Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 28 at Medicine Hat
December 28, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (16-10-4-1, 37 pts.) at MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (22-10-1-1, 46 pts.)
Saturday, December 28, 2019 - 7:30 p.m. MT - Canalta Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen close a mini two-game Central Division road trip tonight in Medicine Hat against the Tigers. The Hitmen dropped a 5-4 overtime decision in Lethbridge last night. Dino Kambeitz scored his second goal of the game three minutes into the extra session after Justin Hall set the stage for extra time by notching a power play marker with 3:59 remaining. Koletrane Wilson and Alex Cotton also scored for the Hurricanes. Riley Stotts led the Hitmen with a goal and two assists. James Malm, Orca Wiesblatt and Jett Woo tallied the other goals for Calgary which turned a 3-1 first period deficit into a 4-3 third period lead before the Lethbridge rally. Calgary outshot Lethbridge 30-22 but lost the special teams battle going 1-4 on the power play compared to the 'Canes 3-6 performance with the man advantage. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 37 points while Medicine Hat is third in the Central Division with 46 points.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 30 minute pre-game show at 7:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Riley Stotts (8g, 8a) has points in nine of his last 10 games.
- James Malm (1g, 3a) has points in four of his last five games
- Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 3a) has points in three of his last four games.
- Josh Prokop (1g, 2a), Jett Woo (1g, 1a) and Jackson van de Leest (2a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. MEDICINE HAT: Tonight is the third of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Tigers but their first in over two months. Calgary has won both meetings by a combined score of 8-3 although tonight marks their first meeting in the Gas City. Jackson van de Leest (1g, 2a) leads the Hitmen against Medicine Hat with three points. Nine others are next with two points each including Mark Kastelic (2g), Adam Kydd (2g) and Riley Stotts (2g). Cole Sillinger (1g, 2a) is the top performing Tiger with three points. Ryan Chyzowski (2g) and James Hamblin (2a) are next with two points each. The Hitmen are 3-4-1-1 in their last nine visits to the Canalta Centre. The Central Division rivals will meet again in four days, this time back in Calgary in a New Year's Day 1:00 p.m. start at the 'Dome.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 29/19 at CGY: CGY 2 MH 0...Adam Kydd scored both goals. Carl Stankowski made 33 saves for the shutout.
Oct. 20/19 at CGY: CGY 6 MH 3...The Hitmen erased a 3-0 deficit in the final 42 minutes.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 76 MH 68 Power Plays: CGY 1-7 (14.3%) MH 2-7 (28.6%)
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Three Hitmen are all within five 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 30.
ROSTER MOVE: On 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.
GAME DATA: Today is the fourth 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 6-6-3-0 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 from before Christmas. This means the Hitmen black jersey now becomes their look on the road while they will wear white at home.
FAST FACTS: The Hitmen are 4-4-4-1 in one goal games this season...Tonight is Game 32 for the Hitmen in the 2019/20 campaign. On this night last season they were getting set to play Game 35 in Edmonton in their first game following the Christmas Break...Egor Zamula is tied for sixth among defencemen in league scoring with 28 points...Mark Kastelic is tied for 10th in goals in the WHL with 18 and shares the league lead with three shorthanded markers.
GO TIME: The post-Christmas schedule has Calgary storming out of their 11 day break as last night 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 8-4-3-0 on the road this season, going 5-2-2-0 in their last nine games away from the 'Dome. Medicine Hat is 10-4-1-0 at home but has dropped their last two games at Canalta Centre.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (lower body, week-to-week).
Total man-games lost: 90
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 netted a pair of goals in Russia's Boxing Day tournament opening loss to the host Czech Republic. Hitmen Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is Team Canada's Goaltending Coach. Canada plays Russia today.
MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is six points ahead of their pace 31 games into last season when they were 14-14-2-1.
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.
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.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (2-3-2-0).
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.
BROTHER BATTLE: Tonight's game features a head-to-head meeting of Dakota and Dru Krebs. Dakota is in this fifth and final WHL season with the Hitmen while Dru is a 16-year-old rookie with the Tigers.
PROSPECT WATCH: Billal Noori, Calgary's fourth-round pick, 79th overall, in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft is off to a blazing start this season. The 15-year-old, playing for the Northern Alberta Elite 15s in the CSSHL, has tallied 42 points (21g, 21a) in 23 games. Noori also played for Team Alberta at the 2019 WHL Cup.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Mon., Dec. 30 vs. EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
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)
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 four games away from 100.
- Riley Stotts eclipsed the 150 point plateau last night in Lethbridge.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2019
- ICE Win 3-2; Sweep Home-And-Home Series with the Wheat Kings - Winnipeg Ice
- Tigers Hold on to Win 3-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Sogaard Tough on Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Weekend Ends with Loss at the Brandt Centre - Moose Jaw Warriors
- T-Birds Fall to Portland in Last Home Game of 2019 - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hawks Throttle Seattle in Rivalry Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders Fall to Blades in Saskatoon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Paddock Earns Shutout as Pats Grab Win on Big First - Regina Pats
- Game Day Hub: December 28 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE Look to Even Season Series with Wheat Kings - Winnipeg Ice
- Game 35 vs Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 28 at Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Raiders & Blades Meet for Third Time in Three Games - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Rematch with Warriors Saturday at the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Break Doesn't Slow Cougars who Take Third Straight Win - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Blast Chiefs for Three Game Win Streak - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Return from Break Snaps Winning Streak - Everett Silvertips
- Blazers drop Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Edge Victoria Royals 2-1 Friday on the Island - Vancouver Giants
- Americans Hold on for Overtime Point, Fall to Winterhawks in OT - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Broncos Head to Lethbridge Looking for Back to Back Wins - Swift Current Broncos
- Slow Start Stifles Spokane at Seattle - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Edged by Giants - Victoria Royals
- Rebels Push Oil Kings to the Limit, But Come up Short - Red Deer Rebels
- Winterhawks Come back to Extend Point Streak to Eight - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos End Slide with Shootout Win over Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Can't Complete Comeback and Fall 4-3 in a Shootout - Medicine Hat Tigers
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