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WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 17 vs. Edmonton

March 17, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (36-25-5-1, 78 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (41-18-4-4, 90 pts.)

Sunday, March 17, 2019 - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome

TODAY'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen close their 2018-19 regular season schedule this afternoon at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Game time is 2:00 p.m. at Scotiabank Saddledome for the Hitmen Pre-Game Player Awards, Fan Appreciation presented by Vision Travel and 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. There is also a post-game autograph session for fans in the Chrysler Club. 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). Fan Appreciation prizing includes a Trip for 2 to the Crown Paradise Golden resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where fans can enter to win at the Vision Travel concourse booth. There is also a FanAttic Shopping Spree to be won in addition to 60 food vouchers that will be given away throughout the game.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan

Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com

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STREAKS

- Mark Kastelic (5g, 5a) has points in seven of his last eight games.

- Carson Focht (10g, 12a) has points in eight of his last 10 games.

- Egor Zamula (11a) and Riley Stotts (1g, 9a) have points in seven of their last nine games.

- James Malm (3g, 2a) had his three-game point streak snapped in Edmonton yesterday.

NOTEWORTHY

PLAYOFF BOUND: The Hitmen will face the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the opening round of the 2019 Western Hockey League Playoffs, marking the 20th time in Calgary's 24-year history they will compete for a WHL title. The best-of-seven series is a 2-2-1-1-1 format with the Hurricanes holding home ice advantage. The series opens in Lethbridge before shifting to Calgary for Games 3 and 4. Game 3, presented by Real Canadian Superstore, is Tuesday, Mar. 26, with Game 4 on Thursday, Mar. 28. Both are 7:00 p.m. starts at Scotiabank Saddledome. Game 6, if necessary, will also be played at the 'Dome on Sunday, Mar. 31 at 4:00 p.m. Sunday Funday pricing, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill, will be in effect and includes face painters and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Hitmen playoff tickets will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 18 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.ca, HitmenHockey.com or at the Scotiabank Saddledome Box Office. Twelve-game playoff packages are available for $199. Single game tickets start at $22.49 for adults, $12.99 for kids 12 and under and group tickets for $15.00 plus applicable fees and taxes. Also available is the Calgary Co-op Family Playoff Pack which includes four tickets, four hot hogs, four soft drinks and one popcorn for $74.99. This deal can be purchased at all Calgary Co-op locations.

2019 WHL Playoffs: Round 1 Schedule

Game 1 Friday, March 22 7:00 p.m. ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge

Game 2 Saturday, March 23 7:00 p.m. ENMAX Centre, Lethbridge

Game 3 Tuesday, March 26 7:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary

Game 4 Thursday, March 28 7:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary

Game 5* Saturday, March 30 7:00 p.m. Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge

Game 6* Sunday, March 31 4:00 p.m. Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary

Game 7* Tuesday, April 2 7:00 p.m. Nicholas Sheran Arena, Lethbridge

*If necessary

VS. EDMONTON: Today is the eighth and final regular season meeting between the two teams. Calgary is 1-5-1-0 against Edmonton. The Oil Kings have outscored the Hitmen by a combined 33-15. Mark Kastelic (5g, 2a) and Jake Kryski (5g, 2a) are Calgary's top performer in the season series with seven points each while Kaden Elder (2g, 3a) and Egor Zamula (5a) both have five. Vince Loschiavo (4g, 4a) leads the Oil Kings with eight points. Conner McDonald (1g, 6a) is next with seven. Calgary is 8-4 in their last 12 home games against Edmonton.

2018-19 SERIES RECAP

Sept. 29/18 in CGY: EDM 6 CGY 3...The Oil Kings took a 4-0 lead to the third period.

Dec. 1/18 in CGY: CGY 4 EDM 3 OT...Kaden Elder scored the winner 2:30 into the extra session.

Dec. 15/18 at EDM: EDM 3 CGY 2 OT...Andrew Fyten scored the winner 40 seconds into extra time.

Dec. 28/18 at EDM: EDM 7 CGY 3...Edmonton jumped out to a 4-0 second period lead.

Jan. 19/19 at EDM: EDM 3 CGY 2...Edmonton built leads of 2-0 and 3-1.

Mar. 8/19 in CGY: EDM 5 CGY 1... Trey Fix-Wolansky and Vince Loschiavo both tallied three points (2g, 1a).

Mar. 16/19 at EDM: EDM 6 CGY 1...The Oil Kings scored six unanswered goals.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Shots on Goal: CGY 215 EDM 231 Power Plays: CGY 6-27 (22.2%) EDM 7-33 (21.2%)

RACE FOR THE TOP: The Hitmen team scoring title is going down to the wire as James Malm (77pts) and Mark Kastelic (77pts) are tied heading into today's final game. The last time there was a tie for top scorer was the 2013-14 campaign when both Brady Brassart and Greg Chase finished with 85 points. It has happened four times in franchise history with Kyle Bortis and Ryan White both collecting with 72 points in 2007-08, Ryan White and Brodie Dupont shared the lead at 53 points in 2005-06 while Ryan Getzlaf and Andrew Ladd finished with 75 points each in 2003-04.

FAST FACTS: Goaltender Jack McNaughton, with 25 victories, has the most wins by a Hitmen rookie goalie since Brent Krahn recorded 33 in 1999/00...Since January 1, Calgary has posted a record of 26-11-3-0...The Hitmen power play was blanked yesterday in Edmonton, snapping a run of at least one goal in nine straight games.

SCORING DEPTH: For the first time since the 2013-14 season, Calgary has four players with 25 or more goals in Mark Kastelic (47), James Malm (34), Kaden Elder (27) and Carson Focht (26). In 2013-14 they were Jake Virtanen (45), Brady Brassart (35), Greg Chase (35) and Pavel Padakin (27).

IMPORT IMPACT: Defenceman Egor Zamula is the first Hitmen import player to top the 50-point plateau since Radel Fazleev tallied 71 during the 2015/16 season. Zamula has 56.

DID YOU KNOW?: Mark Kastelic is the first Hitmen player to score 47 goals in a season since Adam Tambellini reached 47 in 2014-15. Prior to Tambellini, Joel Broda netted 53 goals in 2008-09. Kastelic's 88 career markers have him 14th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list, trailing Brett Sonne by one goal for 13th spot. Brad Moran holds the franchise record with 204.

WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is third in the WHL in goals with 47 while his 24 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is seventh in defencemen scoring with 56 points.

CAREER YEARS: Twelve Hitmen have set new career highs in point totals. Their previous best is in brackets: James Malm 77pts (66), Mark Kastelic 77pts (45), Carson Focht 64pts (33), Kaden Elder 60pts (32), Riley Stotts 57pts (44), Egor Zamula 56pts (18), Luke Coleman 44pts (39), Cael Zimmerman 25pts (18), Dakota Krebs 25pts (16), Jackson van de Leest 21pts (5), Hunter Campbell 13pts (11) and Layne Toder 13pts (10).

ALUMNUS REPORT: Beck Malenstyn, who played parts of five seasons with the Hitmen from 2013-18, is in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. The 21-year-old Washington Capitals prospect has 14 points (6g, 8a) in 62 games during his first season of pro hockey. Malenstyn tallied 99 career points with the Hitmen (48g, 51a) in 200 games to sit tied with Peter Bergman and Chase Lang for 53rd on the clubs all-time regular season points list.

PROMO CALENDAR

Upcoming home game highlights include:

- Sunday, Mar. 17 vs. EDM Hitmen Pre-Game Player Awards, Fan Appreciation presented by Vision Travel and 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. There is also a post-game autograph session for fans in the Chrysler Club. 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).

- Tuesday, Mar. 26 vs. LET, Game 3 of the Hitmen 2019 WHL Playoffs presented by Real Canadian Superstore

CAREER MILESTONE WATCH

- Vladislav Yeryomenko is one point away from 100 while Riley Stotts needs three goals for 50.

- James Malm is four points shy of 200.

- Carson Focht played career game 200 yesterday in Edmonton. He also passed the 100 point mark Mar. 6 in Medicine Hat.

- Jack McNaughton reached 1,000 saves on Feb. 27 against Swift Current.

- Devan Klassen scored his first career WHL goal Feb. 23 in Swift Current.

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