Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 30 vs. Vancouver
December 30, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (15-16-3-1, 34 pts.) vs. VANCOUVER GIANTS (23-8-2-0, 48 pts.)
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen play their last game of 2018 this afternoon at home against the CHL's number eight ranked Vancouver Giants. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome for Soccer Day in support of the Calgary Minor Soccer Association.
It's also another Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill which includes face painters, concourse activities, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday features a specially priced $9.99 ticket for kids 12 and under and a $14.99 ticket for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes).
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jake Kryski (4g, 3a) is on a five-game point streak.
- Kaden Elder (2g, 2a) has points in three consecutive games.
- Mark Kastelic (3g) has scored in back-to-back games while Luke Prokop (2a) has points in back-to-back contests.
- Egor Zamula (5g, 9a) has points in seven of his last eight games while Carson Focht (1g, 4a) has points in five of his last six outings.
- James Malm (3g, 6a) saw his season high seven-game point streak end Friday in Edmonton.
NOTEWORTHY LAST GAME RECAP: The Hitmen are coming off Friday's 7-3 loss in Edmonton. Oil Kings struck for four goals in a span of 7:14 early in the second period to break open a scoreless game. Edmonton received a balanced attack with markers from seven different shooters as Andrew Fyten, Andrei Pavlenko and Zach Russell led the way with a goal and an assist each. Mark Kastelic netted a pair of goals for Calgary to reach 25, a new career high. Carson Focht added a single with Egor Zamula chipping in a pair of assists for the visitors.
VS. VANCOUVER: Today is the first and only regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Giants. Vancouver won both meetings last season in Langley by a combined score of 8-3. Today marks the Giants first visit to Calgary since Jan. 2 of 2017. That day the Giants posted a 5-4 shootout victory. After Matt Barberis tied the game for the visitors with 1:11 remaining, James Malm scored the shootout winner in round four. Vancouver has won their last two meetings with Calgary. The last Hitmen victory was on Feb. 3, 2017 in Langley by a score of 4-3 in overtime. Calgary erased a 3-1 second period deficit with Matteo Gennaro notching the game winner 1:09 into the extra session.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP Jan. 31/18 at VAN: VAN 4 CGY 1...Ty Ronning (2g) and Tyler Benson (2a) recorded two points each. Feb. 2/18 at VAN: VAN 4 CGY 2...Bowen Byram led the Giants with two goals and an assist.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 61 VAN 74 Power Plays: CGY 0-12 (0%) VAN 3-9 (33.3%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 15-11-2-1.
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 20 of a possible 30 points in their last 15 games posting a record of 9-4-1-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 15-44 (34.1%) while the penalty kill is 47-53 (88.7%).
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is tied for sixth in the WHL in goals with 25 while his 12 power play markers are tied for third. Josh Prokop is tied for 15th in rookie scoring with 16 points. Egor Zamula is in a two-way tie for sixth in defencemen scoring with 31 points.
THE TRADE: Today is the first meeting between the Hitmen and Giants since the two clubs hooked up for a Halloween day deal. On Oct. 31, 2018 Calgary acquired forward James Malm and a conditional pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft from Vancouver in exchange for forward Tristen Nielsen. Malm played 179 games with the Giants in parts of four seasons collecting 132 points. Nielsen appeared in 106 games with Calgary in parts of four seasons as well recording 43 points. The 19-year-old Malm has 19 points in 20 games since the trade to Calgary while the 18-year-old Nielsen has notched eight points in 17 games with the Giants.
FAST FACT: The Vancouver roster includes Calgary Flames prospect Milos Roman. The 19-year-old was selected by the Flames in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Roman is currently second on the Giants in scoring with 29 points in 30 games.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 8-7-2-0 on home ice while Vancouver is 8-3-1-0 on the road.
DID YOU KNOW?: Hitmen defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko helped Team Belarus win silver at the 2019 IIHF World U20 Championship in Germany. This was the third trip to the World Juniors for Yeryomenko. He also won gold in 2017.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Please note there won't be a Hitmen player appearance at the Booster Club autograph table today. The entire team is attending a post-game WHL activity. The autograph station behind section 212 will reopen at the next home game on Jan. 1 with a visit from Ryder Korczak. The entire team will be signing on Jan. 5.
CANADA WINTER GAMES: Three Hitmen prospects have been named to play in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Forward Sean Tschigerl will suit up for Team Alberta with defenceman Tyson Galloway on Team British Columbia and defenceman Rory Neill on Manitoba. The tournament will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.
CORRAL SERIES: The Hitmen will play a trio of games this season at the historic Stampede Corral. Tickets start at $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $69 (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports, will see Calgary host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, Feb. 1, the Regina Pats on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb. 8. All are 7:00 p.m. starts in the vintage building that first opened on Dec. 15, 1950 and was the original home of the Calgary Flames from 1980-83. Each game will be dedicated to a former elite team who once called the Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Wranglers and Cowboys. The series features a number of exciting events including an opening night pre-game celebration and beer gardens, a luncheon, merchandise and other activities that will make this a week to remember.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (2-4 weeks, lower body), Tye Carriere (4-6 weeks, upper body).
IN THE COMMUNITY: This holiday season 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 final visit, weather permitting, is Thursday, Jan. 3 when Mark Kastelic and Dakota Krebs will pop in from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fans can take advantage of a special Hitmen/ZOOLIGHTS Family Pack. For $99.95 plus GST receive four Hitmen ticket vouchers and four ZOOLIGHTS tickets (2 Adults, 2 Child). Full details available at hitmenhockey.com.
ALUMNUS REPORT: Jake Bean, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2014-18, is in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers. The 20-year-old rookie defenceman has 19 points (5g, 14a) in 33 games to sit eighth in team scoring, second among blueliners. Bean has also played two games in the NHL this season with the Carolina Hurricanes. HITMEN YEAR END BUNDLE: The Hitmen are offering fans a Boxing Week special. For $29.99 plus GST you receive a Hitmen single game voucher redeemable for any remaining regular season game in Scotiabank Saddledome plus a ticket for the "One Ticket, One Tree" game on Friday, Mar. 8 against Edmonton. Some exclusions do apply. Every ticket for the "One Ticket, One Tree" game plants a tree in Alberta. Go to hitmenhockey.com/offers to purchase yours today.
HITMEN VS: (BDN 1-0), (EDM 1-2-1-0), (EVT 0-1), (KAM 1-0), (KEL 1-0), (KTN 2-1), (LET 1-3), (MH 1-1), (MJ 2-0), (POR 1-0), (PA 0-2), (PG 0-0), (RD 0-4-1-0), (REG 0-0-1-0), (SAS 1-2), (SEA 1-0), (SPO 1-0), (SC 1-0), (TC 0-0-0-1), (VAN 0-0), (VIC 0-0).
UPCOMING GAMES All times in MT. Schedule subject to change. DATE
OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 1 vs. Victoria 1:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 4 vs. Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 5 vs. Medicine Hat 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 9 at Moose Jaw 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 11 at Saskatoon 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include: - Today vs. VAN is Soccer Day and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill
- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC presented by Southland Transportation - Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH - Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 20 vs. RD - CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN - The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA. Tickets on sale starting Nov. 26 - Family Game and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Feb. 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 and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 3 vs. KTN - One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM - Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- James Malm is one game shy of 200 and one assist away from 100.
- Kaden Elder needs two points for 100.
- Riley Stotts played career game 150 on Friday in Edmonton while Jack McNaughton passed 500 saves that same night
Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2018
- Raiders Suffer First Home Defeat Of The Season - Prince Albert Raiders
- Broncos Fall Behind in Divisional Clash against Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- McNabb Backdrops Pats to Win - Regina Pats
- Blades Bounce Back in Big Way - Saskatoon Blades
- Warriors Upend Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Giants Fall 4-0 Sunday Afternoon in Calgary - Vancouver Giants
- Malm Haunts Vancouver in 4-0 Hitmen Win - Calgary Hitmen
- ICE Announce All Youth 12-And-Under Get FREE Admission for New Year's Eve Celebration Game - Kootenay Ice
- Remembering December 30th, 1986 - Swift Current Broncos
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 30 vs. Vancouver - Calgary Hitmen
- Game 38 at Lethbridge - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Preview: Blades Wrap up 2018 Calendar with Visit to Swift Current - Saskatoon Blades
- Cougars Trail Early, Can't Recover in Loss - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview: Pats Play Final Game of 2018 in Prince Albert Sunday - Regina Pats
- Hurricanes Defeat ICE 8-4 - Kootenay Ice
- Silvertips Blaze Early Lead, Cruise to Victory - Everett Silvertips
- T-Birds and Winterhawks End 2018 with Wild Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Rockets finish 2018 with a win - Kelowna Rockets
- Americans Fall in Heartbreaker to Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Tigers Top Royals 4-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Goaltenders Front and Centre as Rebels Slip Past Oil Kings - Red Deer Rebels
- McGrew's Last Second Goal Pushes Spokane over Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Offense Dominates in Hawks' 20th Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Royals Doubled up by Tigers - Victoria Royals
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