Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 22 at Kootenay
September 22, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (0-0-0-0, 0 pts.) at KOOTENAY ICE (0-0-0-0, 0 pts.)
Saturday, September 22, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Western Financial Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open their 24th Western Hockey League campaign tonight in Cranbrook against the Kootenay ICE. Last season, Calgary (24-37-9-2) finished fifth in the Central Division with 59 points, missing the playoffs for only the fourth time in franchise history. Jakob Stukel was the leading scorer with 64 points including 37 goals. Calgary went 6-0 during their five-game exhibition schedule. Mark Kastelic led the team in scoring with nine points (3g, 6a) in six games. Luke Coleman (5g, 2a) collected seven points while Zach Huber (4g, 2a) and Tristen Nielsen (1g, 5a) were next with six points each.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
Media Kit
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STREAKS
- None
NOTEWORTHY
VS. KOOTENAY: Tonight is the first of six regular season meetings between the two clubs. The ICE won five of the seven games in 2017-18 outscoring Calgary by a combined 23-18. Mark Kastelic and Jake Kryski led the Hitmen with six points each while Peyton Krebs topped Kootenay with eight points.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 22/17 at KTN: KTN 3 CGY 2...The ICE jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Sept. 23/17 at CGY: CGY 3 KTN 1...The Hitmen overcame a 1-0 third period deficit.
Dec. 16/17 at KTN: KTN 5 CGY 1...Five different ICE tallied goals.
Dec. 17/17 at CGY: KTN 4 CGY 3 OT...The ICE erased a 3-1 first period deficit.
Dec. 27/17 at KTN: KTN 4 CGY 3 OT...Brett Davis led the ICE with three assists.
Dec. 28/17 at CGY: KTN 4 CGY 3...Brett Davis netted the winner with 1:50 remaining.
Mar. 14/18 at CGY: CGY 3 KTN 2 SO...Riley Stotts scored once in regulation and the shootout winner.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 177 KTN 191 Power Plays: CGY 2-20 (9.5%) KTN 7-36 (21.1%)
OPENING NIGHT: In the previous 23 season openers, the Hitmen have an all-time record of 12 wins, seven losses, three overtime losses and one tie. Dating back to 2015, Calgary has won two of their last three opening night contests.
DID YOU KNOW?: This is the fourth consecutive season the Hitmen season opener is against the Kootenay ICE...Rookies Luke Prokop (14 games), Devan Klassen (9 games), Ryder Korczak (3 games) and Bryce Bader (3 games) all saw time with the Hitmen last season as affiliate players.
WHL DEBUT: Three Hitmen who have made the opening day roster have yet to play a regular season game in the WHL: Tye Carriere, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Jack McNaughton.
LET'S GO CAMPING: Four Hitmen roster players headed to NHL camps this month: Carson Focht (Boston), Riley Stotts (Toronto), Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) and Egor Zamula (Philadelphia). On Thursday Zamula signed a three-year entry level contact with the Flyers after attending camp on an amateur tryout.
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday, the Hitmen reassigned defenceman Andrew Viggars to a yet to be determined league and team. The 18-year-old from Calgary played 39 games for the Hitmen last season.
LEADERSHIP GROUP: On Friday the Hitmen named Mark Kastelic the 26th captain in franchise history. Luke Coleman and Dakota Krebs will serve as full-time alternate captains while Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts will share the third 'A'.
OFF SEASON CHANGES: On July 17, the Hitmen introduced Steve Hamilton as the 10th head coach in franchise history. He replaces Dallas Ferguson who resigned on June 26 for family reasons. On August 7, Calgary acquired goaltender Carl Stankowski and a conditional fourth-round WHL Bantam Pick from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for the rights to 17-year-old U.S. prospect Mike Koster, an eighth-round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in either 2019 or 2020. Also during the off-season, Hitmen defenceman Drea Esposito announced his retirement to use his WHL Scholarship. He is attending the University of Manitoba. On August 20 the Hitmen named Nathan Hollinger Athletic Therapist to replace Kyle Vouriot. Vouriot has joined the AHL's Manitoba Moose as Assistant Athletic Therapist & Assistant Strength and Conditioning Trainer.
SITTING OUT: Hitmen defenceman Dakota Krebs has been handed a three-game WHL imposed suspension as a result of a cross checking Major and Game Misconduct received in the final pre-season game on September 15th.
GRADUATING CLASS: All three graduating 20-year-olds from last season will play hockey this year. Connor Chaulk is using the WHL Scholarship while attending the University of Regina. Jakob Stukel has signed with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder while goaltender Nick Schneider is in the Calgary Flames system.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Tristen Nielsen after the Saturday, September 29 Papa John's Pizza Home Opener. Nielsen will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (25):
WHL Bantam Draft (12): Bader*, Campbell, Fiddler-Schultz*, Huber, Kastelic, Korczak*, Nielsen, Prokop, Toder, van de Leest, Zimmerman
Listed (4); Armitage, Carriere*, Klassen*, McNaughton*, Wiesblatt,
Trade (7): Coleman, Focht, Krebs, Kryski, Schmiemann, Stankowski, Stotts
CHL Import Draft (1): Yeryomenko
Import Waivers (1): Zamula
*Denotes rookie
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2018-19 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale and includes 34 game tickets to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a $50 Scotiabank Saddledome gift card and a complimentary ticket to a select Flames, Roughnecks or Stampeders game. Passes start at less than $7 per ticket for kids and under $15 for adults. Also available is the 10-game Hitmen Flex Pack to be used for any game, in any combination. Students and kids tickets are $10 per game, adults and seniors $20. Applicable fees and taxes apply. Visit HitmenHockey.com to score yours today!
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Sept. 28 at Red Deer 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sept. 29 vs Edmonton 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sept. 30 vs Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 5 vs Saskatoon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 12 vs Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, with tickets for The Brick Teddy Bear Toss available starting Oct. 9 at 10:00 a.m.. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Papa John's Pizza Home Opener on Sept. 29 vs. EDM
- Shrine Challenge presented by the Al Azhar Shriners Society on Sept. 30 vs. RD
- SUPER Sunday Funday on Oct. 15 vs. REG
- Roughnecks Theme on Oct. 26 vs. LET
- Hometown Heroes on Oct. 28 vs. SAS
- Diwali Celebration on Nov. 3 vs. RD
- The Brick Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 9 vs. KAM
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 14 vs. KEL
- Novice Jamboree on Dec. 16 vs. LET
- Soccer Day on Dec. 30 vs. VAN
- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC
- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH
- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN
- Family Game on Fe. 10 vs. MJ
- Lunar Celebration/Calgary Catholic on Feb. 15 vs. MH
- TELUS BE BRAVE on Feb. 27 vs. SC
- Multicultural Night on Mar. 1 vs. BDN
- WHL Suits up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation - Presented by RE/MAX on Mar. 3 vs. KTN
- Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH
- Vladislav Yeryomenko is three assists away from 50.
- Luke Coleman needs three points for 100 while Mark Kastelic is three games shy of 200. Kastelic also needs one assist for 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 22, 2018
- McGrew Signs Entry-Level Deal with San Jose - Spokane Chiefs
- ICE Begin 2018-19 Regular Season against Rival Hitmen - Kootenay Ice
- Game Preview: Merlin Ford Lincoln Blades Home Opener - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 2 vs. Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 22 at Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Edge Warriors in Season Opener - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Host Home Opener Saturday against Prince - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Seattle - Game #1 - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Open with a Loss - Kelowna Rockets
- Tips Topped in Season Opener - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Shoot Past Cougars in Home Opener - Victoria Royals
- Vancouver Giants Earn a 3-1 Home Victory over Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Hofer Shines in Broncos Home Opener, Narrowly Lose 2-1 to Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Win Season Opener 5-2 over Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Raiders End Drought Against Regina In Home Opener - Prince Albert Raiders
- Anders Sparkles for Rebels in Season-Opening Loss to Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- Blades Open Season with 2-1 Win over Defending Champs - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Dropped in Season Opener - Regina Pats
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