Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 15 vs. Lethbridge
December 15, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (15-10-3-1, 34 pts.) vs. LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (20-9-0-5, 45 pts.)
Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen close out their pre-Christmas schedule this afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. matinee at Scotiabank Saddledome against the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes. It's Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill featuring face painters, concourse activities, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday pricing sees a $9.99 ticket for kids 12 and under and a $15.99 ticket for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). Santa will be in the building and available for photos in the 60 minutes before puck drop and during both intermissions at Section 226. Sunday also marks the return of Farley's Family Feast. The pre-game meal, held in The Club, runs one hour prior to puck drop and begins at 1:00 p.m. Also don't forget Trading Card Donnie will be handing out the latest cards in the Adrenalin Source for Sports 25th Anniversary Hockey Card set. Donnie will be handing out the FREE cards from when doors open until the end of the first intermission on the concourse at the meet up area located behind section 211.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton is 5-1-1-0 in his last seven starts, posting a 2.52 goals against average and a .902 save percentage.
- Riley Stotts (6g, 5a) had his season high seven-game point streak end last night in Lethbridge while a two-game run for James Malm (2a) also ended.
- Orca Wiesblatt (4g, 8a) has points in eight of his last 10 games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. LETHBRIDGE: Today is the second of seven regular season meetings between the two clubs. The Hurricanes grabbed the opener last night in Lethbridge by a score of 3-0. Carl Tetachuk made 31 saves to record his third shutout of the season to lead the 'Canes in a first star performance. Lethbridge did all their scoring in the third period getting markers from Dino Kambeitz on the power play, Logan Barlage even strength and Alex Cotton into an empty net. Brayden Peters made 26 saves in the Hitmen crease. Entering play this afternoon, Calgary is 5-4 in their last nine home games against the 'Canes.
2019-20 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 14/19 in LET: LET 3 CGY 0...Logan Barlage led Lethbridge with 1g, 1a.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 31 LET 29 Power Plays: CGY 0-3 (0%) LET 1-6 (16.7%)
TIGHT AT THE TOP: Four Hitmen are all within two points of each other atop the team scoring race. Mark Kastelic and Riley Stotts are co-leaders at 30 points while Orca Wiesblatt and Egor Zamula are next with 28.
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This season the Hitmen, in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports, are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Shaun Norrie, appeared in 143 career games as a forward in parts of three seasons with the Hitmen from 1998-2001. During that time he tallied 73 points including 36 goals.
GAME DATA: Today is the second of eight straight games for the Hitmen against Central Division opponents. During this span they will face Lethbridge four times, Medicine Hat on three occasions and Edmonton once. Calgary is 5-6-2-0 against Central Division foes this season.
WORLD JUNIOR DEPARTURES: Hitmen teammates Jonas Peterek and Egor Zamula both left last Monday for World Junior Selection Camps. Peterek is with the Czech Republic and Zamula with Russia. Hitmen Assistant Coach & Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera is with Hockey Canada and will serve as Goaltending Coach with Team Canada. The 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship runs Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Ostrava and Trinec, Czech Republic.
TOY DRIVE: The Hitmen are presenting the Royal LePage Benchmark Toy Drive. The charitable initiative asks fans to bring a new unwrapped toy today's game and drop it off at the Royal LePage Benchmark booth located on the concourse;
- Sunday, Dec. 15 vs. Lethbridge at 2:00 p.m. (Sections 227 & 228)
All donations benefit The Children's Cottage Society helping families in crisis. For every toy donation, your name will be entered into a draw for two Calgary Flames tickets to the New Year's Eve game against Chicago, two club seat tickets to the Hitmen New Year's Day game against Medicine Hat and for the chance to win one of three team autographed Hitmen sticks. Cash contributions will also be accepted with donations matched by the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.
MUCH IMPROVED: Calgary is seven points ahead of their pace 29 games into last season when they were 12-14-2-1.
ENMAX TEDDY BEAR TOSS JERSEY AUCTION: During the 2019 ENMAX Teddy Bear Toss, Hitmen players wore wear special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo. These jerseys are now up for bid at elevateauctions.com. Bidding closes tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. MT.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Mark Kastelic after today's game. The Ottawa Senators prospect will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 7-6-1-1 at home this season, going 2-2-1-1 in their last six games at the 'Dome. Lethbridge is 11-4-0-1 on the road, second only to Medicine Hat's 12 road victories.
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: Hunter Campbell (lower body, week-to-week), Mark Kastelic (lower body, day-to-day), Cael Zimmerman (lower body, indefinite).
IN THE COMMUNITY: 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 happening every night except Christmas Day until January 4th.
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Jake Bean, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2014-18, is in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. The Carolina Hurricanes prospect has 15 points (4g, 11a) in 23 games. Bean sits 17th all-time on the franchise's regular season points list with 175. That is fourth among defenceman behind only Matt Kinch, Kenton Smith and Michael Stone.
PROSPECT PROFILE: The Hitmen selected Brandon Whynott in the second round, 35th overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Whynott is a 6'1", 161-pound forward from Langley, BC who played Bantam Prep with the Yale Lions last season recording 32 points (17g, 15a) in 30 games. The Lions also went on to win the CSSBHL Championship where Whynott added another two points (1g, 1a) in five games. This season the 15-year-old has advanced to Midget Prep with Yale. In 19 games he has 17 points (8g, 9a).
GIFT IDEA: Looking to complete your holiday shopping? Calgary is offering the Hitmen Holiday Stocking Stuffer. For $19.99 plus GST receive a Hitmen regular season game voucher, an autographed 25th anniversary puck and a $5 Scotiabank Saddledome Gift Card. To order yours go to the official team website at hitmenhockey.com.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Fri., Dec. 27 at. LET 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Sat., Dec. 28 at. MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Mon., Dec. 30 vs. EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Wed., Jan. 1 vs. MH 1:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Jan. 3 at MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET
- Soccer Day, presented by Allstate Canada 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 is one assist shy of 100.
- Mark Kastelic needs three points for 200. He is 12th on the clubs all-time points list, nine back of Brandon Segal's 206. Kastelic is also four goals behind Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.
- Jack McNaughton is 44 saves behind Brandon Glover for 11th place on the clubs all-time regular season saves list with 1,561.
- Riley Stotts needs three points for 150.
- Last Saturday in Edmonton, Egor Zamula hit the 100 point plateau.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2019
- Tristen Robins Scores 2nd Career Teddy Bear Toss Goal as Blades Top Raiders 4-1 - Saskatoon Blades
- Streak Snapped at Six as Spokane Loses to Silvertips 4-3 in Shootout - Spokane Chiefs
- ICE Edge Pats in a Shoot Out. - Winnipeg Ice
- Pats Grab Point in Shootout Setback - Regina Pats
- Raiders Drop Final Game Before Holiday Break - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Stake Early Lead in 5-2 Victory - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Linesman Sean Dufour Receives WHL Milestone Award - WHL
- ICE Look to Close out Road Trip in Regina. - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 15 vs. Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Blades Host Arch-Rival Raiders for PCL Construction Teddy Bear Toss - Saskatoon Blades
- Game Day Hub: December 15 - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Day Preview: Pats Wrap up First Half at Home to Winnipeg Sunday - Regina Pats
- Americans Break Teddy Bear Toss Record, Fall to Winterhawks 8-1 - Tri-City Americans
- Seven Snipes A-Singing; Oil Kings Rejoice After 7-1 Win in Pre-Holiday Finale - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Kindopp Triggers Bears, Leads 'Tips to Win - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels Overcome Broncos with Workmanlike Effort , Head into Christmas Break on a Positive Note - Red Deer Rebels
- Colina Gets Bears Flying, Cougars Break Skid - Prince George Cougars
- Giants Fall Just Short in a 3-2 Setback in Everett - Vancouver Giants
- Broncos Fall in Red Deer Heading into Christmas Break - Swift Current Broncos
- Royals Doubled up by Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Portland Spoils Tri-City's Teddy Bear Toss - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers Tumble 7-1 to Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Watts Nets Teddy Bear Toss Goal, Raiders Fall to Blazers - Prince Albert Raiders
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