Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, April 24 at Lethbridge
Published on April 24, 2021 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (7-6-2-0, 16 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (7-9-2-0, 16 pts.)
Saturday, April 24, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play their second game in as many days against the Hurricanes tonight, this time on the road in Lethbridge. Calgary posted a 6-3 victory yesterday afternoon at Seven Chiefs Sportsplex on Tsuut'ina Nation. Skating in their first game in 18 days, the Hitmen jumped out to a 4-0 first period lead which saw the club net four goals in a span of 3:11. Sophomore forward Adam Kydd led the way with a pair of markers with captain Josh Prokop and Cael Zimmerman adding singles. Lethbridge began the middle frame with three unanswered goals including two off the stick of defenceman Alex Cotton but the biggest tally of the second period belonged to Hitmen rookie Brandon Whynott. He squashed the 'Canes momentum with his first career WHL goal in the final minute. Riley Stotts, into an empty net, capped the Calgary scoring with the only marker of the third period. Final shots were 36-34 Hitmen as goaltender Brayden Peters made 31 saves to pick up the victory while Carl Tetachuk and Jared Picklyk combined to turn aside 30 shots for Lethbridge.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Hurricanes radio at 1067rock.ca
Webcast: WHL Live at watch.chl.ca
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STREAKS
- Josh Prokop (3g, 5a) and Sean Tschigerl (4g, 5a) are both riding six-game point streaks which tie the season high established by Prokop from March 12-21. Prokop also has points in 12 (7g, 8a) of his last 13 outings.
- Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 5a) and Blake Allan (1g, 2a) are riding three-game point streaks.
- Cael Zimmerman (2g, 1a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 1a) both have points in back-to-back games.
- Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 1a) saw his two-game point streak snapped on Friday.
NOTEWORTHY VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the fifth of six meetings in 2021 between the Hitmen and Hurricanes. The Hitmen have taken three of the first four by a combined score of 18-12. Adam Kydd (4g, 1a), Josh Prokop (3g, 2a) and Tyson Galloway (2g, 3a) are Calgary's leading scorers against the 'Canes this season with five points each. Alex Cotton (2g, 5a) is the top performer for Lethbridge with seven points. Calgary is 4-6-1-0 in their last 11 visits to Lethbridge.
SERIES RECAP March 19/21 at LET: LET 3 CGY 1...'Canes goaltender Bryan Thomson made 34 saves to earn first-star. March 20/21 vs. LET: CGY 4 LETH 3 OT...Hitmen defenceman Tyson Galloway scored twice including the game winner. March 21/21 at LET: CGY 7 LET 4...Adam Kydd scored twice for Calgary while Zac Funk added 1g, 1a. April 23/21 vs. LET: CGY 6 LET 3...Adam Kydd (2g, 1a) led the Hitmen with three points.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 151 LET 131 Power Plays: CGY 1-15 (6.7%) LET 4-16 (25%)
BROADCAST NEWS: Under AHS COVID-19 protocols, fans are not permitted to enter WHL facilities but are invited to watch games with a subscription to the all-new WHL Live on CHL TV at watch.chl.ca. Tonight's game is also available on the Hurricanes radio broadcast at 1067rock.ca.
STATS PACK: Calgary is 3-1-1-0 in their last five games....The Hitmen will play 21 games this season including six in the next 11 days before ending the campaign in Red Deer on May 4th ....Calgary is 6-1-1-0 when scoring first and 4-1-2-0 in one goal games....Josh Prokop tops the Hitmen in shots on goal with 55. Riley Fiddler-Schultz is next with 45...Josh Prokop and Jackson van de Leest share the team lead in plus/minus at +8....Adam Kydd and Josh Prokop have at least one shot on goal in all 15 games this season....The Hitmen power play has scored in back-to-back games....Calgary is 3-4-1-0 on the road while Lethbridge is 4-5-0-0 at home.
FAMILIAR FACES: When the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers won the 2017 AMBHL Championship, Hitmen forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz was teammates with three members of the Hurricanes in Noah Boyko, Alex Thacker and Jacob Boucher. Hitmen centre Cael Zimmerman and 'Canes forward Logan Barlage were teammates on the Prince Albert Mintos in 2016-17.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Conrad Mitchell (day-to-day, lower body).
ALUMNI WATCH: Jake Bean, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2014-18, is in the NHL with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 22-year-old defenceman has 11 points (1g, 10a) in 33 games. It's a stat line that includes his first-career National Hockey League goal.
NEWS FEED: On Monday, in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic while citing restrictions on travel across both provincial and international borders, the WHL announced they will not be holding playoffs this season. Earlier this month the Canadian Hockey League also cancelled the 2021 Memorial Cup.
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (22): WHL Bantam Draft (13): Fiddler-Schultz, Funk*, Galloway, Neill*, Peters, L. Prokop, Siepmann*, Toth, Tschigerl, van de Leest, Whynott* Zandee*, Zimmerman Listed (4); Kydd, McNaughton, Palfreyman*, Wiesblatt Trade (5): Allan, Gabruch, Mitchell, J. Prokop, Stotts *Denotes rookie
UPCOMING GAMES: The Calgary Hitmen 2021 schedule will end May 4th. Here are the next three games; Sunday, April 25: Lethbridge Hurricane at Calgary Hitmen - 7 p.m. MT Thursday, April 29: Calgary Hitmen at Red Deer Rebels - 7 p.m. MT Friday, April 30: Edmonton Oil Kings at Calgary Hitmen - 7 p.m. MT
HALF IS BEST
For the remainder of the 2021 season and for home games only, the Hitmen will host an online RE/MAX 50/50 draw.
Tickets go on sale at hitmenhockey.com/50-50 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The next draw is Sunday, April 25th. Proceeds support the Calgary Hitmen Foundation.
AGLC License #570101.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Josh Prokop is one assist away from 50.
- Jack McNaughton needs 46 saves to reach 2,000.
Western Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2021
- Oil Kings Best Tigers - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Schneider Nets Another OT Winner for a 5-4 Wheat Kings Win - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hitmen Blow by Hurricanes, 7-2 - Calgary Hitmen
- Oil Kings Defeat Tigers Again, Grab Third Straight Win - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Raiders Pick Up Point in Overtime Loss to Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Winterhawks Double up T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Western Hockey League Statement on COVID-19 Testing Results - WHL
- Raiders to Wear Specialty Jerseys in Support of Cystic Fibrosis Canada - Prince Albert Raiders
- Broncos Face Warriors in Penultimate Game of the Season - Swift Current Broncos
- April 24 Preview: Raiders vs Wheat Kings 7 PM - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, April 24 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Offense Struggles in Fourth Straight Loss - Prince George Cougars
- Special Teams, Ross Power Pats to 4-1 Win - Regina Pats
- Warriors Fall in Friday Battle with Pats - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Wolf Earns Win #100 as Silvertips Down Spokane, 6-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Drop Cougars 5-1 - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Come up Short Versus Blazers - Victoria Royals
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