Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 1 vs. Red Deer
Published on December 1, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (14-7-2-1, 31 pts.) vs. RED DEER REBELS (7-15-0-3, 17 pts.)
Sunday, December 1, 2019 - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen, winners of four of their last five games, host the Red Deer Rebels this afternoon in the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss. Game time is 4:00 p.m. with doors to Scotiabank Saddledome opening at 2:30 p.m. Press level seats are still available as a general admission ticket for only $9.99 for kids 12 and under and $14.99 for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). They can be purchased at Ticketmaster or the Scotiabank Saddledome box office. Fans are asked to bring a new or gently used small or medium sized stuffed toy to toss onto the ice when the Hitmen score their first goal. Those bears will then be donated to over 70 local agencies this holiday season including the Salvation Army, Calgary Food Bank and Siksika Nation. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the toss in Calgary with the goal of taking back the world record. The AHL's Hershey Bears set a new mark last season with 34,798 stuffed toys. The Calgary Zoo is the plush sponsor of the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss. Calgary Zoo panda teddy bears can be purchased for $20 each on the concourse at section 223, section 211 and inside the NE ticket entrance. Proceeds from every bear sold will be split evenly between the Calgary Zoological Society and the Calgary Hitmen Foundation. To keep all bears clean, fans are asked to place them in a bag before being tossed. Bags will be provided upon entrance. If you are already attending the game, why not join the post-game volunteer team. The Hitmen are looking for people to help sort and count, and hours can be used for the Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX. If you are interested please email Amy Bontorin at abontorin@calgaryflames.com to add your name to the list and to receive additional details.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning with a 60 minute pre-game show at 3:00 p.m.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 3a) is on a career high five-game point streak.
- Carson Focht (3g, 2a) has points in four straight games.
- Riley Stotts (2g, 1a) is on a three-game point streak and has at least a point in seven of his last eight games (4g, 5a).
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton has won his last four starts, posting a 1.72 goals against average and a .937 save percentage.
- Egor Zamula (8a) and Jett Woo (2g, 4a) both saw their five-game point streaks snapped yesterday in Edmonton while two-game streaks for Mark Kastelic (1g, 3a) and Jonas Peterek (2g) also ended.
NOTEWORTHY
TOSS HISTORY: Calgary holds a lifetime record 17 wins, six losses and one tie in the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss.
LOOKING BACK ON THE LAST FIVE:
Dec. 7/14 vs MJ: Hitmen 8 Warriors 3...Teddy Bear goal scored by Radel Fazleev at 1:38.
Dec. 6/15 vs SC: Hitmen 2 Broncos 1 (SO)...Teddy Bear goal scored by Jordy Stallard at 22:41.
Nov. 26/16 vs LET: Hurricanes 4 Hitmen 2...Teddy Bear goal scored by Micheal Zipp at 19:47.
Dec. 10/17 vs. MJ: Warriors 6 Hitmen 3...Teddy Bear goal scored by Vladislav Yeryomenko at 9:36.
Dec. 9/18 vs. KAM: Hitmen 6 Blazers 3...Teddy Bear goal scored by Kaden Elder at 4:18.
ENMAX TEDDY BEAR TOSS RECORDS:
Fastest Teddy Bear goal: Dec. 7/02 vs. Medicine Hat; scored by Rob Smith 65 seconds into the first period
Latest Teddy Bear goal: Dec. 4/11 vs. Medicine Hat; scored by Calder Brooks at 18:21 of the second period
Opponent History: Today marks the fifth Hitmen-Rebels contest in a Teddy Bear Toss at the 'Dome and first since 2010.
Most teddy bears collected in one game: 29,635 (2018)
Total teddy bears collected to date: 377,583
Highest attendance: 19,289 (2015)
Total attendance: 332,546
GAME-WORN AND GAME-ISSUED JERSEY AUCTION: During the 2019 ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss, Hitmen players will wear special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo. These jerseys will be sold in an online auction opening today, Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:00 p.m. and closing Monday Dec 16 at 8 p.m. MT. Fans can bid on the jerseys at elevateauctions.com.
BEAR FACTS: All teddy bears collected today will be turned over to local charities tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 2 beginning at 8:00 a.m. with distribution from Lot A at the 'Dome. Hitmen players will assist the process and then visit the Alberta Children's Hospital for more teddy bear deliveries later in the morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
VS. RED DEER: Today is the second of eight regular season meetings between the two clubs. Calgary grabbed the opener over two months ago up in Central Alberta. Riley Stotts scored a natural hat-trick to lead the Calgary attack. Egor Zamula and Layne Toder also tallied markers for the Hitmen with Luke Prokop and Riley Fiddler-Schultz both adding a pair of assists. Dawson Barteaux provided the lone goal for the Rebels. These Central Division rivals won't face each other again until Saturday, Jan. 25 in Red Deer.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 28/19 in RD: CGY 5 RD 1...Calgary snapped a 1-1 tie 11 minutes into the first period.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 33 RD 16 Power Plays: CGY 2-3 (66.7%) RD 1-7 (14.3%)
FAST FACTS: Egor Zamula is fourth among defencemen in league scoring with 25 points...Mark Kastelic is tied for seventh in goals in the WHL with 16 and shares the league lead with three shorthanded markers...Today against Red Deer is the second in a stretch of four straight games for the Hitmen and 12 of 13 against teams from their own division...Calgary has scored four or more goals in each of their last seven games.
GAME DATA: This is an Eastern Conference matchup; this season the Hitmen have a record of 13-6-1-1 against Eastern Conference foes and are 4-4-1-0 against the Central Division.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss goal scorer after today's game. He will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
POINT PARADE: Calgary has picked up at least a point in eight of their last 10 games posting a record of 6-2-1-1.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 7-4-0-1 on home ice this season, going 2-0-0-1 in their last three games at the 'Dome. Red Deer is 5-7-0-0 on the road having last played in an enemy building last Tuesday in Swift Current where they fell 6-4 to the Broncos.
BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND DEAL: The Hitmen are offering $12 tickets valid for all December games (excluding ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss). This includes: Dec. 6 vs. EDM, Dec. 8 vs. EVT, Dec. 15 vs. LET & Dec. 30 vs. EDM. Visit calgaryflames.com/tickets to score this deal - only valid until the end of Sunday, Dec. 1.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1).
MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is 11 points ahead of their pace through 24 games last season when they were 9-13-2-0.
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: James Malm (upper body, week-to-week), Riley Fiddler-Schultz (lower body, week-to-week), Tye Carriere (lower body, two-three weeks), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
ROSTER MOVES: On Friday the Hitmen added forward Wil Kushniryk to the roster as an affiliate player. The 19-year-old has split this season between the WHL's Tri-City Americans and BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings. He broke into the WHL in 2017-18 with the Kelowna Rockets. Kushniryk made his Hitmen debut Friday night against Regina. On Monday the Hitmen returned 16-year-old forward Zac Funk to the Okanagan Rockets of the BCMML.
HITMEN IN THE COMMUNITY: The Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Hitmen players will visit the Zoo's outdoor rink on four occasions for public skating. The next visit is Tuesday, Dec. 3 when Hunter Campbell and Cael Zimmerman will pop in from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Jack McNaughton will then participate the following night at the same time on Wednesday, Dec. 4. 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
SIZABLE DONATION: The Hitmen have donated $16,317.75 to the Calgary Prostate Cancer Centre through funds raised at the Bret 'The Hitman' Hart game presented by Kal Tire on Saturday, November 2. Funds were collected through a portion of ticket sales, 50-50, FanAttic merchandise sales, an online game-worn and game-issued jersey auction, as well as a pre-game photo opportunity with Bret in his WWE wrestling ring.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Fri., Dec. 6 vs. EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Dec. 7 at EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
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
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss on Sun. Dec. 1 vs. RD
- Carols for Christmas on Fri. 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 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
- Jett Woo needs one assist for 100.
- Egor Zamula is one point shy of 100.
- Mark Kastelic is 14th on the clubs all-time points list with 192, one point behind Kenton Smith who holds 13th place.
- Jack McNaughton needs 40 saves to pull even with Gerry Festa for 12th spot on the clubs all-time saves list.
- Luke Prokop played career game 100 yesterday in Edmonton while Dakota Krebs reached the 50 point mark.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2019
- Calgary Hitmen Fans Toss 25,025 Plush Toys at the ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss - Calgary Hitmen
- Sunday Funday at Rogers Place as Oil Kings Score Seven in Win over Pats - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Edmonton Stomps Pats, 7-1 - Regina Pats
- Carson Focht Scores Highly-Anticipated Teddy Bear Goal - Calgary Hitmen
- Tickets Still Available for ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss - Calgary Hitmen
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 1 vs. Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Ice Rally to Beat Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap Central Division Road Trip in Edmonton Sunday - Regina Pats
- Seven Game Road Trip Wrapped up with Loss against Tigers - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets Power past Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Ams Snap Losing Streak with 5-1 Victory over Vancouver - Tri-City Americans
- Rebels Come up Short Despite Carrying Play to Visiting Pats - Red Deer Rebels
- Ross Backstops T-Birds to Win over Tips - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Thunderbirds Edge Silvertips - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Earn Point in Overtime Loss to Chiefs - Victoria Royals
- Chiefs' Offense Roars Back in 4-3 Overtime Win over Royals - Spokane Chiefs
- Giants Earn a Weekend Split After Saturday Loss to Tri-City - Vancouver Giants
- Kemp Sends Bears Flying and Tigers Soar 5-3 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Hawks Split the Regular Season Series with Kamloops - Portland Winterhawks
- Broncos Drop Second Straight 4-1 Game to Raiders - Swift Current Broncos
- ICE Win a Spirited Tilt against the Wheat Kings - Winnipeg Ice
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