Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, January 4 at Lethbridge
January 4, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (18-12-4-1, 41 pts.) at LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (23-10-1-5, 52 pts.)
Saturday, January 4, 2020 - 7:00 p.m. MT - ENMAX Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen close a two-game road trip tonight in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. It's the fourth meeting in 21 days between the two Southern Alberta rivals and their second in eight days. The Hitmen are coming off last night's 5-2 loss in Medicine Hat where James Hamblin and Elijah Brown scored two goals each to lead the home side. The Tigers jumped out to a 4-0 lead, aided by a two-goal first period where they outshot the Hitmen 21-5. Carson Focht and Blake Allan tallied the Calgary markers. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 41 points while Lethbridge is second in the Central Division with 52 points.
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
ATTACHMENTS: Media Kit
STREAKS
- Carson Focht (2g, 2a) is riding a four-game point streak.
- Hunter Campbell (1g, 1a) has points in back-to-back games.
- Jett Woo (2g, 4a) has points in five of his last six games.
- Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 3a) had his five-game point streak halted last night in Medicine Hat while a two-game goal scoring streak for Sean Tschigerl (2g) and a two-game point streak for Mark Kastelic (1g, 1a) were also snapped.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the fourth of seven regular season meetings between the two clubs. Calgary is 1-2 against the 'Canes but the home team is 3-0. Riley Stotts (2g, 3a) leads the Hitmen against Lethbridge with five points. Josh Prokop (1g, 2a) is next with three. Logan Barlage (1g, 4a) is the top Hurricanes performer with five points. Alex Thacker (4a) is next with four. The Central Division rivals will meet again in six days, on Friday, Jan. 10 at Scotiabank Saddledome.
2019-20 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 14/19 at LET: LET 3 CGY 0...Carl Tetachuk 31 save shutout. Logan Barlage tallied 1g, 1a.
Dec. 15/19 at CGY: CGY 5 LET 2...Riley Fiddler-Schultz netted a pair of goals.
Dec. 27/19 at LET: LET 5 CGY 4 OT... Dino Kambeitz scored the winner three minutes into the extra session.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 99 LET 68 Power Plays: CGY 4-12 (37.5%) LET 4-17 (9.1%)
TRADE WINDS: On Thursday the Hitmen acquired 20-year-old forward Kyle Olson from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for 20-year-old forward James Malm, a second-round pick in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2022. Olson has tallied 169 points (53g, 116a) in 205 career games during five seasons with the Americans while adding 10 points (4g, 6a) in 19 playoff matches. His younger brother Quinn (2001-forward) is on the Hitmen 50-player protected list, playing NCAA Hockey with the University of Minnesota-Duluth after being drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2019.
THREE-IN-THREE: Tonight is the second game in a stretch of three games in as many days for Calgary. It's the fourth time this season they have faced such a task. In their previous three they posted a combined record of 5-3-0-1. The Hitmen will endure this grind on two more occasions, once in mid-January on a Manitoba road trip and again in early February with two games at the 'Dome and trip to Red Deer in the middle.
DECADE REWIND: As Calgary opens a new decade they finished the last one with an overall record of 361-260-35-22. It included a WHL Championship in 2010 and a pair of trips to the Eastern Conference Final, one in 2013 and another in 2015. Joel Broda scored the first goal of the decade while Jett Woo netted the last. The Hitmen leading scorer was Brady Brassart with 222 points. Cody Sylvester tallied 209 and Mark Kastelic 200. Greg Chase (177) and Jake Bean (175) rounded out the top five.
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 has four points (2g, 2a) in five games to sit tied for sixth in team scoring. Hitmen Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is Team Canada's Goaltending Coach. Canada meets Finland in one semi-final on today while Russia takes on Sweden in the other.
ONE YEAR AGO: On January 4, 2019, the Hitmen defeated Red Deer 5-3 at the 'Dome. Cael Zimmerman led the way with two goals and one assist while Hunter Campbell, Dakota Krebs and Layne Toder all tallied two assists.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 8-6-3-0 on the road this season, going 0-3-1-0 in their last four games away from the 'Dome. Lethbridge is 11-5-1-4 at home and coming off last night's 5-4 overtime loss to Seattle.
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Three Hitmen are all within four points of each other atop the team scoring race. Riley Stotts leads the way with 37. Mark Kastelic is next with 34 while Orca Wiesblatt has 33.
GAME DATA: Today is the eighth and final game in a stretch of nothing by Central Division opponents for the Hitmen. During this span they have faced Lethbridge four times, Medicine Hat on three occasions and Edmonton once. Calgary is 8-8-3-0 against Central Division foes this season.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Kyle Olson (lower body, week-to-week).
Total man-games lost: 93
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 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.
ALUMNI UPDATE: Carson McMillan is playing in the German Ice Hockey League with the Fischtown Penguins. The 31-year-old forward has 10 points (4g, 6a) in 33 games. McMillan spent four seasons with the Hitmen from 2005-09 recording 141 points (57g, 84a) in 271 games. He is 27th on the club's all-time scoring list.
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. Among the highlights is a Hitmen outdoor skating rink with FREE skate rentals.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (3-4-2-0), January (1-1-0-0).
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Jan. 5 vs. MJ 4:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Fri., Jan. 10 vs. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Jan. 12 vs. SC 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Wed., Jan. 15 at SC 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Jan. 17 at BDN 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Jan. 5 vs. MJ Game Sponsor is Hilton. It's also Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill
- Pucks for Paws on Jan. 10 vs. LET presented by Chasin' Tails and WEB Consulting in support of Four Feet Companion Foundation
- 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
- Blake Allan is one game shy of the century mark.
- Mark Kastelic is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, five back of Brandon Segal's 205. Kastelic is also three goals behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Josh Prokop played career game 100 last night in Medicine Hat.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 4, 2020
- Kastelic Lifts Hitmen in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Fall to ICE in Winnipeg - Prince Albert Raiders
- Pats Edged by Swift Current in Shootout - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Acquire F Ty Kolle from Regina for Two WHL Draft Selections, Rights to Ean Somoza - Everett Silvertips
- Pats Acquire Ean Somoza and Two Draft Picks for Ty Kolle in Trade with Everett - Regina Pats
- Silvertips Acquire 4th Round Selection in 2020 from Prince Albert for G Keegan Karki - Everett Silvertips
- Game Day Hub: January 4 - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE and Raiders Battle for First in the East - Winnipeg Ice
- Game 38 vs Seattle - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, January 4 at Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Rematch with Broncos Saturday at the Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Cougars Have 'Tips Number Again - Everett Silvertips
- Third Shutout for Cossa, First Goal for Kuny as Oil Kings Down Warriors, 5-0 - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Edge Everett to Continue Improved Play - Prince George Cougars
- A 45-Save Effort from Tendeck Gains the Giants a Point in Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- Beckman Sets New Franchise Record with Goal in Ten Straight in 6-4 Loss - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Foil Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Penalties Hurt Rebels in Eventual Overtime Loss to Blades - Red Deer Rebels
- Royals down Rockets with late power-play goal - Kelowna Rockets
- Raiders Acquire Karki from Silvertips - Prince Albert Raiders
- Wouters Notches OT Winner in Red Deer for First Victory of 2020 - Saskatoon Blades
- Winterhawks Open New Decade with a Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Take Down Hitmen 5-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
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.
