Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 4 at Medicine Hat
November 4, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (5-10-2-0, 12 pts.) at MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (8-7-0-2, 18 pts.) Sunday - 6:00 p.m. MT - Canalta Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen wrap up a busy weekend with their third game in as many days as they visit the Medicine Hat Tigers tonight. The Hitmen are coming off yesterday afternoon's 1-0 home ice loss to Red Deer. The Rebels were led by goaltender Ethan Anders who made 34 saves for his second career shutout. Anders made 16 of his stops in the third period alone when Calgary recorded outshot the visitors 16-1. Jeff de Wit recorded the only goal, tipping home a point shot on a first period power play, helping Red Deer extend their winning streak to three games. Calgary outshot the Rebels 34-17.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jake Kryski (3g, 6a) saw his season-high six-game point streak snapped yesterday against Red Deer while two-game streaks for Egor Zamula (1g, 3a), Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 1a) and Dakota Krebs (2a) also ended.
- Mark Kastelic (11g, 9a) has points in eight of his last 11 games.
NOTEWORTHY VS. MEDICINE HAT: Tonight is the second of six regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Tigers. Calgary took the opener on Friday at the Scotiabank Saddledome by a score of 7-5. Newly acquired James Malm scored with 1:18 remaining to snap a 5-5 tie. This is Calgary's first visit to the Canalta Centre in 2018-19 after posting a 1-1-1-0 record in Medicine Hat last season. The two teams won't meet again until Saturday, Jan. 3 in Calgary.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP Nov. 2/18 vs. MH: CGY 7 MH 5...Mark Kastelic (2g, 1a) & Jake Kryski (1g, 2a) led Calgary with three points each.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 42 MH 32 Power Plays: CGY 2-3 (66.7%) MH 3-5 (60%)
FAST FACTS: Mark Kastelic leads the Hitmen in shots on goal with 52. He has also won a team-leading 218 face-offs...Jake Kryski leads the Hitmen in first goals this season, opening the Calgary scoring three times...The Hitmen have gone to overtime four times, although none have needed a shootout...Calgary has only been outshot in three of their 17 games this season...Today is the third of six straight games for the Hitmen against teams from their own division. Today is also Game 3 in a weekend that sees Calgary play three games in three days. It's their second such stretch this season. In total, Calgary will play three games in 72 hours or less five times this season. Their next is from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2.
TEDDY BEAR TICKETS: Due to overwhelming demand, the Calgary Hitmen have opened press-level seating for The Brick Teddy Bear Toss. Tickets are now available starting at $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for students and kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Limited second level seating also remains. Fans are encouraged to bring a new small or medium-sized stuffed toy to toss onto the ice when the Calgary Hitmen score their first goal on Sunday, December 9 against the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Game time at the 'Dome is 2:00 p.m.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Jake Kryski was acquired by the Hitmen on Jan. 8, 2017, from the Kelowna Rockets in exchange for Carsen Twarynski. Kryski was originally a first-round pick, 13th overall, by the Prince Albert Raiders in the 2013 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. In 295 career games, the product of Vancouver, BC, has 186 points. He is currently in his fifth and final season in the WHL.
WHL HONOURS: Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic was named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending Oct 21. Kastelic recorded eight points (5g, 3a) in four games. Originally selected 41st overall, by the Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, the 19-year-old tops the Hitmen with 24 points (14g, 10a) in 16 games.
NHL DRAFT: Jackson van de Leest is among NHL Central Scouting's 'Players to Watch' list for the 2019 NHL Draft. The 17-year-old received a "C rating' which indicates fourth/fifth/sixth round candidate. The second year Hitmen blueliner was Calgary's first-round pick, 16th overall, in the 2016 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.
PROSPECT WATCH: Sean Tschigerl, Calgary's first-round pick, fourth overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is off to a blazing start this season. The 15-year-old is playing Midget Prep with OHA Edmonton in the CSSHL. In 13 games Tschigerl has 23 points (9g, 14a).
WORLD STAGE: Luke Prokop has joined Hockey Canada at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The eight-team tournament started Saturday and runs until Nov. 10 in Saint John and Quispamsis, N.B. The 16-year-old will become the 28th player in franchise history to participate in the tournament joining fellow teammates Jackson van de Leest (2017), Carson Focht (2016), Jake Kryski (2014), Carl Stankowski (2016) and Riley Stotts (2016) who have also played in the international event. Focht won gold with Canada White while van de Leest helped Canada Red capture silver. Prokop is a member of Canada White. They play their opener against Canada Black today before meeting the Unites States on Monday.
CORRAL SERIES: The Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games this season at the historic Stampede Corral. "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports, will see the Hitmen host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, Feb. 1, the Regina Pats on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb. 8. All will be 7:00 p.m. starts in the vintage building that first opened on Dec. 15, 1950 and was the original home of the Calgary Flames from 1980-83. Each game will be dedicated to a former elite team who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Calgary Wranglers and Calgary Cowboys. The series will feature a number of exciting events including an opening night pre-game celebration and beer gardens, a luncheon, merchandise and other activities that will make this a week to remember. Tickets go on sale Nov. 26.
RECENT MOVES: On Wednesday, the Hitmen acquired forward James Malm and a conditional pick in the 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for forward Tristen Nielsen. On Oct. 30 the Hitmen acquired a sixth-round selection in the 2020 WHL Bantam Draft from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for forward Zack Huber. On Oct. 6 the Hitmen acquired a fourth-round selection in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in 2020 from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for defencemen Dom Schmiemann. On Oct. 4 the Hitmen reassigned goaltender Matthew Armitage and forward Orca Wiesblatt. Armitage, a 19-year-old from Creston, BC, played 20 games for the Hitmen during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons while Wiesblatt, an 18-year-old Calgary product, played in 51 contests with the Hitmen during that same time. On Sept. 27 the Hitmen acquired 20-year-old forward Kaden Elder from the Swift Current Broncos in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2019 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. On Sept. 26 Calgary added Josh Prokop to the roster. He had started the season in the BCHL with the Vernon Vipers. The Hitmen acquired the rights to Prokop last season in a trade with the Swift Current Broncos.
HITMEN GO GREEN: On Sept. 26, National Tree Day, the Calgary Hitmen announced their participation in an environmental initiative called One Ticket, One Tree. The Hitmen will begin a pilot project where a tree will be planted for reforestation projects in the province for each game day and group ticket sold to the One Ticket, One Tree game when they host the Oil Kings on Mar. 8 at 7:00 p.m. In addition, Hitmen players will be in the community this season doing their part to reduce their ecological footprint and bring awareness to local environmental issues.
HITMEN VS: (BDN 1-0), (EDM 0-1), (EVT 0-0), (KAM 0-0), (KEL 0-0), (KTN 0-1), (LET 1-1), (MH 1-0), (MJ 1-0), (POR 0-0), (PA 0-2), (PG 0-0), (RD 0-3-1-0), (REG 0-0-1-0), (SAS 1-2), (SEA 0-0), (SPO 0-0), (SC 0-0), (TC 0-0), (VAN 0-0), (VIC 0-0).
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2018-19 Hitmen Hockey Pass includes 34 tickets to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a $50 Scotiabank Saddledome gift card and a FREE ticket to a select Flames, Roughnecks or Stampeders game. Passes start at less than $7 per ticket for kids and under $15 for adults. Also available is the 10-game Hitmen Flex Pack to be used for any game, in any combination. Students and kids tickets are $10 per game, adults and seniors $20. Applicable fees and taxes apply. Visit HitmenHockey.com to score yours today!
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Brandon Kozun, who played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2006-10, is in the KHL with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. He has 17 points (8g, 9a) in 20 games. Kozun sits fourth all-time on the franchise's regular season points list with 270. He was also a member of the 2010 WHL Champion Hitmen.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Nov. 9 at Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 11 vs. Kootenay 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Nov. 16 at Kootenay 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 17 at Spokane 8:05 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Nov. 20 at Everett 8:05 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster. Upcoming home game highlights include: - Remembrance Day Game and Sunday Funday on Nov. 11 vs. KTN
- The Brick Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 9 vs. KAM
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 14 vs. KEL
- Novice Jamboree on Dec. 16 vs. LET
- Soccer Day on Dec. 30 vs. VAN
- Airdrie Day on Jan. 1 vs. VIC
- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH
- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN - The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA. Tickets on sale starting Nov. 26 - Family Game 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 on Mar. 3 vs. KTN - One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM - Fan Appreciation on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH
- James Malm needs one goal for 50 while Luke Coleman is four goals shy of 50.
- Carson Focht needs one point for 50.
- Dakota Krebs is three games away from 200 while Jake Kryski is five games short of 300.
- Kaden Elder needs six goals for 50.
- Carl Stankowski is 43 minutes played shy of 1,000.
Western Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2018
- Woods' Big Night Not Enough to Overcome Portland as Chiefs Lose 8-6 - Spokane Chiefs
- Tigers Hold off Hitmen 5-4 - Calgary Hitmen
- Game 18 vs. Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, November 4 at Medicine Hat - Calgary Hitmen
- Blades Rookies Begin World U17 Challenge - Saskatoon Blades
- Late Powerplay Goal Lifts Rockets to Win - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Spokane - Game #17 - Portland Winterhawks
- Khaira, Silvertips Dominate Spokane 6-2 - Everett Silvertips
- Fyten, Poulter Lead Broncos to Dramatic Win over Oil Kings - Swift Current Broncos
- Giants Kick off November with a 2-1 Win at Home against Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- ICE End Road Trip with Loss to Warriors - Kootenay Ice
- Cougars Shut out T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Larson's First Goal Provides Bright Spot in 6-2 Loss - Spokane Chiefs
- Blades Drop Wild One in Regina - Saskatoon Blades
- Portland Triumphs in Goaltender Battle - Portland Winterhawks
- Royals Edged by Winterhawks - Victoria Royals
- Pats Rally in Third, Tip Blades - Regina Pats
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