WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Monday, October 8 vs. Prince Albert Raiders

October 8, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (0-4-1-0, 1 pts.) vs. PRINCE ALBERT RAIDERS (7-1-0-0, 14 pts.)

Monday, October 8, 2018 - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen continue their six-game home stand today as they welcome the Prince Albert Raiders to the Scotiabank Saddledome. It's a Thanksgiving matinee game starting at 2:00 p.m. The Hitmen last saw action on Friday when Dorrin Ludig recorded his first shutout of the season for the Saskatoon Blades. Kirby Dach scored the winning goal 7:35 into the first period. Michael Farren and Logan Christensen added a pair of unanswered goals to ensure the win for the visitors. Although Calgary had a strong third period, outshooting the Blades 18-7, they were unable to find the back of the net. Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play; Calgary went 0-2 while Saskatoon was 0-6.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com

STREAKS

- None

NOTEWORTHY

VS. PRINCE ALBERT: Tonight is the first of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Raiders. Three of their four games during the 2017-18 season series needed extra time. Jacob Stukel (4g, 1a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 4a) both led the Hitmen with five points against Prince Albert while Conner Chaulk (1g, 2a), Tristen Nielsen (3a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (3a) all tallied three. Jordy Stallard (2g, 4a) and Curtis Miske (1g, 5a) were the top-performers for the Raiders with six points each. Cole Fonstad (1g, 4a) was next with five. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, Oct. 16 in Prince Albert when the Hitmen begin a five game road trip.

2017-18 SERIES RECAP

Sept. 29/17 at PA: PA 6 CGY 5 OT...Vojtech Budik scored at 3:07 of overtime for the victory.

Dec. 1/17 at CGY: PA 5 CGY 3...Tied 2-2 after 40 minutes, Parker Kelly netted the game winner.

Jan. 21/18 at CGY: CGY 4 PA 3 OT...Trailing 3-1 in the third period, the Hitmen make a dramatic comeback.

Mar. 10/18 at PA: PA 4 CGY 3 OT...Raiders storm the Hitmen net firing 26 third period shots to take the lead.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 115 PA 129 Power Plays: CGY 2-11 (18.2%) PA 3-19 (15.8%)

DID YOU KNOW?: Calgary has outshot their opponents in all five games this season including a combined 89-35 in the third period...Jake Kryski has a team-leading 17 shots on goal. He already has a pair of two-goal games this season, one more than he recorded in the 2017-18 season. Kryski's career-high is four multi-goal games in one campaign, set in 2016-17....Carl Stankowski recorded an assist in last Sunday's loss to the Rebels for his first-career WHL point...Dakota Krebs returned to the Hitmen blueline in the same game against Red Deer following a WHL imposed three-game imposed suspension as a result of a cross checking major and game misconduct received in the final pre-season game on September 15.

SITTING OUT: Hitmen forward Tristen Nielsen has been given a three-game WHL imposed suspension following a boarding major and game misconduct. The penalty was assessed on Sunday, Sept. 30 against Red Deer.

NHL WATCH: On Monday, 110 players from the Canadian Hockey League were listed among NHL Central Scouting's October 'Players to Watch' list for the 2019 NHL Draft. Among them is Hitmen defenceman Jackson van de Leest who received a "C rating' which indicates fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate. The second year Hitmen blueliner was Calgary's first round pick, 16 overall, in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

HITMEN IN THE NHL: 131 WHL Alumni, including ten graduates of the Calgary Hitmen, have been named on National Hockey League opening day rosters to start the 2018-19 season. Hitmen Alumni on 2018-19 NHL opening day rosters include: Ryan Getzlaf (ANA), Michael Stone (CGY), Victor Rask (CAR), Karl Alzner (MTL), Andrew Ladd (NYI), Johnny Boychuk (NYI), Travis Sanheim (PHI), Martin Jones (SJS), Ben Thomas (TBL), and Jake Virtanen (VAN).

ROSTER MOVES: On Saturday 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, the 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. 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 25, 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.

EAST FEAST: Tonight Calgary plays their second game in a stretch that sees them face-off against seven teams from the East Division in eight games.

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'.

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.

POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defencemen Layne Toder after today's game. Toder will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.

AUCTION ALERT: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. Select game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season are now available for bid. Bidding will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. MST. Be part of celebrating the team's heritage while supporting the Calgary Hitmen Foundation as a portion of the auction proceeds will be directed to education, grassroots sports and youth wellness programs in our community.

HITMEN GO GREEN: On September 26, National Tree Day, the Calgary 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 March 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 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

Oct. 12 vs. Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Oct. 14 vs. Regina 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Oct. 16 at Prince Albert 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Oct. 17 at Saskatoon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)

Oct. 19 at Moose Jaw 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)

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:

- 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 notched his 100th career point with an assist on Sept. 30.

- Mark Kastelic is six points shy of 100. Kastelic played career game 200 on Sept. 29 against the Oil Kings.

- Vladislav Yeryomenko is one assist away from 50.

- Carson Focht is eight points shy of 50.

Check out the Calgary Hitmen Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from October 8, 2018


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