Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 22 vs Saskatoon
November 22, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (13-10-0-1, 27 pts.) vs SASKATOON BLADES (9-9-3-0, 21 pts.)
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 - 4:00 p.m. - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen wrap up a five-game homestand today when they host the Saskatoon Blades for SUNDAY FUNDAY, presented by Booster Juice and McKnight 24 Hour Veterinary Hospital. The program features face painters and a post-game family skate. All participants 18 and under are required to wear a helmet. A special kids ticket price of $7.50 (plus applicable fees) for children 12 and under is also offered for all Sunday Funday games this season. The Hitmen extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 4-3 shootout victory over Everett last night. Radel Fazleev scored the winner, producing the lone goal of the shootout, while Cody Porter stopped all three Everett shooters. Trailing 3-1 mid-way through the third period, the Hitmen rallied to force overtime when Jordy Stallard and Colby Harmsworth scored goals 53 seconds apart. Carsen Twarynski also scored for Calgary while Micheal Zipp added two assists. Calgary sits third in the WHL's Central Division at 27 points, one point back of the second place Lethbridge Hurricanes. Saskatoon is fifth in the East Division but holds the second and final wild card spot with 21 points.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
STREAKS
- Four Hitmen take two-game point streaks into today's game; Keegan Kanzig (1g, 1a), Layne Bensmiller (1g, 1a), Jordy Stallard (1g, 1a), and Carsen Twarynski (1g, 1a). Colby Harmsworth (2g, 1a) has points in three of his last four games.
- Cody Porter has won his last four starts, posting a 1.75 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.
NOTEWORTHY
VS SASKATOON: Today is the second of four regular season meetings between the two teams. Calgary leads the season series 1-0. Jakob Stukel (2g, 1a), Micheal Zipp (2g, 1a) and Radel Fazleev (1g, 2a) all have three points each against the Blades while Connor Gay (1g, 1a) and Brycen Martin (1g, 1a) top Saskatoon with two points each against the Hitmen. Over the last five seasons, Calgary is 11-5-0-1 against the Blades including a 4-3-0-1 record at the "Dome. Their next meeting is in three days on Wednesday, November 25th in Saskatoon.
2015-16 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Nov. 3/15 at SAS: CAL 6 SAS 3...Micheal Zipp scored two goals and added an assist.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 27 SAS 25 Power Plays: CAL 3-4 (75%) SAS 1-3 (33.3%)
INSIDE THE STREAK: During Calgary's four-game winning streak they have outscoring their opponents by a combined 17-7 while outshooting them 130-79.
DRAUDE'S RETURN: Former Calgary Hitmen forward Terrell Draude returns to the Scotiabank Saddledome this afternoon for the first time since he was traded to Saskatoon on Oct. 27, 2015 in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Since joining the Blades, Draude has four points (3g, 1a) in nine games including a two-goal effort last night in Lethbridge. In parts of three seasons in Calgary, Draude had 39 points (15g, 24a) in 120 games.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT: In two of Calgary's last three games they have mounted third period comebacks to win. On Nov. 14 against Tri-City the Hitmen trailed 3-1 but rallied to win 4-3. Last night they again trailed 3-1 mid-way through the final frame to Everett but roared back to produce a 4-3 shootout victory.
GIANT IMPACT: Since arriving in a trade with the Vancouver Giants on Oct. 27, Jackson Houck, Jakob Stukel and Cody Porter have all made significant contributions. Houck has points in seven of his 10 games with Calgary collecting four goals and 10 assists. He was also named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 15 after recording six assists in two games. Stukel has seven points in 10 games (5g, 2a) while Porter has notched a record of 6-2 with a 2.74 goals-against average.
SHOT CLOCK: Calgary is 11-1 this season when outshooting their opponents. They have outshot the opposition in each of the last four games, averaging 32.5 shots.
TRADE WINDS: On Nov. 10, the Hitmen acquired 19-year-old forward Tyler Mrkonjic (mer-CON-jick) from the Prince George Cougars in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. Mrkonjic, in his third WHL season, has appeared in 154 career games collecting 36 points (14g, 22a).
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT: As part of the WHL's 50th Season celebrations, the Hitmen presented two distinguished graduates with Alumni Achievement Awards on Nov. 13. Former Hitmen captain and current Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was recognized in the professional hockey category while two-time WHL Scholastic Player of the Year Chris Nielsen, now a senior orthopaedic surgery resident, was honoured in the scholastic category.
CANADA RUSSIA SERIES: Two Hitmen took part in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series. Defenceman Jake Bean had an assist for Team WHL while Radel Fazleev had an assist for Team Russia in a pair of Team WHL wins.
HITMEN VS: (BDN 1-0), (EDM 0-2), (EVT 1-0), (KAM 1-0), (KEL 0-1), (KTN 3-0), (LET 0-0), (MH 0-1), (MJ 0-2), (POR 0-0), (PA 0-1), (PG 1-2), (RD 1-0-0-1), (REG 2-0), (SAS 1-0), (SEA 1-0), (SPO 0-1), (SC 0-0), (TC 1-0), (VAN 0-0), (VIC 0-0).
DYNAMIC DUO: The Hitmen have two of the top 10 scoring defencemen in the WHL in Travis Sanheim and Jake Bean. Sanheim's 22 points (6g, 16a) is tied for fifth in the league while Bean (9g, 9a) is tied for 10th with 18 points. Bean's career-high nine goals tops all blueliners while his five power play markers is tied for first among all rearguards.
FAZ'S FRIENDS: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club has announced details on a new community program, Faz's Friends presented by MEG Energy. The initiative will see Hitmen centre Radel Fazleev and MEG Energy partner with Kids Cancer Care, a charitable organization that helps families fighting childhood cancer in Alberta. Throughout the season, families will receive tickets to attend a Hitmen home game, custom Faz's Friends t-shirts and concession vouchers. Following the game, the Faz's Friends guests will meet Fazleev for photos and autographs. The program will see close to 200 Kids Cancer Care guests benefit this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play is seventh in the WHL at 21.9%. The Hitmen penalty kill is sixth in the league at 82.9%. Calgary is also tied for the third-most shorthanded goals in the league at four. Prince George leads the way with eight.
WHL TOP 125: The Western Hockey League has unveiled its list of the Top 125 players in WHL history as selected by a committee of League historians. Among them are seven Calgary Hitmen grads: Karl Alzner, Pavel Brendl, Ryan Getzlaf, Brandon Kozun, Andrew Ladd, Brad Moran and Brad Stuart. As part of the WHL's 50th Season celebrations, fans can now vote for the selection of the Top 50 Players of All-Time. Fans can visit Top50.WHL.ca to cast their ballots once per week from the 125-player list. Voting closes Sunday, Dec. 20.
MO BROS 2 FOR $25: The Calgary Hitmen, together with Tommy Gun's Original Barbershop, are proud to support Movember, a month-long campaign committed to changing the face of men's health. During the month of November for the seventh season in a row, Hitmen players and coaches are growing moustaches to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues. In addition, the Hitmen have unveiled a special ticket package. Fans can purchase tickets to any two Hitmen home games during the month for $25 with $5 from each ticket pack sold going to support Movember. To support the Hitmen Movember team, visit moteam.co/calgary-hitmen.
HITMEN ALUMUS: Former Hitmen goaltender Brendan Burke has landed a job in the Ontario Hockey League. After being placed on waivers by the Hitmen on Nov. 13 he cleared through the WHL was claimed by the Guelph Storm of the OHL. On Saturday he was traded to the London Knights in exchange for a sixth round pick in 2016.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defenceman Travis Sanheim after the game at the Booster Club table (sec 212).
Western Hockey League Stories from November 22, 2015
- Blades Fall Down Early Again against Calgary - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 22 vs Saskatoon - Calgary Hitmen
- Silvertips Blow Late Lead, Fall to Calgary in Shootout - Everett Silvertips
- Hockey Hounds Game Worn Jersey Draw - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Blazers Rally For 5-3 Home Ice Win - Kamloops Blazers
- Royals Edged by Americans in Overtime - Victoria Royals
- Giants Lose 5-2 in Kelowna - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Score Three in the Second Period to Beat Warriors - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Win Wild Game in Overtime - Tri-City Americans
- Cougars Take out Tigers 5-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- T-Birds Win Streak at 6 with Win over Winterhawks - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Oil Kings Fall 5-3 to Kamloops - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Blades Show Fight In Losing Effort - Saskatoon Blades
- Rockets Take Down Giants 5-2 at Prospera Place - Kelowna Rockets
- Winterhawks Fall 5-2 in Seattle Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Kelowna wins over Vancouver - Kelowna Rockets
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