Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 14 at Lethbridge
December 14, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (15-9-3-1, 34 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (19-9-0-5, 43 pts.)
Saturday, December 14, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play a pair of games before their 11 day holiday break and it comes in the form of a home-and-home set with the Hurricanes starting tonight in Lethbridge. It's the first of three-straight meetings between the Central Division rivals as they will also open the post-Christmas schedule against each other as well. Calgary is coming off last Sunday's 6-3 home ice loss to Everett. The Silvertips scored five unanswered goals en route to victory. Jake Christiansen powered the Everett attack with a pair of markers while Dawson Butt recorded three assists. Bryce Kindopp, Jalen Price, Wyatte Wylie and Martin Fasko-Rudas rounded out the scoring helping Everett extend their winning streak to four games. Riley Stotts with his 13th and 14th goals of the season, and Egor Zamula with his seventh, replied for Calgary.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 6:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Riley Stotts (6g, 5a) is on a season high seven-game point streak. His career best is 10 games set last season from Jan. 29 to Feb. 16.
- James Malm (2a) and Egor Zamula (1g, 2a) both have points in back-to-back games.
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton is 5-1-1-0 in his last seven starts, posting a 2.52 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
- Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 8a) has points in eight of his last nine games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the first of seven regular season meetings between the two clubs. The Hitmen and Hurricanes met six times during the 2018-19 season with Lethbridge capturing five wins while the two teams combined for 59 goals. Mark Kastelic (5g, 4a) was Calgary's top scorer with nine points. Kaden Elder (4g, 2a), Jake Kryski (1g, 5a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 5a) all had six. Jordy Bellerive (7g, 6a) was the 'Canes top performer with 13 points. Jake Elmer (4g, 6a) was next with 10.
2018-19 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Oct. 12/18 in CGY: CGY 6 LET 5...Mark Kastelic led Calgary with two goals and an assist.
Oct. 26/18 in CGY: LET 7 CGY 6... Zach Cox scored with 6:34 remaining to snap a 6-6 tie.
Nov. 9/18 at LET: LET 4 CGY 2...The Hitmen lost despite holding Lethbridge to 19 shots.
Dec. 16/18 in CGY: LET 6 CGY 4...Jordy Bellerive led the 'Canes with three points (2g, 1a).
Feb. 13/19 at LET: LET 6 CGY 2...The Hurricanes scored five times in the first period.
Mar. 9/19 at LET: LET 7 CGY 4...Jordy Bellerive tallied five points (2g, 3a).
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 199 LET 181 Power Plays: CGY 4-20 (20%) LET 5-22 (22.7%)
They also met in the opening round of the 2019 WHL Playoffs with Calgary taking the series in seven games. Mark Kastelic (5g, 2a), Carson Focht (4g, 3a) and Dakota Krebs (1g, 6a) all had seven each points for Calgary while Luke Coleman (3g, 3a), Cael Zimmerman (2g, 4a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 5a) tallied six. Jake Leschyshyn led all 'Canes with 10 points (6g, 4a). Here is the series recap;
Game 1 'Canes 3 Hitmen 2 OT LET leads series 1-0 ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge
Game 2 'Canes 4 Hitmen 1 LET leads series 2-0 ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge
Game 3 Hitmen 5 'Canes 3 LET leads series 2-1 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 4 Hitmen 5 'Canes 2 Series tied 2-2 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 5 Hitmen 6 'Canes 5 CGY leads series 3-2 Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge
Game 6 'Canes 7 Hitmen 6 OT Series tied 3-3 Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Game 7 Hitmen 4 'Canes 2 CGY wins series 4-3 Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Four Hitmen are all within two points of each other atop the team scoring race. Mark Kastelic and Riley Stotts are co-leaders at 30 points while Orca Wiesblatt and Egor Zamula are next with 28.
GAME DATA: Tonight marks the start 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 5-5-2-0 against Central Division foes this season.
WORLD JUNIOR DEPARTURES: Hitmen teammates Jonas Peterek and Egor Zamula both left on Monday for World Junior Selection Camps. Peterek is with the Czech Republic and Zamula with Russia. Hitmen Assistant Coach & Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is with Hockey Canada and will serve as Goaltending Coach with Team Canada. The 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
TOY DRIVE: The Hitmen are presenting the Royal LePage Benchmark Toy Drive. The charitable initiative asks fans to bring a new unwrapped toy to Sunday's last remaining Hitmen home game before the holiday break and drop it off at the Royal LePage Benchmark booth located on the concourse;
- Sunday, Dec. 15 vs. Lethbridge at 2:00 p.m. (Sections 227 & 228)
All donations benefit The Children's Cottage Society helping families in crisis. For every toy donation, your name will be entered into a draw for two Calgary Flames tickets to the New Year's Eve game against Chicago, two club seat tickets to the Hitmen New Year's Day game against Medicine Hat and for the chance to win one of three team autographed Hitmen sticks. Cash contributions will also be accepted with donations matched by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is nine points ahead of their pace 28 games into last season when they were 11-14-2-1.
ENMAX TEDDY BEAR TOSS JERSEY AUCTION: During the 2019 ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss, Hitmen players wore wear special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo. These jerseys are now up for bid at elevateauctions.com. Bidding closes Monday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. MT.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 8-3-2-0 on the road this season, going 5-1-1-0 in their last seven games away from the 'Dome. Lethbridge is 8-5-0-4 at home, 1-0-0-1 in their last two games at ENMAX Centre.
HITMEN PLEDGE: 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' is here. As part of the 25th anniversary season fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge and donate 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause. One lucky winner will receive $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice. Full details can be found at https://hitmenhockey.com/pledge.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Hunter Campbell (lower body, week-to-week), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
IN THE COMMUNITY: 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 happening every night except Christmas Day until January 4th.
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Brooks Macek, who played parts of three seasons with the Hitmen from 2010-13 is in the KHL with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. The 27-year-old forward from Winnipeg, MB has 26 points (12g, 14a) in 34 games. During his time in Calgary he tallied 135 points (51g, 84a) in 149 games to sit 30th on the clubs' all-time regular season points list.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Dec. 15 vs. LET 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Dec. 27 at. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Sat., Dec. 28 at. MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Mon., Dec. 30 vs. EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Wed., Jan. 1 vs. MH 1:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 8 vs. EVT
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET
- Soccer Day, presented by Allstate Canada on Mon. Dec. 30 vs. EDM
- Southland Transportation / Airdrie Day 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
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Jett Woo is one assist shy of 100.
- Mark Kastelic needs three points for 200. He is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, nine 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 is 44 saves behind Brandon Glover for 11th place on the clubs all-time regular season saves list with 1,561.
- Riley Stotts needs three points for 150.
- Last Saturday in Edmonton, Egor Zamula hit the 100 point plateau.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2019
- Oil Kings and Kelowna Rockets Announce Trade - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Beckman's Hat Trick Leads Chiefs to Sixth-Straight Victory - Spokane Chiefs
- Chiefs Beat T-Birds Behind Beckman Hat Trick - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets acquire Conner McDonald from Oil Kings, place Carsaon Sass on waivers - Kelowna Rockets
- Hurricanes Stifle Hitmen 3-0 - Calgary Hitmen
- Warriors Edged in OT by Rockets; Mateychuk Scores First WHL Goal - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Kaedan Korczak scores twice to lead Rockets past Warriors in overtime - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Start Strong But Fall 5-1 in Edmonton - Swift Current Broncos
- Wyrostok Impresses in Debut, But Broncos Fall in Edmonton - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: December 14 - Portland Winterhawks
- Game 33 vs Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 14 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Silvertips Caught by Portland in OT - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Face Season High 57 Shots, Fall 5-1 to Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Broncos Looking for Victory Before Christmas Break - Swift Current Broncos
- T-Birds Shoot Down Americans - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Victoria Rally Catches Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Outplay Everett, Extend Win Streak to Five - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Almost Strike Back against Rebels - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Royals Rally Past Cougars in Shootout - Victoria Royals
- Rebels Special Teams Superb in Narrow Win over Tigers - Red Deer Rebels
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