Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, February 25 vs. Brandon
February 25, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-33-5-2, 45 pts.) vs. BRANDON WHEAT KINGS (32-24-3-2, 69 pts.)
Sunday - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen, winners of two in a row, welcome the Brandon Wheat Kings to the Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon. It's the annual Dodge Skate with the Hitmen where fans can take to the ice for a 60 minute skate and autograph session with the entire team. The skate is FREE with a game ticket. All participants under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. The Hitmen are also partnering with Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Calgary Region to raise awareness about the importance of mental health. There will be in-game messages and a CMHA run kiosk on the concourse behind section 227 so fans can learn more. Calgary is coming off Friday's 4-1 win over Edmonton. The line of Jake Kryski, Jakob Stukel and Riley Stotts combined for eight points to lead the home side. Kryski scored twice and added an assist; Stukel tallied a goal and two assists while Stotts chipped in a pair of helpers. Carson Focht rounded out the scoring for the Hitmen who held the Oil Kings to just 15 shots on goal. The Hitmen, at 45 points, are 12 points behind Red Deer for the final Central Division playoff spot but with four games in hand on the Rebels. Brandon was in Medicine Hat last night and beat the Tigers 4-3 in overtime.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jakob Stukel (3g, 4a) is riding a three-game point streak.
- Jake Kryski (3g, 3a), Riley Stotts (1g, 3a), Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 2a), Egor Zamula (3a) and Cael Zimmerman (2a) all have points in back-to-back games.
- Nick Schneider has made
seven straight starts in goal.
NOTEWORTHY
VS BRANDON: Today is the fourth and final regular season meeting with the Wheat Kings leading the season series 3-0. Jakob Stukel (3g, 1a), Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 3a) and the departed Jake Bean (1g, 3a) top the Hitmen with four points against Brandon. The departed Kale Clague (6a) is the leading Wheat King in the season series with six points. Baron Thompson (3g, 2a) and Ty Lewis (2g, 3a) are next with five points each. Calgary is 3-4 in the last seven home games against Brandon.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 8/17 at CGY: BDN 5 CGY 3...Brandon built a 4-0 lead through 40 minutes.
Nov. 14/17 at BDN: BDN 6 CGY 5 OT...Ty Lewis scored the winner 27 seconds into the extra session.
Jan. 12/18 at BDN: BDN 4 CGY 1...The Wheat Kings fired 40 shots on goal.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 102 BDN 88 Power Plays: CGY 3-14 (21.4%) BDN 1-11 (9.1%)
HOME COOKING: Today is game six of a season-high seven-game home stand for the Hitmen. So far Calgary is 3-2 posting wins over Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Edmonton.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Jakob Stukel (3g, 4a) leads all Hitmen on this home stand with seven points in five games. Jake Kryski (3g, 3a) is next with six points. Luke Coleman (2g, 3a) has five while Carson Focht (3g, 1a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 3a) both have four. Conner Chaulk (2g, 1a), Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 2a), Tristen Nielsen (2g, 1a), Egor Zamula (3a) and Cael Zimmerman (3a) all have three points each. Mark Kastelic (2a), Dakota Krebs (2g) and Dom Schmiemann (2a) have picked up two points each while Layne Toder (1a) and Nick Schneider (1a) both have one.
DID YOU KNOW?: The Hitmen have outshot their opponents in four straight games recording 26 or more shots in every contest.
GO TIME: Today is the second games in a stretch of seven games in 10 days for the Hitmen. Calgary enters the day having played a league-low 59 games. Conversely, Regina and Kootenay have already played 64.
WHAT'S LEFT: Including today, of Calgary's 13 remaining regular season games six are at home with seven on the road.
THE OLYMPIC FIVE: Two former Calgary Hitmen forwards won medals in men's hockey at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea. Brooks Macek struck silver for Germany as they lost in overtime to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the gold medal game. Brandon Kozun and Team Canada won bronze after beating the Czech Republic 6-4. Three other Hitmen alumni were also in the tournament: Bostjan Golicic with Slovenia, Freddie Petterson with Sweden and Alex Plante with Korea.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Following today's game, in addition to Dodge Skate with the Hitmen, fans can meet sophomore forward Justyn Gurney at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212 on the concourse.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: Voting is underway for the Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program $50,000 grant. Fans can cast a ballot for one of three finalists: Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink. The online vote continues until March 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant.
ALUMNI WATCH: Brandon Segal has signed a one-year contract extension to continue to play pro hockey in Germany with the Nuremberg Ice Tigers. The 34-year-old forward has 26 points (12g, 14a) in 49 games with the Tigers this season. Segal played parts of five seasons with the Hitmen from 1999-2004 recording 206 points (110g, 96a) in 286 games. He has also played 103 career games in the NHL.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. BDN - Dodge Skate with the Hitmen and Canadian Mental Health Association Awareness Day
- TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. SC
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18
CAREER MILESTONES
- Jake Kryski needs two assists for 100 after reaching 150 points Wednesday against Red Deer.
- Nick Schneider is 49 saves shy of 5000.
- Jakob Stukel is five goals shy of 100 while Mark Kastelic is four assists away from 50. Stukel played career game 250 on Feb. 18 against Saskatoon.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2018
- Gawdin, Malenstyn Tally Shorthanded Markers, Broncos Dismiss Oil King 8-0 - Swift Current Broncos
- Rockets Clinch Playoffs for 11th Consecutive Season - Kelowna Rockets
- Brandon Doubles up Hitmen 6-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades Fall Short against League's Best - Saskatoon Blades
- Kootenay ICE, CMHA Team up Again to Raise Awareness About Mental Health During Wednesday's Game - Kootenay Ice
- Game Day Preview: Blades Prep for Tilt with Top Dogs - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, February 25 vs. Brandon - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Come up Short against Winterhawks - Victoria Royals
- Silvertips Take Tight Battle with Seattle - Everett Silvertips
- Tigers Claw Back to Force Overtime - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Late Goal Lifts Hawks to Win over Royals - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Outscore Kamloops - Kelowna Rockets
- Broncos Give up Four Unanswered in Loss to Rebels - Swift Current Broncos
- Third Period Outburst Gives Rebels Huge Win over Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Slip Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Raiders Complete Central Sweep With Win Over Oil Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
