Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Monday, December 28 vs Kootenay
December 28, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (23-13-1-1, 48 pts.) vs KOOTENAY ICE (6-29-2-0, 14 pts.)
Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play their second game in as many days tonight as they welcome the Kootenay ICE to the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen blanked the ICE 4-0 yesterday in Cranbrook to open this back-to-back set. Nik Amundrud made 27 saves for Calgary to record his first shutout of the season and fourth of his Western Hockey League career. Ten different Hitmen had at least a point as Jordy Stallard led the offense with a goal and an assist while Jakob Stukel, Carsen Twarynski and Taylor Sanheim rounded out the scoring. The Hitmen, who outshot the ICE 33-27, built period leads of 2-0 and 4-0. Calgary, at 48 points, is tied for second in the WHL's Central Division with the Red Deer Rebels, two points back of the division and Eastern Conference leading Lethbridge Hurricanes. Kootenay is sixth in the Central Division with 14 points, 18 points behind the Edmonton Oil Kings for the final Wildcard spot.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-TheFan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
Media Kit and WHL Daily Report
STREAKS
- Travis Sanheim (2g, 7a) is riding a six-game point streak.
- Jake Bean (1g, 3a) is on a four-game point streak.
- Jordy Stallard (1g, 5a) is on a three-game point streak and has points (5g, 7a) in seven of his last eight games.
- Carsen Twarynski (3g) and Taylor Sanheim (2g) have both scored in back-to-back games.
- Radel Fazleev (1g, 3a) and Beck Malenstyn (2a) have points in each of the last two games.
- Layne Bensmiller (2g, 7a) has points in five of his last six games.
- Pavel Karnaukhov (4a) has points in three of his last four games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS KOOTENAY: Tonight is the fifth of seven regular season meetings between the two teams. Calgary leads the season series 4-0 outscoring the ICE by a combined 15-2. Twenty different Hitmen have a least a point against Kootenay this season with Loch Morrison (1g, 4a) and Jordy Stallard (1g, 4a) leading the way with five points each. Not counting the post season, over the last five seasons Calgary is 19-15-1-0 against the ICE including an 11-6 record at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The two teams won't meet again until March 18th in Cranbrook to kick off a regular season ending home and home series.
2015-16 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Sept. 25/15 at KTN: CAL 4 KTN 2...The Hitmen overcame a 1-0 deficit.
Sept. 26/15 at CAL: CAL 1 KTN 0...Loch Morrison had the lone goal.
Nov. 13/15 at CAL: CAL 6 KTN 0...Six different Hitmen scored. Loch Morrison added three assists.
Dec. 27/15 at KTN: CAL 4 KTN 0...Jordy Stallard 1g, 1a. Nik Amundrud 27 save shutout.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 132 KTN 84 Power Plays: CAL 6-20 (30%) KTN 0-22 (0%)
DIVISIONAL DIET: Today's game against the ICE is the fifth of seven straight contests for Calgary against teams from the Central Division. As part of this schedule, the Hitmen will also play Lethbridge twice. Calgary has a record of 7-5-0-1 against teams from their own division this season.
INSIDE THE STREAK: Calgary has picked up 29 of a possible 36 points, going 14-3-1-0 in their last 18 games. They have outscored their opponents by a combined 74-45 while outshooting them 595-463.
HOME SWEET "DOME: The Hitmen, who are tied with Kelowna for the WHL lead in road games played at 22, will now play four of their next five and nine of their next 12 games at home. It all starts tonight against Kootenay.
TEETER TOTTER: Calgary has been through a series off three different runs this season. They started the 2015-16 schedule 5-1-0-1 before going 4-9-0-0 in their next 13 games. Since then, they've posted a record of 14-3-1-0.
WORLD JUNIORS: Two members of the Calgary Hitmen are playing at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Travis Sanheim is a member of Team Canada while Radel Fazleev is on Team Russia. Fazleev had an assist the tournament opener on Boxing Day. Meanwhile the Vancouver Canucks have loaned former Hitmen forward Jake Virtanen to Team Canada.
PLATT'S PRODUCTION: Hitmen rookie forward Bryce Platt had a night to remember in the final game before the holiday break. After scoring his first career Western Hockey League goal in the first period of the Dec. 19 contest against Medicine Hat, Platt struck again in the second period to also record his first career two-goal game on the same night. The 17-year-old forward was a protected list addition in March of 2014. He now has five points (2g, 3a) in 16 games.
STUKEL'S STATS: Since joining the Hitmen as part of a trade with the Vancouver Giants on October 27th, Jakob Stukel has been a point-a-game player. In 24 games in Calgary, Stukel has 24 points (18g, 6a). The 18-year-old from Surrey, BC had recorded 24 career points in his first 67 WHL games before arriving in the Stampede City.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Three former Hitmen are taking part in the 89th Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Kris Foucault (Hitmen 2009-2011: 107 points) is on Canada, Brandon Kozun (Hitmen 2006-2010: 270 points) is a member of Jokerit Helsinki and Fredrik Pettersson (Hitmen 2005-2007: 93 points) is playing for HC Lugano.
MACS TOURNAMENT: Six Hitmen prospects are participating in the 38th annual Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament in Calgary; Markus Boguslavsky, RW - Calgary Flames, Acquired: Fourth round, 68th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, Jake Davidson, Goaltender - Prince Albert Mintos, Acquired: Fourth round, 77th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Parker Smyth, Forward - Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, Acquired: Protected list addition in November 2015, Ben Solomon, Defenceman - Regina Pat Canadians, Acquired: Protected list addition in September 2015, Philip Couture, Goaltender - SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics, Acquired: 10th round, 217th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam, Justyn Gurney, LW - West Valley Hawks, Acquired: Sixth round, 117th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft Draft
NHL DRAFT WATCH: Hitmen defenceman Jake Bean, forward Beck Malenstyn and goaltender Cody Porter have all been named to the National Hockey League's Players to Watch list for November in advance of the 2016 NHL Draft. The list, compiled by NHL Central Scouting Service, groups prospects by league and gives each player an individual rating. Bean, one of 49 players from the Western Hockey League on the list, received an "A" ranking which indicates a first-round candidate. Malenstyn and Porter received "C" ratings, indicating a fourth, fifth or sixth-round selection.
DYNAMIC DUO: Calgary has two of the top five scoring defencemen in the WHL in Travis Sanheim and Jake Bean. Bean (13g, 20a) has 33 points to sit third among defenceman while Sanheim's (8g, 23a) 31 points rank fifth. Bean's career-high 13 goals top all blueliners while his five power play markers are third among rearguards. Sanheim's 23 assists rank tied for sixth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play, which has scored in each of the last four games, is ninth in the WHL at 20.9%. The Hitmen penalty kill, which has surrendered 28 goals this season, is sixth in the league at 83%.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet rookie defenceman Jakob LaPointe after the game at the Booster Club table located on the concourse by section 212.
HOLIDAY CHEER: The Calgary Hitmen are offering a special ticket package during the holiday season. Fans can purchase tickets to two holiday games for $25. There are three remaining games to pick from which include; Dec. 28 vs. KTN, Dec. 30 vs. LET and Jan. 3 vs. BDN. For full details, visit HitmenHockey.com.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now. Upcoming home game highlights include: - Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Sunday, Jan. 31 against Brandon - Lunar Celebration with post-game fireworks on Friday, Feb. 12 versus Red Deer - Co-op Family Day on Sunday, Feb. 14 against Lethbridge - Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday, Mar. 20 versus Kootenay
MILESTONES - Travis Sanheim needs three assists to reach 100. - Jackson Houck needs five goals to reach 100. - Jakob Stukel is two points away from 50. - Micheal Zipp is three points shy of 50 and five games away from 200. - Jordy Stallard eclipsed the 50 point mark on Dec. 19 against Medicine Hat. Stallard, along with Beck Malenstyn, are both eight games away from 100.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2015
- Hockey Hounds Game Worn Jersey Draw January 2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blazers on the Road in Kelowna - Kamloops Blazers
- Americans, Gesa Credit Union Announce Partnership, Team-Branded Debit Card - Tri-City Americans
- Winterhawks Acquire Draft Pick from Red Deer Rebels - Portland Winterhawks
- Rebels Acquire Rights To Rattie - Red Deer Rebels
- Raiders Offer Fan Bus to Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- Mackenze Stewart Reassigned to Americans - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day: Rockets-Blazers Meet in Kelowna - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Add Gustav Olhaver - Swift Current Broncos
- Portland Winterhawks this Week - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Monday, December 28 vs Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheats Dump Regina - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Royals Best Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Rockets Edge Blazers 2-1 - Kamloops Blazers
- Bajkov's Effort Not Enough in Loss to Giants - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Edge Blazers 2-1 to Open Home and Home - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Bounced by Hurricanes in Overtime - Medicine Hat Tigers
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