S A FACT: Of the 44 career regular season games played by Jackson van de Leest in the WHL, a whopping 11 have been against Kootenay. van de Leest, Calgary's first round pick, 16th overall in 2016, recorded two assists in last Saturday's season opener in Cranbrook against the ICE.
SITTING OUT: Hitmen defenceman Dakota Krebs was handed a three-game WHL imposed suspension as a result of a cross checking Major and Game Misconduct received in the final pre-season game on September 15. The 19-year-old has served one game.
FAMILIAR FACES: The Hitmen roster features 18 returning players from the 2017-18 season.
OFF SEASON CHANGES: On July 17, the Hitmen introduced Steve Hamilton as the 10th head coach in franchise history. He replaces Dallas Ferguson who resigned on June 26 for family reasons. On August 7, Calgary acquired goaltender Carl Stankowski and a conditional fourth-round WHL Bantam Pick from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for the rights to 17-year-old U.S. prospect Mike Koster, an eighth-round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in either 2019 or 2020. Also during the off-season, Hitmen defenceman Drea Esposito announced his retirement to use his WHL Scholarship. He is attending the University of Manitoba. On August 20 the Hitmen named Nathan Hollinger Athletic Therapist to replace Kyle Vouriot. Vouriot has joined the AHL's Manitoba Moose as Assistant Athletic Therapist & Assistant Strength and Conditioning Trainer.
GRADUATING CLASS: All three graduating 20-year-olds from last season will play hockey this year. Connor Chaulk is using the WHL Scholarship while attending the University of Regina. Jakob Stukel has signed with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder while goaltender Nick Schneider is in the Calgary Flames system with the Stockton Heat.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2018-19 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale and includes 34 game tickets to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a $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. 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. Visit HitmenHockey.com to score yours today!
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Sept. 29 vs Edmonton 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sept. 30 vs Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 5 vs Saskatoon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 8 vs Prince Albert 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 12 vs Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, with tickets for The Brick Teddy Bear Toss available starting Oct. 9 at 10:00 a.m.. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Papa John's Pizza Home Opener on Sept. 29 vs. EDM. By using the promo code KIDSPORT1 or KIDSPORT2, $5 from every ticket sold will be donated to KidSport Calgary.
- Shrine Challenge presented by the Al Azhar Shriners Society on Sept. 30 vs. RD
- SUPER Sunday Funday on Oct. 14 vs. REG
- Roughnecks Theme on Oct. 26 vs. LET
- Hometown Heroes 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
- Family Game on Fe. 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
- Luke Coleman needs two points for 100 while Mark Kastelic is two games shy of 200. Kastelic also needs one assist for 50.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko is three assists away from 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 28, 2018
- The NHL Hits Prospera Place Tomorrow Night - Kelowna Rockets
- Ty Smith Reassigned to Spokane - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Tri-City - Game #3 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Begin Home-And-Home Series with Spokane - Kootenay Ice
- Game 4 at Prince Albert - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Fridge Magnet Giveaway Saturday Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Friday, September 28 at Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Back in Action Friday at Home to Lethbridge - Regina Pats
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.
