Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 7 at Edmonton
December 7, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (14-8-3-1, 32 pts.) at EDMONTON OIL KINGS (19-6-4-2, 44 pts.)
Saturday, December 7, 2019 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Rogers Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play the back half of a home-and-home set with the Edmonton Oil Kings tonight on the road at Rogers Place. Edmonton tallied a trio of power play goals in the second period to defeat the Hitmen 4-2 last night at Scotiabank Saddledome. David Kope, Jake Neighbours, Dylan Guenther and Jalen Luypen, into an empty net, all scored for the visitors. Blake Allan and Mark Kastelic replied for the Hitmen who outshot Edmonton 42-21. The Western Hockey League leading Oil Kings also won the special teams battle going 3-5 on the power play while killing all three Hitmen chances including a 5-on-3 for 59 seconds.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 6a) is on a career high seven-game point streak.
- Carson Focht (4g, 3a) has points in six straight games.
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton is 4-0-1-0 in his last five starts, posting a 1.96 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.
- Mark Kastelic (2g, 4a) has points in four of his last five games.
- Riley Stotts (3g, 2a) saw his four-game point streak end last night against Edmonton.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the seventh of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs. Since Calgary grabbed the opener in September, the Oil Kings have won the last five. Carson Focht tops the Hitmen in the season series with eight points (5g, 3a). Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 6a) is next with seven. Jake Neighbours (3g, 6a) and Riley Sawchuk (1g, 8a) are the top performers for Edmonton with nine points each. Josh Williams (5g, 3a) and Carter Souch (3g, 5a) both have eight. The Central Division rivals will complete their season series on Monday, Dec. 30 back in Calgary.
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.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 180 EDM 177 Power Plays: CGY 3-17 (17.6%) EDM 11-33 (33.3%)
FAST FACTS: Calgary is in the midst of three games in three days for third time this season. They will play a total of six such weekends this season...Tonight is Game 27 for the Hitmen in the 2019/20 campaign. Last season they played their 27th game on Nov. 30...Egor Zamula is fourth among defencemen in league scoring with 25 points...Mark Kastelic is tied for sixth in goals in the WHL with 17 and shares the league lead with three shorthanded markers.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 7-3-2-0 on the road this season, going 4-1-1-0 in their last six games away from the 'Dome. Edmonton is 10-3-0-1 at home riding a three-game winning streak at Rogers Place.
TOY DRIVE: The Hitmen are excited to present the Royal LePage Benchmark Toy Drive. The charitable initiative asks fans to bring a new unwrapped toy to any of the two remaining Hitmen home games before the holiday break and drop it off at the Royal LePage Benchmark booth located on the concourse;
- Sunday, Dec. 8 vs. Everett at 4:00 p.m. (Section 223)
- Sunday, Dec. 15 vs. Lethbridge at 2:00 p.m. (Sections 227 & 228)
All donations will 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 26 games into last season when they were 10-13-2-1.
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.
POINT PARADE: Calgary has picked up at least a point in nine of their last 12 games posting a record of 6-3-2-1.
WORLD JUNIOR INVITES: Hitmen teammates Jonas Peterek and Egor Zamula will attend World Junior Selection Camps with Peterek heading to the Czech Republic and Zamula to Russia. Both players depart Calgary on December 9th. The 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
GAME DATA: This is an Eastern Conference matchup; this season the Hitmen have a record of 13-7-2-1 against Eastern Conference foes and are 4-5-2-0 against the Central Division.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: All four teams under the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation umbrella are providing special gift ideas until Dec. 13. There are a dozen days of deals for the Hitmen, Flames, Roughnecks and Stampeders. Today's Hitmen offer is Me + 3 (4 for the price of 3) to the Dec. 15 game vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes. Visit www.calgaryflames.com/12days for all the details including the Offer Code.
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, 2-to-4 weeks), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
IN THE COMMUNITY: The Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Hitmen players visit the Zoo's outdoor rink for public skating with the final visit Friday, Dec. 13 when two more players will pop in from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. 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 available at hitmenhockey.com/zoolights
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Travis Sanheim, who played three seasons with the Hitmen from 2013-16, is in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 23-year-old defenceman from Elkhorn, MB has eight points (2g, 6a) in 29 games. During his time in Calgary, Sanheim notched 162 points (35g, 127a) in 186 games.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Dec. 8 vs. EVT 4:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Dec. 14 at LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
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
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 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
- Egor Zamula is one point shy of 100.
- Jett Woo needs one assist for 100.
- Mark Kastelic 13th on the clubs all-time points list with194 points, two behind Chris Nielsen who holds 12th spot. Kastelic is also five goals behind Brandon Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list.
- Jack McNaughton needs 18 saves to pull even with Gerry Festa for 12th spot on the clubs all-time saves list. McNaughton is also 22 saves shy of 1,500.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2019
- Hitmen Toss Oil Kings in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Warriors Outshoot Raiders But Fall at Mosaic Place - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Kelowna outduels Saskatoon in come from behind shootout win - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Battle Hard, But Fall to Hurricanes 5-3 - Swift Current Broncos
- Three Multi-Point Efforts Lift Raiders Over Warriors - Prince Albert Raiders
- Pats Edge Red Deer on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Regina Pats
- Raiders Complete Weekend Sweep of Broncos - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Make Blockbuster Deal with Giants - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Acquire Preziuso, Longo and a 2020 First-Round Pick in a Blockbuster Trade with Medicine Hat - Vancouver Giants
- Game 29 vs Everett - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE and Blazers Meet on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, December 7 at Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Memorial Cup Hosts Kelowna Visit Saskatoon - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Preview: Pats Return Home to Host Red Deer Saturday Night - Regina Pats
- Giants Drop a Hard-Fought 2-1 Game to Spokane at Home Friday - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Steal 2-1 Win on Road at Vancouver - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Upended by Thunderbirds - Victoria Royals
- Silvertips Ride Kindopp, Christiansen to 5-1 Victory at Swift Current - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels Solid Throughout Lineup in Convincing Victory over Warriors - Red Deer Rebels
- Blazers Outlast Wheat Kings 5 - 4 - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Mount Shines in Hometown to Lead T-Birds to Win over Victoria - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Powerful Power Play Propels Oil Kings to Win over Hitmen - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Tigers Win Sixth Straight 4-3 in a Shootout - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE Win 3-2 Thriller in OT against Regina - Winnipeg Ice
- Preview: Broncos Host Hurricanes in Final Home Game Before Christmas - Swift Current Broncos
- Penalty Kill Betrays Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
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.
