Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Monday, December 30 vs. Edmonton
December 30, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (16-11-4-1, 37 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (24-6-5-2, 55 pts.)
Monday, December 30, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a mini two-game homestand tonight against the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome for Allstate Canada Soccer Day which features a second intermission soccer ball toss. Prizes include a $200 Visa Gift Card, a $200 Amazon Gift Card, a Mach II Gaming Chair, a HP Laptop and a PlayStation4. The Hitmen are coming off Saturday's 3-1 loss in Medicine Hat where Ottawa Senators prospect Mads Sogaard made 33 saves in a first-star performance. Among the highlights for Sogaard, two breakaway saves and a diving goal paddle stop. The Tigers did all their scoring in the opening period getting markers from James Hamblin, Jonathan Brinkman and Brett Kemp. Josh Prokop notched the lone goal for Calgary in the middle frame a night the Hitmen outshot Medicine Hat 34-30. Calgary went 0-2 on the power play while the Tigers were 1-4. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 37 points while Edmonton leads the Central Division and the WHL with 55 points.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 6:00 p.m.
TV: Sportsnet
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Josh Prokop (2g, 2a) and Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 2a) are riding three-game point streaks.
- Riley Stotts (8g, 8a) has points in nine of his last 11 games.
- Jett Woo (1g, 1a) and Jackson van de Leest (2a) both saw their two-game point streaks end Saturday in Medicine Hat.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is eighth and final regular season meeting between the two clubs. Edmonton has picked up 12 of a possible 14 points against the Hitmen going 5-0-2 against their provincial rivals with both Calgary victories coming in overtime. Carson Focht (5g, 3a) and Mark Kastelic (4g, 4a) lead the Hitmen in the season series with eight points each. Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 6a) is next with seven. Riley Sawchuk (1g, 9a) is the top performer for Edmonton with 10 points. Josh Williams (6g, 3a), Jake Neighbours (3g, 6a) and Carter Souch (3g, 6a) all have nine eight.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 27/19 in CGY: CGY 4 EDM 3 OT...Carson Focht (2g, 1a) and James Malm (1g, 2a) recorded three points each.
Oct. 12/19 in EDM: EDM 6 CGY 4...The Oil Kings struck for four power play goals.
Nov. 3/19 in CGY: EDM 3 CGY 2... David Kope broke a 2-2 third period tie with 54.5 seconds remaining.
Nov. 9/19 in EDM: EDM 4 CGY 2... The Oil Kings held the Hitmen to just 15 shots.
Nov. 30/19 in EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4...Edmonton overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2.
Dec. 6/19 in CGY: EDM 4 CGY 2...The Oil Kings were driven by a power play that went 3-5.
Dec. 7/19 in EDM: CGY 3 EDM 2 OT...Jett Woo scored the winner 2:31 into extra time.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 217 EDM 198 Power Plays: CGY 4-20 (20%) EDM 12-36 (33.3%)
SITTING OUT: Forward Hunter Campbell will serve a one-game WHL imposed suspension tonight against the Oil Kings. Campbell received the discipline for his charging major and game misconduct assessed in the third period of Saturday's game in Medicine Hat.
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, Jeff Schultz, spent four seasons with the Hitmen from 2002 to 2006. During that time he tallied 107 points (22g, 85a) in 262 games. He was also a two-time recipient of the clubs Top-Defenceman Award in 2004 and again as co-winner with Brett Carson in 2006.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defenceman Evan Toth after today's game against Edmonton. Toth will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
ROSTER MOVE: Last Thursday, Hitmen recalled 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway as an affiliate player. The product of Kamloops, BC has spent this season in the BCHL with the Merritt Centennials. In 27 games he has five points (2g, 3a). Galloway made his WHL debut last season appearing in three games with the Hitmen after Calgary selected him in the second round, 25th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Three Hitmen are all within four points of each other atop the team scoring race. Riley Stotts leads the way with 35. Mark Kastelic is next with 32 while Orca Wiesblatt has 31.
GAME DATA: Today is the fifth of eight straight games for the Hitmen against Central Division opponents. During this span they will face Lethbridge four times, Medicine Hat on three occasions and Edmonton once. Calgary is 6-7-3-0 against Central Division foes this season.
SWEATER SWAP: As with annual tradition, all teams in the Western Hockey League flip their home and road jerseys after Christmas. This means the Hitmen white jersey along with the 25th anniversary sweater becomes their look at home with the black jersey to be worn on the road.
GO TIME: The post-Christmas schedule has Calgary storming out of their 11 day break as Friday in Lethbridge started a run of seven games in 10 days. Four are on the road and three at home.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 8-6-1-1 at home this season, grabbing points in five of their last seven games while posting a 3-2-1-1 record at the 'Dome. Edmonton is 11-3-4-1 on the road having won their last three in enemy buildings.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (lower body, week-to-week).
Total man-games lost: 91
TOP PROSPECTS INVITE: Hitmen defenceman Luke Prokop will play in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game, which showcases the top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft, takes place on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, and will be hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs. Prokop will become the 27th Hitmen player to compete in the Top Prospects Game. Jake Bean was the last to appear, suiting up in 2016.
WORLD JUNIORS: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula is a member of Team Russia at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship becoming the 23rd player in franchise history to play in the prestigious event. Zamula has three points (2g, 1a) in three games to sit tied for second in team scoring. Hitmen Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is Team Canada's Goaltending Coach.
MAC'S TOURNAMENT: Two Hitmen prospects are playing in the 42nd annual Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament presented by Circle K. The prestigious Calgary tournament began Boxing Day with the final on January 1. Representing the Hitmen are Zac Funk of the Okanagan Rockets and Owen Palfreyman from the Cariboo Cougars. Hitmen rookie goaltender Brayden Peters played in the Mac's Tournament last season.
GET FESTIVE: The Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Fans can take advantage of a special Hitmen/ZOOLIGHTS Family Pack. For $99.99 plus GST receive four Hitmen ticket vouchers and four ZOOLIGHTS tickets (2 Adults, 2 Child). Full details are available at hitmenhockey.com/zoolights with Zoolights on every night until January 4th.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Wed., Jan. 1 vs. MH 1:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Jan. 3 at MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Jan. 4 at LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Jan. 5 vs. MJ 4:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Fri., Jan. 10 vs. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Soccer Day, presented by Allstate Canada on Mon. Dec. 30 vs. EDM
- Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation on Jan. 1 vs. MH
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 5 vs. MJ
- Pucks for Paws on Jan. 10 vs. LET
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 12 vs. SC
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Sun. Jan. 26 vs. RD. It's also Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Mark Kastelic needs one point for 200. He is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, seven back of Brandon Segal's 206. Kastelic is also four goals behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Jack McNaughton needs 20 saves to move into a tie with Brandon Glover for 11th place on the clubs all-time regular season saves list at 1,561.
- Josh Prokop is three games away from 100.
- Riley Stotts eclipsed the 150 point plateau Friday in Lethbridge.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2019
- Pats Bested by Wheat Kings, 4-1 - Regina Pats
- Pats' Paddock Named WHL Eli Wilson Goaltending Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Blazers' Centazzo Named WHL On the Run Player of the Week - WHL
- Centazzo Named WHL on the Run Player of the Week - Kamloops Blazers
- Winning Wednesdays: New Years Day - Saskatoon Blades
- Nolan Foote notches goal as Canada downs Germany at World Juniors - Kelowna Rockets
- Reflecting on a Decade - Moose Jaw Warriors
- ICE and Raiders Battle for Top Spot in the East - Winnipeg Ice
- Preview: Broncos Return Home Hoping for Rebound against Hurricanes - Swift Current Broncos
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Monday, December 30 vs. Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Play Final Game of 2019 Monday in Brandon - 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.
