Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 9 vs. Kamloops
December 9, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (13-14-2-1, 29 pts.) vs. KAMLOOPS BLAZERS (12-11-2-1, 27 pts.)
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen host the Kamloops Blazers this afternoon in The Brick Teddy Bear Toss. Game time is 2:00 p.m. with doors to the Scotiabank Saddledome opening at 12:30 p.m. 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 nearly 70 local agencies this holiday season including the Salvation Army, Calgary Food Bank, Siksika Nation and Hospice Calgary. The Brick is also donating 25 cents for every bear tossed to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. This will be the 24th annual toss with 347,948 bears collected to date. On Dec. 2 the AHL's Hershey Bears established a new world record when fans tossed 34,798 stuffed toys in a game against Binghamton breaking the previous high of 28,815 set by the Hitmen and their fans in 2015. To help reclaim the world record, the Hitmen are calling on hockey fans to help fill the "Dome. Limited tickets are still available for as low as $9.99 for kids and $14.99 for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location or the Scotiabank Saddledome Box Office. The Chrysler Club will also open for a special brunch buffet.
- Buffet opens at 12:00 Noon
- $14.95 (GST Not Included)
- Book Now: 403-571-9733 Reservations Recommended
- Open to all fans with a game ticket
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
Media Kit
STREAKS
- James Malm (2g, 2a) and Egor Zamula (2g, 2a) are both riding three-game point streaks.
- Riley Stotts (1g, 4a), Josh Prokop (1g, 2a) and Luke Coleman (2a) all have points in back-to-back games.
- Goaltender Jack McNaughton has won his last three starts stopping 70 of 76 shots for a .921 save percentage.
- Kaden Elder (3g, 3a) and Mark Kastelic (1g, 2a) both saw their three-game point streaks halted Friday against Swift Current.
NOTEWORTHY
TEDDY BEAR TOSS HISTORY: Calgary holds lifetime record 16 wins, six losses and one tie in The Brick Teddy Bear Toss.
LOOKING BACK ON THE LAST FIVE:
Dec. 1/13 vs MH: Hitmen 4 Tigers 1...Teddy Bear goal scored by Pavel Padakin at 23:42.
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.
THE BRICK 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 first Hitmen-Blazers contest in a Teddy Bear Toss at the "Dome
Most goals scored by a single player: 3 - Brandon Segal (2001)
Fun Fact: A Hitmen defenceman has scored the teddy bear goal two years in a row.
Most teddy bears collected in one game: 28,815 (2015)
Total teddy bears collected to date: 347,948
Highest attendance: 19,289 (2015)
Total attendance: 314,531
GAME-WORN AND GAME-ISSUED JERSEY AUCTION: During today's game Hitmen players will wear special red-themed teddy bear jerseys with snow-capped numbers and a Santa hat on the primary logo that will be sold in an online auction opening Monday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. and closing Sunday Dec 16 at 8 p.m. MT. Fans can bid on the jerseys along with five team-signed helmets at https://elevateauctions.com/TeddyBearJerseys2018 with proceeds benefiting the Children's Miracle Network.
BEAR FACTS: Teddy bears collected today will be taken to The Brick Distribution Centre and then handed over to local charities tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 10 beginning at 8:30 a.m. 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..
LAST GAME RECAP: The Hitmen ran their home ice winning streak to four games with a 3-2 victory over the Swift Current Broncos on Friday night at the "Dome. Josh Prokop banked in a centering pass off the skate of a Broncos' defender for the game winner with 22.3 seconds remaining. It was Calgary's only lead of the night after erasing deficits of 1-0 and 2-1. Riley Stotts and Egor Zamula also scored for the Hitmen who outshot Swift Current 45-13. Ethan O'Rourke and Joona Kiviniemi supplied the Bronco goals.
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 13-9-1-1.
VS. KAMLOOPS: Today is the first and only regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Blazers. Calgary went 2-1 against Kamloops last season outscoring them by a combined 11-9.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 11/17 at KAM: CGY 4 KAM 2...Matteo Gennaro recorded two assists and led Calgary with 12 shots on goal.
Jan. 19/18 at CGY: KAM 2 CGY 1...It was 0-0 until late in the middle frame when Kamloops scored twice.
Feb. 3/18 at KAM: CGY 6 KAM 5 SO...Tristen Nielsen led the Hitmen with three assists.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 124 KAM 109 Power Plays: CGY 2-9 (22.2%) KAM 1-8 (12.5%)
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 15 of a possible 20 points in their last 10 games posting a record of 7-2-0-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 10-29 (34.5%) while the penalty kill is 32-36 (88.9%).
DID YOU KNOW?: Hitmen Vladislav Yeryomenko has joined Team Belarus for the 2019 IIHF World U20 Championship. The Division I Group A tournament begins in Germany today and runs until Dec. 15. This is the third trip to the World Juniors for Yeryomenko which sees Belarus open against Norway. During his previous two tournaments he played a combined 11 games, recording seven points (2g, 5a) while winning gold in 2017.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet The Brick Teddy Bear Toss goal scorer after today's game. He will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS: All four teams under the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation umbrella are providing special gift ideas from Dec. 1-12. There will be a dozen days of deals for the Hitmen, Flames, Roughnecks and Stampeders. Today's Hitmen offer is buy one ticket to the Sunday, Jan. 20 game against the visiting Red Deer Rebels, and get one free. Visit www.calgaryflames.com/12days for all the details including the Offer Code.
NHL DRAFT: Mark Kastelic and Jackson van de Leest were both on NHL Central Scouting's November 'Players to Watch' list for the 2019 NHL Draft. They each received a "C rating' which indicates fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate.
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 the Hitmen 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, Calgary Wranglers and Calgary 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.
HITMEN GO GREEN: The Calgary Hitmen are participating in an environmental initiative called One Ticket, One Tree. The pilot project will see a tree planted for reforestation projects in the province for each game day and group ticket sold to the One Ticket, One Tree Hitmen game against Edmonton on Mar. 8. Hitmen players are also in the community this season doing their part to reduce their ecological footprint and raising awareness to local environmental issues.
IN THE COMMUNITY: This holiday season the Hitmen are once again partnering with the Calgary Zoo for Zoolights. Hitmen players will visit the Zoo's outdoor arena on four occasions for public skating. The first appearance was last night on Saturday, Dec. 8 when Carson Focht, Josh Prokop and mascot Farley the Fox all dropped by from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Weather permitting Hitmen players will also visit the rink on Dec. 27, Dec. 29 and Jan. 3.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Dec. 14 vs. Kelowna 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Dec. 15 at Edmonton 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Dec. 16 vs. Lethbridge 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Dec. 28 at Edmonton 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Dec. 30 vs. Vancouver 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- The Brick Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 9 vs. KAM
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 14 vs. KEL
- Novice Jamboree and Sunday Funday on Dec. 16 vs. LET
- Soccer Day and Sunday Funday on Dec. 30 vs. VAN
- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC
- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH
- Sunday Funday 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 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 on Mar. 3 vs. KTN
- One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM
- Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Layne Toder and Egor Zamula are both one game away from 100.
- Jake Kryski needs two points for 200 while James Malm is two points shy of 150.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2018
- Wolf Blanks Spokane, 2-0 - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen Fans Toss Franchise Record 29,635 Plush Toys at the Brick Teddy Bear Toss 2018 - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Dealt First Regulation Loss In Two Months - Prince Albert Raiders
- Rebels Upend Broncos 6-2 - Swift Current Broncos
- Kaden Elder Scores Highly-Anticipated Teddy Bear Goal - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Preview: Rivals Clash for Sunday Showdown at Sasktel Centre - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, December 9 vs. Kamloops - Calgary Hitmen
- Americans Earn 8-7 OT Victory over Hurricanes in Fred Meyer Teddy Bear Toss Game - Tri-City Americans
- Chiefs Defeat ICE in OT - Kootenay Ice
- Patterson's Late Goal, Wolf's Wall Lift Silvertips over Seattle - Everett Silvertips
- Franchise Record 7,655 Bears Tossed as Chiefs Top Kootenay in OT - Spokane Chiefs
- Royals Fall Short to Giants in Overtime - Victoria Royals
- Broncos Lose Heartbreaker to Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Rebels Upend Broncos 6-2 - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Team Effort Tames Pats 4-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels Both Tidy and Aggressive in Victory over Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- Gregor's Big Night Lifts Raiders To Win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Farkas Leads Winterhawks over Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Full Barn Sees T-Birds Battle But Fall to Silvertips - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Pats Doubled up by Tigers - Regina Pats
- Blades Even Weekend Series with Win over Moose Jaw - Saskatoon Blades
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