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Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, January 12 vs. Swift Current

January 12, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (20-13-4-1, 45 pts.) vs. SWIFT CURENT BRONCOS (9-26-1-2, 21 pts.)

Sunday, January 12, 2020 - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen conclude a three-game homestand this afternoon as they welcome the Swift Current Broncos to Scotiabank Saddledome for a 2:00 p.m. start. It's Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill featuring face painters, concourse activities, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday pricing sees a $9.99 ticket for kids 12 and under and a $15.99 ticket for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). Calgary is coming off Friday's 4-2 loss to Lethbridge. Defenceman Alex Cotton snapped a 2-2 third period tie with 7:49 remaining while Noah Boyko, Dino Kambeitz and Oliver Okuliar, into an empty net, also scored for the visitors. Josh Prokop and Riley Stotts replied for the Hitmen who twice erased one goal deficits before the game winner from Cotton. Captain Mark Kastelic added a pair of assists. The Hitmen hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 45 points while Swift Current has a league low 21 points.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com

ATTACHMENT: Media Kit

STREAKS

Four Hitmen take point streaks into today's game;

- Jett Woo (1g, 6a) is on a six-game streak.

- Riley Stotts (1g, 4a) has points in four consecutive outings.

- Mark Kastelic is on a three-game (2g, 3a) point streak.

- Josh Prokop (2g, 1a) has points in back-to-back games.

- Luke Prokop (4a) and Orca Wiesblatt (1g, 1a) saw their two-game point streaks halted Friday against Lethbridge.

NOTEWORTHY

VS. SWIFT CURRENT: Tonight is the second of five regular season meetings between the two clubs. The Broncos grabbed their first battle in the season opener for both teams back in September. Carson Focht (1g, 1a) leads the Hitmen against Swift Current with two points while four others have a single point. Seven Broncos all have one point each against Calgary this season but only Alex Moar (1a) remains on the roster from that group. The Hitmen are 5-1 in their last six home games against Swift Current.

2019-20 SERIES RECAP

Sept. 21/19 in SC: SC 3 CGY 2 OT...Joona Kiviniemi scored the winner with one second left in the extra session.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 36 SC 22 Power Plays: CGY 0-3 (0%) SC 1-4 (25%)

ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This 25h anniversary season, the Hitmen in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports, are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Colby Harmsworth spent four seasons with the Hitmen from 2012 to 2016. The defenceman appeared in 236 games collecting 49 points (9g, 40a). He also served as captain during his final season. The 24-year-old from Saskatoon, SK is now attending the University of Saskatchewan while playing U Sports Men's Hockey with the Huskies.

ROSTER MOVES: The WHL Trade Deadline passed at 3:00 p.m. MT on Friday. Calgary acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2021 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for 18-year-old forward Jonas Peterek. They also recalled 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway from the BCHL's Merritt Centennials and 19-year-old defenceman Andrew Viggars from the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors. Both players will remain with the team for the remainder of the season. In a separate transaction, 18-year-old forward Tye Carriere was reassigned to Canmore of the AJHL. The Hitmen made a pair of trades Thursday. In the first move, they added 18-year-old forward Conrad Mitchell and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 18-year-old forward Hunter Campbell. The second deal of the day had Calgary acquire 18-year-old forward Connor Gabruch (pronounced Gab-ruck) from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft.

WORLD JUNIORS: Two members of the Hitmen claimed medals at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Assistant and Goaltending Coach Jason LaBarbera won gold with Team Canada as Goaltending Coach while Egor Zamula struck silver with Team Russia becoming the 23rd player in franchise history to play in the prestigious event. Zamula had five points (2g, 3a) in seven games. On Thursday, the Hitmen announced Zamula will undergo season ending back surgery, a procedure that includes an expected recovery time of three to four months. The injury is a result of a degenerative condition that intensified at the World Juniors.

TIGHT AT THE TOP: Two Hitmen are within two points of each other atop the team scoring race. Riley Stotts leads the way with 41. Mark Kastelic is next with 39.

POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Blake Allan after today's game. Allan will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.

HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 11-7-1-1 at home this season, grabbing points in eight of their last 11 games while posting a 6-3-1-1 record at the 'Dome. Swift Current is 3-15-1-1 on the road and coming off last night's 7-2 loss in Lethbridge.

MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Kyle Olson (lower body, week-to-week), Andrew Viggars (upper body, week-to-week). Total man-games lost: 97

TOP PROSPECTS INVITE: Hitmen defenceman Luke Prokop will play in the 2020 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The game, which showcases the top CHL players eligible for the NHL Draft, takes place on Thursday, Jan. 16 and will be hosted by the Hamilton Bulldogs. Prokop will become the 27th Hitmen player to compete in the Top Prospects Game. Jake Bean was the last to appear, suiting up in 2016.

ALUMNI UPDATE: Connor Chaulk, who closed out his 20-year-old season with the Hitmen in 2017-18 is playing U Sports Men's Hockey with the University of Regina Cougars. In 20 games, the now 22-year-old has nine points (4g, 5a). With Calgary, Chaulk recorded 20 points (10g, 10a) in 35 games following a trade with the Swift Current Broncos.

HITMEN PLEDGE: 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' is here. As part of the 25th anniversary season fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge and donate 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause. One lucky winner will receive $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice. Full details can be found at https://hitmenhockey.com/pledge.

HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (3-4-2-0), January (3-2-0-0).

PROSPECT PROFILE: The Hitmen selected Ethan Buenaventura in the fourth-round, 77th overall in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft. Buenaventura is a 6'1", 165-pound goaltender from Winnipeg, MB. This season he has advanced to Midget Prep with Rink Hockey Academy in Winnipeg. In 12 games, the 15-year-old has a 2.94 goals against average and .890 save percentage.

UPCOMING GAMES

All times MT. Schedule subject to change.

Date Opponent Time Broadcast

Wed., Jan. 15 at SC 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Fri., Jan. 17 at BDN 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Sat., Jan. 18 at WPG 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Sun., Jan. 19 at WPG 6:30 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Sat., Jan. 25 at RD 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan

PROMO CALENDAR

Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:

- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 12 vs. SC. Game sponsor is Superstore.

- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Sun. Jan. 26 vs. RD. It's also Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill.

CAREER MILESTONE WATCH

- Orca Wiesblatt is one game away from 100 while Jackson van de Leest is two games shy of 150.

- Mark Kastelic is tied with Brandon Segal for 11th on the clubs all-time points list with 206, nine points behind Ryan Getzlaf who sits 10th. Kastelic is also one goal back of Segal for fourth place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Segal has 110.

- Jack McNaughton needs 17 saves to move into a tie with Nick Schneider for 10th place on the clubs all-time saves list at 1,651.

- Josh Prokop eclipsed the 50 point plateau on Friday against Lethbridge while Brayden Peters passed 1,000 career minutes played the same night.

- Blake Allan played career game 100 on Jan. 4 in Lethbridge.

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