Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, January 27 vs. Kootenay
January 27, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (22-19-3-1, 48 pts.) vs. KOOTENAY ICE (10-31-7-1, 28 pts.)
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen wrap up a three-game homestand this afternoon against the Kootenay ICE. The 2:00 p.m. contest at Scotiabank Saddledome is Dodge Skate with the Hitmen where the entire team will take to the ice for a 45 minute post-game skate with fans. It's also Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill. Activities include face painters, 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). Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketmaster location or the Scotiabank Saddledome Box Office. Calgary enters the day two points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot. The Wheat Kings are idle until Tuesday when they visit Edmonton.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- James Malm (1g, 2a) is riding a three-game point streak.
- Luke Coleman (6g, 2a) has scored in six of his last nine games.
- Carson Focht (2g, 2a) has points in four of his last five outings.
- Hunter Campbell (1g, 2a) saw his career-high three-game point streak end Friday against Prince George.
NOTEWORTHY LAST GAME RECAP: The Calgary Hitmen tied a season-high with 49 shots on goal en route to a 4-1 win over the Prince George Cougars on Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Luke Coleman, James Malm, Mark Kastelic and Cael Zimmerman, into an empty net, all scored for Calgary which trailed 1-0 after the first period but led 2-1 through 40 minutes. The Kastelic marker was his team-leading 30th of the season. Dakota Krebs (2a) along with Coleman who added an assist, were the only Hitmen to record multiple points. The two teams combined for 85 shots with both goaltenders turning in strong performances. Taylor Gauthier made 45 saves for the Cougars while Jack McNaughton turned aside 35 shots for Calgary.
VS. KOOTENAY: Today is the fourth of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and ICE. The home team is 2-1. Carson Focht (1g, 4a) leads all Hitmen in the season series with five points while Jake Kryski (3g, 1a) and James Malm (1g, 3a) are next with four. The departed Brett Davis (2g, 1a) and Peyton Krebs (1g, 2a) are the top-performers for Kootenay with three points each. Over the last five seasons Calgary is 10-1-1-0 at home against Kootenay. The two teams won't meet again until Saturday, Mar. 2 in Cranbrook.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP Sept. 22/18 at KTN: KTN 5 CGY 3...After giving up the first goal, Kootenay struck for four straight. Nov. 11/18 at CGY: CGY 7 KTN 3...Carson Focht and James Malm both recorded four points each. Nov. 16/18 at KTN: CGY 5 KTN 0...Jack McNaughton made 19 saves for his first-career shutout
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 122 KTN 85 Power Plays: CGY 5-13 (38.5%) KTN 4-18 (22.2%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 22-14-2-1.
BACK IN THE FOLD: Hitmen defenceman Egor Zamula is eligible to return today after serving a WHL imposed one-game suspension for a check to the head major and game misconduct last Sunday against Red Deer. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect sat out Friday's game against Prince George.
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday the Hitmen recalled affiliate players Brayden Peters and Orca Wiesblatt. The 16-year-old Peters is playing AAA Midget with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this season. In 13 games the goaltender is 10-3 with a league-leading 1.74 goals against average, three shutouts and .936 save percentage. Wiesblatt, who started the season with Calgary, has been playing in the MJHL with the Portage Terriers. In 16 games, the 18-year-old forward has 15 points (6g, 9a).
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is in a four-way tie for sixth in the WHL in goals with 30 while his 16 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is seventh in defencemen scoring with 39 points. Dakota Krebs is in a three-way tie for eighth in plus/minus among defenceman at +20.
CAREER YEARS: With still 33.8 percent of the regular seasons schedule remaining, six Hitmen players have set new career highs in point totals. Their previous high is in brackets: Mark Kastelic 48pts (45), Kaden Elder 34pts (32), Egor Zamula 39pts (18), Dakota Krebs 17pts (16), Jackson van de Leest 14pts (5) and Hunter Campbell 12pts (11).
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet mascot Farley the Fox after today's game. He will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (0-3-1-0), October (4-6-1-0), November (6-5-0-1), December (6-2-1-0), January (6-3-0-0).
NHL ATTENTION: NHL Central Scouting has named two Hitmen players and one prospect among the top skaters available for the 2019 NHL Draft. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest along with forwards Mark Kastelic and Quinn Olson are all ranked among North American skaters. The 17-year-old van de Leest is among the ice time leaders on the Hitmen blueline. He makes the list at 145. Olson is ranked 154 with his rights acquired by the Hitmen in a Jan. 10, 2019 trade from the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old forward is currently playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers where he is third in team scoring with 49 points (18g, 31a) in 40 games. Kastelic, the 19-year-old Hitmen captain, leads the team in scoring with 47 points and is ranked at 196.
CORRAL SERIES LUNCHEON: The Hitmen have expanded "The Corral Series Luncheon" sponsored by Sportsnet 960-The Fan to a second Hot Stove Panel. The event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 in the Scotiabank Saddledome Chrysler Club will reunite the greatest junior hockey line in Calgary history, the trio of Danny Gare, Jerry Holland and Mike Rogers. That line combined for 806 points during three seasons with the Calgary Centennials from 1971-74. The second panel of Calgary hockey legends will include Jim "Bearcat Murray, Dana Murzyn and Kelly Kisio. Kisio and Murzyn, both former Wranglers, had 13 and 14-year careers, respectively, in the NHL each having stints with the Calgary Flames while Murray was the Hall of Fame equipment manager for the Calgary Centennials, Cowboys, Wranglers and Flames. Tickets for the luncheon are $60 each (plus applicable fees and taxes) and include the following: - Buffet Lunch - Special Corral Series gift - Additional guests to help celebrate hockey in the Stampede Corral A table of eight tickets is also available for $400 (plus applicable fees and taxes) with full details available online at http://hitmenhockey.com/corral-series-luncheon In February; the Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games at the historic Stampede Corral in "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports. As a tribute to the city's hockey history, the Hitmen are dedicating each game on Feb. 1, 6 and 8 to former local teams who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Wranglers and Cowboys. Individual game tickets start as low as $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $74.25 for adults and $59.25 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Other ticket offers are the group package for as low as $22.50 for adults and $17.50 for kids (plus GST) and the family pack including two adult and two kids tickets starting at $80 (plus GST).
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.
UPCOMING GAMES All times in MT. Schedule subject to change. DATE
OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 29 at Regina 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 1 vs. Brandon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Feb. 2 at Red Deer 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 6 vs. Regina 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 8 vs. Prince Albert 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include: - TODAY vs. KTN is Dodge Skate with the Hitmen and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill - The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA. - 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 and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Kaden Elder three assists away from 50 and six games shy of 300.
- Egor Zamula needs four assists for 50 while Carson Focht is five assists away from 50.
- Riley Stotts is six points short of 100.
- Hunter Campbell played game 100 on Jan. 12 in Prince Albert.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2019
- Giants Erase 3-0 Deficit But Fall 4-3 in Shootout to Kelowna - Vancouver Giants
- Cougars Edged by Oil Kings - Prince George Cougars
- Rockets Take down Giants in OT - Kelowna Rockets
- Quick Goals Pace Hitmen to 4-1 Victory - Calgary Hitmen
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, January 27 vs. Kootenay - Calgary Hitmen
- Byram's Late Goal Lifts Giants to Eighth Straight Win - Vancouver Giants
- Andrusiak Hat Trick Paces Silvertips to 9-1 Win - Everett Silvertips
- Royals Outlasted by Blazers in Shootout - Victoria Royals
- Historic I-5 Rivalry Night Ends in Winterhawks Overtime Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Late Power Play Marker Downs Rockets - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Earn Point with Comeback But Fall to Winterhawks in Overtime - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Cougars Felled by Rebels - Prince George Cougars
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