Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 28 at Red Deer Rebels
September 28, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (1-0-1-0, 3 pts.) at RED DEER REBELS (1-1-0-0, 2 pts.)
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. MT - Westerner Park Centrium
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play game two of a three game weekend tonight against the Rebels. Game time is 7:00 p.m. at Westerner Park Centrium in Red Deer. Calgary is coming off last night's 4-3 overtime victory against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Carson Focht scored his second goal of the night 1:26 into overtime to lift the Calgary Hitmen past the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Hitmen dug themselves out of trouble erasing a 2-0 first period deficit with the help of Josh Prokop (1g, 1a) and James Malm who tallied a goal and two assists to lead the team's offence. Jake Neighbours, Dylan Guenther and Josh Williams provided the Edmonton markers. Calgary outshot the Oil Kings 37-24 and went 1-4 on the power play while Edmonton was 1-3.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Carson Focht (3g, 1a), Riley Stotts (2a), Orca Wiesblatt (2a) and Egor Zamula (1g, 2a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Tonight is the first of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs. Red Deer won six of their eight matches last year with the two teams combining for 50 goals. Mark Kastelic (5g, 2a) led Calgary's offence with seven points against Red Deer while Kaden Elder (2g, 4a) followed close behind with six. Brandon Hagel (6g, 9a) topped the Rebels with 15 points. Jeff de Witt (6g, 2a) and Dawson Bareaux (2g, 6a) both recorded eight points in the season series. Calgary is 3-5-1-1 in their last 10 visits to Red Deer.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 28/18 at RD: RD 4 CGY 3...Brandon Hagel (1g, 2a) led the Rebels scoring attack.
Sept. 30/18 at CGY: RD 6 CGY 5 OT...The Rebels erased a 5-3 deficit with two goals in the final 4:18.
Oct. 23/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 1... Alexander Alexeyev scored a pair of goals to lead Red Deer.
Nov. 3/18 at CGY: RD 1 CGY 0...Ethan Anders made 34 saves for the shutout.
Nov. 30/18 at RD: RD 6 CGY 2...The Rebels jumped out to a 5-0 second period lead.
Jan. 4/19 at CGY: CGY 5 RD 3...Cael Zimmerman led the Hitmen with two goals and an assist.
Jan. 20/19 at CGY: RD 4 CGY 1...Red Deer built a 3-0 second period lead.
Feb. 2/19 at RD: CGY 5 RD 1...Hitmen scored five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 victory.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 291 RD 200 Power Plays: CGY 3-27 (11.1%) RD 9-36 (25%)
PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 2-2 during their four-game exhibition schedule. Rookie Adam Kydd led the team in scoring with three points (1g, 2a) in four games. Six other Hitmen players tallied two points during pre-season action including Riley Fiddler-Schultz (2g), Rory Neill (1g, 1a), Josh Prokop (2g), Grayden Siepmann (2g), Jackson van de Leest (1g, 1a) and Orca Wiesblatt (2a).
WHL DEBUT: Two Hitmen who made the opening night roster have yet to play a regular season game in the WHL: Samuel Krajc and Evan Toth.
LET'S GO CAMPING: Seven Hitmen roster players headed to NHL camps this month: Carson Focht and Jett Woo (Vancouver), Mark Kastelic (Ottawa), James Malm and Jackson van de Leest (Calgary), Riley Stotts (Toronto), Egor Zamula (Philadelphia). Only Kastelic remains with Ottawa.
GRADUATING CLASS: All three graduating 20-year-olds from last season will play hockey this year and are using their WHL Scholarship. Luke Coleman is attending the University of Lethbridge and playing with the Pronghorns, Kaden Elder is with the University of Calgary Dinos and Jake Kryski is in Vancouver with the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
OFF-SEASON TRANSACTIONS: At the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft on May 2, the Hitmen acquired defenceman Jett Woo from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for import defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko, forward Ryder Korczak, the 11th overall selection at the draft (Denton Mateychuk), and a second-round pick in 2021. At the 2019 CHL Import Draft on June 27, Calgary made a pair of selections taking forwards Jonas Peterek 37th overall and Samuel Krajc 97th.
ROSTER MOVES: On Sept. 17, the Hitmen reassigned three players sending 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway to the Merritt Centennials (BCJHL), 17 year-old goaltender Ethan Hein to the Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) and 16 year-old defenceman Rory Neill to the Winnipeg Wild (MMHL).
FAMILIAR FACES: The Hitmen 2019-20 roster features 17 returning players from last season.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: James Malm needs one point to reach 200. Dakota Krebs is four games away from 250. Riley Stotts is three goals shy of 50 while Carson Focht needs five markers for 50. Mark Kastelic is one goal shy of moving into a tie with Brett Sonne for 13th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 89. Kastelic is also three points away from tying Sonne for 18th place on the all-time points list with 170.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (indefinite, lower body).
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (27):
WHL Bantam Draft (12): Campbell, Fiddler-Schultz, Funk*, Kastelic, Peters, L. Prokop, Tschigerl*, Toder, Toth*, van de Leest, Viggars, Zimmerman
Listed (5); Carriere, Klassen, Kydd*, McNaughton, Wiesblatt
Trade (6): Focht, Krebs, Malm, J. Prokop, Stankowski, Stotts, Woo
CHL Import Draft (2): Krajc*, Peterek*
Import Waivers (1): Zamula
ROSTER BREAKDOWN (27):
'99-born (3): Kastelic (C), Krebs (D), Malm (LW)
'00-born (9): Focht (C), J. Prokop (RW), Stankowski (G), Stotts (C), Toder (D), Viggars (D/LW), Wiesblatt (LW), Woo (D), Zamula (D)
'01-born (7): Carriere (C), Campbell (RW), Klassen (F), McNaughton (G), Peterek* (RW), van de Leest (D), Zimmerman (LW)
'02-born (6): Fiddler-Schultz (C), Krajc* (RW), Kydd* (LW), Peters* (G), L. Prokop (D), Toth* (D)
'03-born (2): Funk* (LW), Tschigerl* (LW)
*Denotes rookie
ALUMNI WATCH: Cody Sylvester is playing pro hockey in Germany with EC Bad Nauheim. The 26-year-old centre has eight points (3g, 5a) in four games. Sylvester played five seasons with the Hitmen from 2008-2013 recording 229 points (97g, 132a) in 315 games.
AUCTION ALERT: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. More than 80 game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from seasons passed are now available for bid in a historical jersey auction. Bidding will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. MST. Be part of celebrating the team's heritage while supporting the Calgary Hitmen Foundation as a portion of the auction proceeds will be directed to education, grassroots sports and youth wellness programs in our community. Full details are available at elevateauctions.com/HitmenHistoricalAuction.
HITMEN PLEDGE: The Hitmen in partnership with ENMAX have announced "The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX'. As part of the 25th anniversary season of Hitmen Hockey, this charitable initiative hopes to raise 25,000 hours of community service towards Calgary and surrounding area. Fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge by contributing 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause in the hopes of receiving $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2019-20 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale now and includes 33 game tickets plus one ticket voucher to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a special 25th anniversary jersey, $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.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Sept. 29 vs. MH 4:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Oct. 6 vs. POR 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Oct. 12 @ EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Mon., Oct. 14 vs. SAS 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Oct. 18 vs. MJ 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, with seats for The Teddy Bear Toss available starting Tues. Oct. 15 at 10:00 a.m. to allow Hitmen Hockey Pass Holders and Flex Pack Holders the first opportunity to exchange their tickets. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- SUPER Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Sept. 29 vs. MH
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Oct. 6 vs. POR
- AirBand Together for a Wish on Oct. 14 vs. SAS
- Diwali Celebration & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Oct. 20 vs. MH
- Wizarding Day on Oct. 28 vs. SEA
- Tim Hortons Minor Hockey Day & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Nov. 3 vs. EDM
- Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 1 vs. RD
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 6 vs. EDM
- 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 Dec. 30 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH
- James Malm needs one point to reach 200.
- Dakota Krebs is four games away from 250.
- Riley Stotts is three goals shy of 50.
- Carson Focht needs five goals for 50.
- Mark Kastelic is one goal shy of moving into a tie with Brett Sonne for 13th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 89. Kastelic is also three points away from tying Sonne for 18th place on the all-time points list with 170.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 28, 2019
- Stotts Leads Hitmen to 5-1 Win - Calgary Hitmen
- Game 4 vs Swift Current - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Crnkovic's First Career Hat Trick Not Enough to Halt ICE - Saskatoon Blades
- Russian Defenseman Matvei Startsev Released - Spokane Chiefs
- ICE Visit Defending WHL Champion Prince Albert Raiders on Saturday Night - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 28 at Red Deer Rebels - Calgary Hitmen
- Preview: Broncos Look for Weekend Split in Medicine Hat - Swift Current Broncos
- Ams Earn 3-1 Win over Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
- Cougars Nipped at Victoria - Prince George Cougars
- Giants Drop 2019 Home Opener to the Portland Winterhawks - Vancouver Giants
- Hawks Last Unbeaten Team in the WHL - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets lose to Kamloops in overtime - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Fall to Americans - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Royals Prevail Versus Cougars in Home Opener - Victoria Royals
- Rebels Get Great Effort from Anders, Special Teams in Road Win over Hurricanes - Red Deer Rebels
- Kinder Pots Hat Trick as ICE Defeat Blades 7-6 - Winnipeg Ice
- Tigers Defeat Broncos 2-0 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Shutout at Home against Tigers - Swift Current Broncos
- Focht Tallies Overtime Winner for Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Prevail in Overtime over Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Raiders Break Tie in the Third - Regina Pats
- Warriors Blank Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
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