Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 4 vs. Red Deer
March 4, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-35-8-2, 48 pts.) vs. RED DEER REBELS (24-29-10-3, 61 pts.)
Sunday - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen close their mini two-game home stand this afternoon against the Red Deer Rebels. It's Multicultural Night presented by Cornerstone with representation from 18 different countries. It's also Sunday Funday presented by Pocky. There will be face painters, concourse activities, lots of giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday contests also feature a specially priced $8.99 ticket (plus applicable fees) for kids 12 and under. Calgary is coming off last night's 3-2 overtime loss to Regina. Sam Steel scored the winner on a breakaway 32 seconds into the extra session. Jake Leschyshyn and Aaron Hyman added the other markers for the 2018 Memorial Cup host Pats while Cameron Hebig was in on all three goals for the visitors with three assists. Tristen Nielsen and Mark Kastelic replied for the Hitmen who have now suffered three consecutive overtime losses. Regina outshot Calgary 34-25 with both teams going 0-2 on the power play. The Hitmen, at 48 points, trail the Rebels by 13 points for the final Central Division playoff spot but Calgary has two games in hand. Red Deer also played last night, falling 6-1 in Medicine Hat.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jakob Stukel (6g, 7a) is riding an eight-game point streak.
- Nick Schneider has started four straight games in goal.
- Tristen Nielsen (1g, 1a) has points in back-to-back games.
- Jake Kryski (5g, 7a) saw his six-game point streak end last night against Regina while Conner Chaulk's (1g, 1a) two-game run also came to an end against the Pats.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Today is the seventh and final regular season meeting between the Hitmen and Rebels. Calgary is 3-1-1-1 against their Central Division rivals. Both teams have scored 18 goals. Jake Kryski (3g, 3a) leads the Hitmen with six points against Red Deer while Jakob Stukel (1g, 4a) is next with five. Goaltender Nick Schneider also has an impressive .911 save percentage. Mason McCarty (5g, 2a) is the top-performing Rebel with seven points. Grayson Pawlenchuk (1g, 5a) is next with six points. Ethan Anders has been the best Rebels goalie with a .910 save percentage in over 213 minutes work against the Hitmen. Calgary is 8-4-0-1 in their last 13 home games against Red Deer.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 20/17 at RD: RD 4 CGY 2...The Rebels built a 4-0 lead.
Nov. 25/17 at CGY: CGY 2 RD 1 OT...Mark Kastelic scored the winner.
Dec. 2/17 at RD: CGY 4 RD 3 SO...The Hitmen erased a 3-1 second period deficit.
Feb. 7/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 2 SO...Kristian Reichel scored the lone goal of the shootout.
Feb. 21/18 at CGY: CGY 6 RD 4...The Hitmen erased a 4-3 third period deficit.
Feb. 28/18 at RD: RD 3 CGY 2 OT...Reese Johnson scored the winner on a power play.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 160 RD 193 Power Plays: CGY 2-14 (14.3%) RD 4-20 (20%)
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up at least a point in five of their last seven games posting a record of 2-2-3-0.
GO TIME: Today marks the fifth game in six days and third in as many days for Calgary.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: Calgary has suffered 20 losses by a single goal this season. Ten have been in regulation, eight in overtime and two in the shootout.
DID YOU KNOW?: Jakob Stukel has reached the 30 goal mark for the second time in his career. With 32 goals, he is two shy of his career high of 34 scored during the 2015-16 season...Calgary has been to overtime 17 times this season including five times in their last 13 outings.
WHAT'S LEFT: Including today, of Calgary's eight remaining regular season games three are at home with five on the road.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Following the game fans can meet goalie and Calgary Flames prospect Nick Schneider at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212 on the concourse.
ALUMNI UPDATE: Tyler Fiddler is playing pro hockey in Denmark with Sonderjryske. The 27-year-old forward has 38 points (13g, 25a) in 48 games. Fiddler spent three seasons with the Hitmen from 2008-11 recording 103 points in 175 games.
PROSPECT REPORT: Josh Prokop, who the Hitmen obtained the rights to in a November 2017 trade with the Swift Current Broncos, is in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers. The 17-year-old forward has 36 points (21g, 15a) in 48 games but will miss the rest of the year with season ending shoulder surgery. Prokop was originally selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. His younger brother Luke was Calgary's first-round pick in 2017.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Dom Schmiemann is in his second full campaign in the Western Hockey League and first with Calgary. Last season the 18-year-old from James River Bridge, AB., appeared in a career high 63 games for the Swift Current Broncos. This season he has played in 60 games. Schmiemann was the 12th overall pick in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. RD - Multicultural Night presented by Cornerstone
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONES
- Nick Schneider is one game shy of 200 after surpassing 5,000 saves Wednesday in Red Deer.
- Jakob Stukel needs two goals for 100 while Mark Kastelic is two assists away from 50.
- Luke Coleman needs six points for 100.
- Jake Kryski eclipsed 100 career assists Tuesday against Swift Current after reaching 150 points Feb. 21 against Red Deer.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2018
- Rebels Suffer Third-Period Meltdown in Loss to Host Hitmen - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Top Ice 4-3 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Silvertips Dominate Vancouver 6-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Hitmen Blow by Red Deer with Six-Goal Third - Calgary Hitmen
- Steel Leads Pats past Edmonton 7-4 - Regina Pats
- Giants Fall to Silvertips on Sunday at Home - Vancouver Giants
- Silvertips Get Past T-Birds in Overtime - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- ICE, Tigers Clash for Final Time this Season - Kootenay Ice
- Game 66 at Kootenay - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, March 4 vs. Red Deer - Calgary Hitmen
- Broncos Trim Wheat Kings - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats Visit Edmonton for Final Meeting with Oil Kings Sunday - Regina Pats
- Third Period Surge Leads Royals Over Cougars - Prince George Cougars
- Hawks Blank Americans 5-0 in Kennewick - Portland Winterhawks
- Silvertips Earn OT Victory in Front of Sellout - Everett Silvertips
- Rebels Fall Well Short in Medicine Hat - Red Deer Rebels
- Decked out Tigers Rally Past Rebels - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Clinch a Playoff Berth with a 5-4 Victory over Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- Royals Victorious over Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Rockets Stifled by Chiefs - Kelowna Rockets
- Hitmen Dropped early in Overtime - Calgary Hitmen
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.
