Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 18 vs. Edmonton
March 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (24-36-9-2, 59 pts.) vs. EDMONTON OIL KINGS (21-42-6-2, 50 pts.)
Sunday - 2:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen wrap up the 2017-18 regular season this afternoon at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. It's Fan Appreciation Day presented by Vision Travel with over 200 giveaways including the grand prize of a "Seven-night all-inclusive trip for two to the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda in Cancun, Mexico'. Fans will be treated to a pre-game Hitmen awards ceremony and post-game meet and greet in the Chrysler Club. It's also the last Sunday Funday, presented by Pocky with face painters, concourse activities and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday contests feature a specially priced $8.99 ticket (plus applicable fees) for kids 12 and under. The Hitmen are coming off last night's 7-1 win in Edmonton. Jakob Stukel and Mark Kastelic both scored twice for Calgary with Jake Kryski adding a goal and two assists for a team-leading three points. Dom Schmiemann and Luke Coleman also found the back of the net for the visitors who built period leads of 3-0 and 4-0 while Hunter Campbell and Riley Stotts chipped in a pair of assists. Matthew Armitage made 27 saves to record his second victory in as many starts. Calgary, at 59 points, is fifth in the Central Division and will miss the post-season for the first time in seven seasons. The Oil Kings, with 50 points, are sixth in the division.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Riley Stotts is riding a five-game (2g, 4a) point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (6g) has scored in four of his last five games.
- Goaltender Matthew Armitage is 3-0-1-0 in his last three starts while Nick Schneider has won back-to-back games.
- Jakob Stukel (11g, 11a) has points in 13 of his last 15 games.
- Jake Kryski (1g, 3a), Luke Coleman (1g, 1a) and Egor Zamula (2a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. EDMONTON: Today is the sixth and final regular season meeting between the two Alberta rivals with the Hitmen sporting a record of 3-2-1-0. Calgary has outscored Edmonton by a combined 24-12. Jakob Stukel (6g, 4a) and Jake Kryski (4g, 6a) lead the Hitmen with 10 points each against the Oil Kings this season while Riley Stotts (2g, 5a) is next with seven. Trey Fix-Wolansky (3g, 6a) is the top-performing Oil King with nine points. Tomas Soustal (2g, 3a) has five. Calgary is 9-2 in their last 11 home games against Edmonton.
2017-18 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 13/17 at CGY: CGY 6 EDM 1...Riley Stotts led the Hitmen with a pair of goals.
Jan. 1/18 at EDM: EDM 5 CGY 4... Davis Koch scored the game winner with 3:34 remaining.
Feb. 23/18 at CGY: CGY 4 EDM 1...Jake Kryski, Jakob Stukel & Riley Stotts combined for eight points
Mar. 2/18 at EDM: EDM 4 CGY 3 OT...Colton Kehler scored 18 seconds into the extra session.
Mar. 17/18 at EDM: CGY 7 EDM 1...Thirteen different Hitmen recorded at least a point
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 139 EDM 143 Power Plays: CGY 5-23 (21.7%) EDM 4-24 (16.7%)
ROLLING: The Hitmen have just one regulation loss in their last 10 games posting a record of 5-1-4. Calgary has also picked up at least a point in 11 of the last 14 games going 7-3-4-0.
HITMEN RECORD BOOKS: Nick Schneider needs one more appearance to break the franchise record for most games played in a single season by a goalie. He currently shares top spot with Alexander Fomitchev at 60 games. On Wednesday in Medicine Hat, Schneider set a new franchise record for minutes played in a single season eclipsing Fomitchev's previous mark of 3,371. On Feb. 28 in Red Deer, Schneider also broke the franchise record for saves in a season.
DID YOU KNOW?: Calgary has been to overtime a franchise record-tying 20 times. That equals the mark previously established during the 2004-05 season...A total of 36 players have appeared in at least one game for Calgary this season with Luke Coleman the only Hitmen skater to play in all 71 games...Jakob Stukel has reached the 30 goal plateau for the second time in his career. Last night in Edmonton he reached 37 goals to set a new single season career high ...Starting in 2018-19, each WHL team will play a 68 game schedule, down from the current 72
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Calgary has suffered 22 losses by a single goal this season. Eleven have been in regulation, nine in overtime and two in the shootout. Overall the Hitmen have played in 34 games decided by a single goal sporting a combined record of 12-11-9-2.
2017-18 NOTABLE NUMBERS: Among the Hitmen highlights this season 24,606 teddy bears were generously donated by fans for charity in The Brick Teddy Bear Toss...A Hitmen community restoration grand of $50,000 was awarded to the Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment project...Hitmen players and coaches volunteered their time at 34 community appearances this season...Six third-period goals in a March 4th comeback win against Red Deer tied a franchise record for most goals in a single period. It also tied the league-high this season for goals in a period equaling performances by Edmonton and Medicine Hat.
CAREER YEAR: 12 Hitmen are having their best offensive season in the Western Hockey League.
Jakob Stukel 63pts Previous High 60 points in 2015-16
Jake Kryski 55 points Previous high 46 points in 2016-17
Mark Kastelic 44 points Previous high 35 points in 2016-17
Riley Stotts 42 points Previous high 15 points in 2016-17
Vladislav Yeryomenko 41 points Previous high 25 points in 2016-17
Luke Coleman 38 points Previous high 29 points in 2015-16
Tristen Nielsen 35 points Previous high 7 points in 2016-17
Carson Focht 33 points Previous high 8 points in 2016-17
Conner Chaulk 31 points Previous high 23 points in 2016-17
Dakota Krebs 16 points Previous high 4 points in 2016-17
Dom Schmiemann 14 points Previous high 7 points in 2016-17
Drea Esposito 8 points Previous high 2 points in 2016-17
WHL TOP 10: Goalie Nick Schneider is second in the WHL in minutes played with 3,431 and is fourth in saves with 1,632.
INJURY REPORT: Heading into today, the Hitmen have lost a combined 187 man games to injury this season.
ALUMNI WATCH: Johnny Boychuk is in the NHL with the New York Islanders. The 34-year-old defenceman has 14 points (5g, 9a) in 50 games this season. Boychuk played two and a half seasons with the Hitmen, from 2000-2003, tallying 78 points (20g, 58a) in 177 games. He has played 579 career NHL games collecting 172 points.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY is Fan Appreciation Day presented by Vision Travel. There will be over 100 giveaways with the grand prize of a "Seven-night all-inclusive trip for two to the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda in Cancun, Mexico'.
CAREER MILESTONES
- Mark Kastelic is two assists shy of 50.
- Luke Coleman needs four points for 100.
- Tristen Nielsen played career game 100 Tuesday in Medicine Hat.
- Nick Schneider played career game 200 Mar. 7 in Swift Current after surpassing 5,000 saves Feb. 28 in Red Deer.
- Jakob Stukel reached 100 career goals Mar. 4 against Red Deer.
- Zach Huber scored his first career WHL goal on Mar. 2 in Edmonton.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2018
- Americans Defeat T-Birds in Last Regular Season Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- 2 Former Rockets Help University of Alberta Golden Bears Win 2018 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Close out Regular Season with Awards Ceremony - Victoria Royals
- 25 WHL Alumni Win 2018 U SPORTS Cavendish Farms University Cup with University of Alberta Golden Bears - WHL
- Edmonton Powers past Hitmen 7-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Honour 2017-18 Award Recipients - Calgary Hitmen
- Prince George Cougars Hand out 2017-18 Awards - Prince George Cougars
- ICE Announce Seven Year-End Award Winners Prior to Saturday's Game - Kootenay Ice
- Broncos Announce 2017/18 Awards Winners - Swift Current Broncos
- Steenbergen Clutch, Broncos Win Regular Season Finale - Swift Current Broncos
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Spokane - Portland Winterhawks
- Blades Part Ways with Brockman - Saskatoon Blades
- Winterhawks, Chiefs to Clash in First Round of 2018 WHL Playoffs - Portland Winterhawks
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 18 vs. Edmonton - Calgary Hitmen
- Blazers Edge Cougars In Season Finale - Prince George Cougars
- Silvertips Clinch Sixth U.S. Division Title and Top Record in the Western Conference - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets, Americans to Do Battle in First Round of 2018 WHL Playoffs - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Defeated by Silvertips in Regular Season Finale - Victoria Royals
- Tigers Fall 3-2 to Hurricanes - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Wrap up Their Regular Season with a Loss in Kelowna - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets crush Vancouver in Regular Season Finale - Kelowna Rockets
- T-Birds Will Face Everett in First Round of Playoffs - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Win Caps off Thrilling Awards Night - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Anderson-Dolan Scores 40th as Chiefs Take Season Series over Tri-City - Spokane Chiefs
- Spokane to Face Portland in First Round of 2018 WHL Playoffs - Spokane Chiefs
- Rookies Get Valuable Ice Time as Rebels End Season with Loss to Ice - Red Deer Rebels
- Hawks Fall to Seattle in Penalty-Filled Affair - Portland Winterhawks
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