Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 29 vs Edmonton Oil Kings
September 29, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.) vs EDMONTON OIL KINGS (4-0-0-0, 8 pts.) Saturday, September 29, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen kick-off their Home Opening Weekend at the Scotiabank Saddledome, tonight at 7:00 p.m. in the Papa John's Pizza Home Opener against the Edmonton Oil Kings. By using the promo code KIDSPORT1 or KIDSPORT2, $5 from every ticket sold will be donated to KidSport Calgary. The Hitmen return to "Dome ice tomorrow in a Sunday matinee, September 30, against the Red Deer Rebels for the annual Shrine Challenge presented by the Al Azhar Shriners Society. Game time is 4:00 p.m. Calgary is coming off last night's 4-3 loss to the Red Deer Rebels at the ENMAX Centrium. Despite their efforts, the Hitmen were unable to overcome the Rebels who built a 4-2 third period lead. Brandon Hagel led Red Deer with a goal and a pair of assists. Zach Huber, Layne Toder and Hunter Campbell all found the back of the net for Calgary who outshot the home team 33-28. The Rebels went 1-4 on the power play with the Hitmen 0-3.
BROADCAST INFORMATION Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com ATTACHMENTS Media Kit
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STREAKS
- None
NOTEWORTHY VS. EDMONTON: Tonight is the first of eight regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Oil Kings. Calgary went 3-2-1-0 against their Provincial rivals last season. Jake Kryski led the series with 14 points (6g, 8a) against Edmonton while Jakob Stukel (4g, 7a) was next with 11 for the Hitmen. Trey Fix-Wolansky topped the Oil Kings with 11 points (4g, 7a).
2017-18 SERIES RECAP Dec. 13/17 at CGY: CGY 6 EDM 1...Calgary netted four goals in the third period to power past Edmonton. Jan. 1/18 at EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4...Davis Koch scored the game winner with 3:34 remaining. Feb. 23/18 at CGY: CGY 4 EDM 1...Jake Kryski scored the winner on a power play in the second period. Mar. 2/18 at EDM: EDM 4 CGY 3 OT...Edmonton overcame a 3-1 second period deficit. Mar. 17/18 at EDM: CGY 7 EDM 1...The Hitmen built period leads of 3-0 and 4-0. Mar. 18/18 at CGY: EDM 7 CGY 3...The Oil Kings scored six power play goals en route to a 7-3 win.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 200 RD 225 Power Plays: CGY 3-19 (15.8%) RD 5-23 (21.7%)
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday the Hitmen acquired 20-year-old forward Kaden Elder from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. The addition of Elder, rounds out Calgary's overage group giving the Hitmen a league maximum of three with Luke Coleman and Jake Kryski. On Wednesday Calgary added Josh Prokop to the roster. He had started the season in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers. The Hitmen acquired the rights to Prokop last season in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos. The November 25, 2018 deal saw Calgary obtain Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann, Riley Stotts and the rights to Prokop along with goaltending prospect Ethan Hein and a second-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft (Zac Funk) in exchange for graduating forwards Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn and a 2018 fifth-round bantam pick. This trade unites Josh with his younger brother Luke who is in his first full WHL season. On September 20, the Hitmen reassigned defenceman Andrew Viggars. The 18-year-old from Calgary played 39 games for the Hitmen last season.
DIVISIONAL DIET: Calgary starts the season with four straight games against Central Division opponents. Tonight is Game 3. Following this stretch seven of their next eight games will be against teams from the East Division.
WHL DEBUT: Tye Carriere finished his first career WHL regular season game with two shots on goal in his hometown of Red Deer, AB last night against the Rebels. Josh Prokop also played in a Western Hockey League game for the first time last night and recorded four shots on goal. Riley Fiddler-Schultz played his first career WHL regular season game last Saturday against the ICE. The 16-year-old from Edmonton, AB finished the contest with four shots on goal. Only Jack McNaughton has yet to make his WHL debut.
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 September 20, Zamula signed a three-year entry level contact with the Flyers after attending camp on an amateur tryout.
LEADERSHIP GROUP: The Hitmen have 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'.
SITTING OUT: Hitmen defenceman Dakota Krebs was 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 15. The 19-year-old has served two games.
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.
AUCTION ALERT: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. Select game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season are now available for bid. Bidding will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 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.
HITMEN GO GREEN: On September 26, National Tree Day, the Calgary Hitmen announced their participation in an environmental initiative called One Ticket, One Tree. The Hitmen will begin a pilot project where a tree will be planted for reforestation projects in the province for each game day and group ticket sold to the One Ticket, One Tree game when they host the Oil Kings on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. In addition, Hitmen players will be in the community this season doing their part to reduce their ecological footprint and bring awareness to local environmental issues.
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. 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. 8 vs Prince Albert 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 12 vs Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 14 vs. Regina 2:00 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: - Shrine Challenge presented by the Al Azhar Shriners Society on Sept. 30 vs. RD - SUPER Sunday Funday on Oct. 14 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 - One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM - Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH - Luke Coleman needs two points for 100 while
- Mark Kastelic is nine points shy of 100. Kastelic is also one game back from 200.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko is three assists away from 50.
- Tristen Nielsen needs seven points for 50.
- Carson Focht is nine points shy of 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2018
- Rockets Acquire Zablocki from Royals - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Complete Trade with Rockets - Victoria Royals
- Washington Capitals Sign Silvertips Center and Assistant Captain Riley Sutter to a Three-Year Entry-Level Contract - Everett Silvertips
- ICE Conclude Home-And-Home Series with Spokane - Kootenay Ice
- Game Preview: Blades Host Tigers Looking for Third Straight Win - Saskatoon Blades
- Game 5 at Saskatoon - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Seattle - Game #4 - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Saturday, September 29 vs Edmonton Oil Kings - Calgary Hitmen
- Americans Sneak Past Winterhawks in Close Shootout Win - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Top ICE 7-4 - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Triumph over Blazers - Victoria Royals
- Broncos Shutout in Edmonton - Swift Current Broncos
- Giants Drop a 3-1 Decision to the Thunderbirds Friday at Home - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Edged by Prince George - Kelowna Rockets
- High-Flying Trio Leads Rebels to First Win of the Season - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Fall Short in 5-3 Loss to Raiders - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hughes Holds Back Giants - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winterhawks Earn a Point in Kennewick - Portland Winterhawks
- Raiders Down Tigers For Third Straight Win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Lethbridge too Much for Pats - Regina Pats
- Red Deer Edges Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
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