Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, February 18 vs. Saskatoon
February 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (17-32-5-2, 41 pts.) vs. SASKATOON BLADES (29-27-2-1, 61 pts.)
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen welcome the Saskatoon Blades to the Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon. The 2:00 p.m. start is another Sunday Funday presented by Pocky. There will be face painters, concourse activities, lots of giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday contests also feature a specially priced $8.99 ticket (plus applicable fees) for kids 12 and under. Calgary is coming off Wednesday's 4-3 home ice loss to Tri-City. Vegas Golden Knights prospect Dylan Coghlan recorded three assists to lead the visitors. Special teams played a major role with Tri-City scoring twice with the man advantage and once shorthanded while killing all six Calgary power play chances. Jake Bean, Michael Rasmussen, Jordan Topping and Parker AuCoin provided goals for the Americans. Luke Coleman (1g, 1a), Dakota Krebs and Tristen Nielsen replied for the Hitmen who outshot Tri-City 39-25. The Hitmen, at 41 points, are 12 points behind Red Deer and Kootenay for the final Central Division playoff spot but with three games in hand on the Rebels and four on the ICE. Saskatoon occupies the second Eastern Conference Wildcard spot with 61 points, four points ahead of Prince Albert. The Blades haven't played since Friday's 5-4 loss in Lethbridge.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Five Hitmen take two-game point streaks into today's game; Luke Coleman (1g, 3a), Carson Focht (2g, 1a), Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a), Dakota Krebs (2g) and Tristen Nielsen (1g, 1a). For Krebs, it's the first time in his career he has scored in back-to-back games.
- Nick Schneider has made four straight starts in goal.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. SASKATOON: Today is the third of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Blades. The home team is 2-0 with both games decided by a single goal. Jake Kryski (1g, 4a) leads the Hitmen in the season series with five points. Riley Stotts (1g, 2a) and Jakob Stukel (2g, 1a) are next with three points each. Braylon Shmyr (4g, 2a) is the top-performer for the Blades with six points. Chase Wouters (1g, 3a) is next with four. Calgary is 5-2 in their last seven home games against Saskatoon. The two teams will face each other for the last time this regular season on Friday, Mar. 9 at SaskTel Centre.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 30/17 at SAS: SAS 5 CGY 4...The Blades scored the game winner with four minutes remaining.
Jan. 16/18 at CGY: CGY 6 SAS 5...Tied 3-3, the Hitmen broke the game open with a trio of goals.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 52 SAS 56 Power Plays: CGY 2-7 (28.6%) SAS 3-10 (30%)
INSIDE THE HOME STAND: Luke Coleman (1g, 3a) leads all Hitmen on this season-high seven-game home stand with four points in two games. Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a) and Carson Focht (2g, 1a) are next with three points each while Tristen Nielsen (1g, 1a) and Dakota Krebs (2g) both have two. Five other Hitmen have recorded a single point: Mark Kastelic (1a), Layne Toder (1a), Dom Schmiemann (1a), Nick Schneider (1a) and Cael Zimmerman (1a).
FAST FACTS: The Hitmen have points in three of their last five games (2-2-0-1)...Today's game kicks of a busy stretch of 12 games in 21 days for Calgary.
WHAT'S LEFT: Of Calgary's 16 remaining regular season games nine are at home with seven on the road.
SCORING RACE: Jakob Stukel (41) and Jake Kryski (37) are only four parts apart for the team scoring lead. The last time two Hitmen shared the points lead at the end of the season was 2013-14 when Brady Brassart and Greg Chase both recorded 85 points.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft will be held June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
THE OLYMPIC FIVE: Former Hitmen star Brandon Kozun is on the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Kozun, who played parts of four seasons in Calgary from 2006 to 2010, is fourth on the Hitmen's all-time regular season points list with 270. Meanwhile four other Hitmen alumni are also in the tournament: Bostjan Golicic with Slovenia, Freddie Petterson with Sweden, Brooks Macek with Germany and Alex Plante with Korea. The preliminary round is well underway with the gold-medal game on Feb. 25.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Following today's game fans can meet defenceman Dakota Krebs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212 on the concourse.
INJURY REPORT: Heading into today, the Hitmen have lost a combined 144 man games to injury this season. Counting the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge (Jackson van de Leest) and 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (Jake Bean and Vladislav Yeryomenko), the number of man games lost grows to 167.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: The Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program has announced the three finalists for its $50,000 grant. Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink have been selected to create a video showing why fans should cast a ballot for their project. The online voting period is now underway and continues until March 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant. The heart of the Calgary Hitmen Foundation is the scholarship program which funds the post-secondary education of Hitmen players and alumni. To date, the Foundation has supported Calgary and area agencies with over $2.8 million.
PROSPECT REPORT: Goaltender Cale Elder is playing minor hockey with the Prince Albert Midget AAA Mintos posting a 2.03 goals-against-average and .930 save percentage in 24 games. The 17-year-old was listed by the Hitmen on Oct. 4, 2017, and was one of four Hitmen prospects to take part in the recent Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament. In two games, Elder went 1-1 with a stunning .980 save percentage and 0.50 goals-against-average.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. SAS - Sunday Funday presented by Pocky
- RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck on Feb. 21 vs. RD
- Lunar Celebration presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts on Feb. 23 vs. EDM
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Feb. 25 vs. BDN
- TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. SC
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18
CAREER MILESTONES
- Jakob Stukel is one game away from 250.
- Jake Kryski needs two points for 150 and five assists for 100.
- Luke Coleman reached 50 career assists Wednesday against Tri-City.
- Matthew Armitage passed 500 minutes played on Feb. 3 in Kamloops while Riley Stotts reached career game 100 on Feb. 2 against the Giants.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2018
- Chiefs Topple T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Giants Wrap up Weekend with a 4-2 Loss to the Rebels - Vancouver Giants
- Everett Pitches Shutout vs. Kamloops - Everett Silvertips
- Shmyr, Blades Top Hitmen 5-1 - Calgary Hitmen
- Fleury Leads Pats past Moose Jaw - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, February 18 vs. Saskatoon - Calgary Hitmen
- Cougars Prevail In Shootout Win Over Kamloops - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview: Pats and Warriors Tangle for Third Time this Week - Regina Pats
- Giants Drop a 4-3 Heartbreaker to Royals - Vancouver Giants
- Luding Leads T-Birds to Shootout Win - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Topple Giants - Victoria Royals
- Edmonton Gets by Rockets in Shootout - Kelowna Rockets
- Luding Leads T-Birds to Shootout Win over Silvertips - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Spokane Dominates Rival Americans, 5-1 on Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
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