Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 27 at Kootenay
December 27, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (22-13-1-1, 46 pts.) at KOOTENAY ICE (6-28-2-0, 14 pts.)
Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 - 4:00 p.m. MT - Western Financial Place
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open their post-holiday break schedule this afternoon as they visit the Kootenay ICE in Cranbrook, BC. The Hitmen last played eight days ago when they dropped a 7-5 home ice decision to Medicine Hat. The Tigers, who trailed 4-2 early in the second period, rallied to beat Calgary for the second time in three tries this season. Cole Sanford and Max Gerlach both scored a pair of goals while Nick Schneider stopped 25 of 26 shots in a relief appearance to pick up the win. Jordy Stallard led the Hitmen with three assists. The Hitmen, at 46 points, are tied for second in the WHL's Central Division with the Red Deer Rebels, two points back of the division and Eastern Conference leading Lethbridge Hurricanes. Kootenay is sixth in the Central Division with 14 points, 17 points behind the Edmonton Oil Kings for the final Wildcard spot.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Travis Sanheim (2g, 7a) is riding a six-game point streak.
- Jake Bean (1g, 2a) is on a three-game point streak.
- Radel Fazleev (1g, 3a) has points in back-to-back games.
- Layne Bensmiller (2g, 6a) has points in four of his last five games.
- Jordy Stallard (4a) has points in back-to-back games and points (4g, 6a) in six of his last seven games.
- Pavel Karnaukhov (3a) had his two-game point streak snapped in the final game before the holiday break.
NOTEWORTHY
VS KOOTENAY: Today is the fourth of seven regular season meetings between the two teams. Calgary leads the season series 3-0 outscoring the ICE by a combined 11-2. Eighteen different Hitmen have a least a point against Kootenay this season with Radel Fazleev (1g, 3a) and Loch Morrison (1g, 3a) leading the way with four points each. Not counting the post season, over the last five seasons Calgary is 18-15-1-2 against the ICE including a 7-9-1-0 record in Cranbrook.
2015-16 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP Sept. 25/15 at KTN: CAL 4 KTN 2...The Hitmen erased a 1-0 deficit. Sept. 26/15 at CAL: CAL 1 KTN 0...Loch Morrison scored the lone goal. Nov. 13/15 at CAL: CAL 6 KTN 0...Six different Hitmen scored. Loch Morrison added three assists.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CAL 99 KTN 57 Power Plays: CAL 5-16 (31.3%) KTN 0-17 (0%)
DIVISIONAL DIET: Today's game against the ICE is the fourth of seven straight contests for Calgary against teams from the Central Division. As part of this schedule, the Hitmen will also play Lethbridge twice and Kootenay once more. Calgary has a record of 6-5-0-1 against teams from their own division this season.
INSIDE THE STREAK: Calgary has picked up 27 of a possible 34 points, going 13-3-1-0 in their last 17 games. They have outscored their opponents by a combined 70-45 while outshooting them 562-436.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Calgary is tied with Kelowna for the WHL lead in road games played at 21. That equates to 58.3 percent of their road schedule for the entire season. The Hitmen are back on the highway Saturday when they visit the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
TEETER TOTTER: Calgary has been through a series off three different runs this season. They started the 2015-16 schedule 5-1-0-1 before going 4-9-0-0 in their next 13 games. Since then, they've posted a record of 13-3-1-0.
WORLD JUNIORS: Two members of the Calgary Hitmen are playing at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Travis Sanheim is a member of Team Canada while Radel Fazleev is on Team Russia. Fazleev had an assist the tournament opener on Boxing Day. Meanwhile the Vancouver Canucks have loaned former Hitmen forward Jake Virtanen to Team Canada.
PLATT'S PRODUCTION: Hitmen rookie forward Bryce Platt had a night to remember in the final game before the break. After scoring his first career Western Hockey League goal in the first period of the Dec. 19 contest against Medicine Hat, Platt struck again in the second period to also record his first career two-goal game on the same night. The 17-year-old forward was a protected list addition in March of 2014.
STUKEL'S STATS: Since joining the Hitmen as part of a trade with the Vancouver Giants on October 27th, Jakob Stukel has been a point-a-game player. In 23 games in Calgary, Stukel has 23 points (17g, 6a). The 18-year-old from Surrey, BC had recorded 24 career points in his first 67 WHL games before arriving in the Stampede City.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Three former Hitmen are taking part in the 89th Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Kris Foucault (Hitmen 2009-2011: 107 points) is on Canada, Brandon Kozun (Hitmen 2006-2010: 270 points) is a member of Jokerit Helsinki and Fredrik Pettersson (Hitmen 2005-2007: 93 points) is playing for HC Lugano.
MACS TOURNAMENT: Six Hitmen prospects are participating in the 38th annual Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament in Calgary; Markus Boguslavsky, RW - Calgary Flames, Acquired: Fourth round, 68th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, Jake Davidson, Goaltender - Prince Albert Mintos, Acquired: Fourth round, 77th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Parker Smyth, Forward - Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, Acquired: Protected list addition in November 2015, Ben Solomon, Defenceman - Regina Pat Canadians, Acquired: Protected list addition in September 2015, Philip Couture, Goaltender - SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics, Acquired: 10th round, 217th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam, Justyn Gurney, LW - West Valley Hawks, Acquired: Sixth round, 117th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft Draft
DYNAMIC DUO: Calgary has two of the top five scoring defencemen in the WHL in Travis Sanheim and Jake Bean. Bean (13g, 19a) has 32 points to sit third among defenceman while Sanheim's (8g, 23a) 31 points rank fourth. Bean's career-high 13 goals top all blueliners while his five power play markers are third among rearguards. Sanheim's 23 assists rank tied for sixth.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play, which has scored 35 goals in 37 games, is ninth in the WHL at 20.8%. The Hitmen penalty kill, which has surrendered 28 goals this season, is also tied for seventh in the league at 82.5%.
HOLIDAY CHEER: The Calgary Hitmen are offering a special ticket package during the holiday season. Fans can purchase tickets to two holiday games for $25. There are three remaining games to pick from which include; Dec. 28 vs. KTN, Dec. 30 vs. LET and Jan. 3 vs. BDN. For full details, visit HitmenHockey.com.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2015
- Prince Albert returns from holiday break with win over Saskatoon - Prince Albert Raiders
- Four Unanswered Sink Blades against Raiders - Saskatoon Blades
- Chiefs Blank T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chiefs Return to Action, Shut out T-Birds 3-0 - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Edge Americans in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- Jones OT Penalty Shot Gives Winterhawks 5-4 Win over Tri-Cities - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Can't Complete Comeback, Lose 5-4 in Overtime to Rebels - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rebels Win 5-4 in OT over Edmonton - Red Deer Rebels
- Hitmen come back Refreshed, Win 4-0 - Calgary Hitmen
- G-Men Double Silvertips 4-2 - Vancouver Giants
- Pats Exit Break with 6-3 Loss - Regina Pats
- Game Notes: Broncos Host Warriors - Swift Current Broncos
- Andreas Schumacher Dealt to T-Birds - Swift Current Broncos
- T-Birds Acquire Schumacher from Broncos - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Game 35: December 27 vs Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Trade Debrusk - Swift Current Broncos
- Rebels Get DeBrusk From Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 27 at Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- 4 Wheat King Finalists for Sun Award - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Rockets Return in Kamloops to Start Home-And-Home - Kelowna Rockets
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