Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 18 vs Regina
October 18, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (5-3-0-1, 11 pts.) vs REGINA PATS (5-4-0-0, 10 pts.)
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 - 4:00 p.m. - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
Today the Calgary Hitmen (5-3-0-1) wrap up three games in four days when they host the Regina Pats (5-4-0-0) in the Hitmen Fight Cancer game, presented by Canada Diagnostic Centres, at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen will look to rebound following last night's 6-0 road loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Tigers struck for three goals in the middle period before adding three more in the third en-route to their second win in as many days, improving their record to 4-4-1-0. Medicine Hat also won the special teams battle going 2-4 on the power play while killing all six Hitmen chances including a two-man advantage for a full two minutes. The Hitmen now sit third in the Central Division with 11 points, one point behind the Lethbridge Hurricanes and three points behind the division-leading Red Deer Rebels.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
WHL Daily Report and Media Kit
STREAKS
- Chase Lang (2a) saw his two-game point streak end last night in Medicine Hat. Travis Sanheim (2g, 9a) and Jake Bean (5g, 5a) both saw their five-game point streaks snapped Thursday against Moose Jaw while the two-game point streak for Radel Fazleev (1g, 4a) was also halted that night.
- Brendan Burke hasn't given up a goal in his last 120 minutes and 14 seconds of playing time.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. REGINA: Today is the second of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Pats. Calgary leads the season series following a 3-0 road win earlier this month. Over the last five seasons, Calgary is 13-2-0-2 against Regina including a 6-1-0-1 record when playing at the 'Dome. The two clubs next meet on Friday, Nov. 27 in Calgary.
2015-16 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
- Oct. 4/15 at REG: CAL 3 REG 0 ... Lass Petersen made 19 saves to record a shutout in his WHL debut.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- Shots on Goal: CAL 32 REG 19
- Power Plays: CAL 1-6 (16.7%) REG 0-7 (0%)
REMEMBER WHEN?: The 10 goals surrendered at home to Moose Jaw was the most goals allowed at the Scotiabank Saddledome by the Hitmen since Oct. 26 of 2012 when they fell 10-1 to Medicine Hat. The Hitmen would lose the next two games before winning five in a row and nine of 10 en-route to a 97 point season and a trip to the WHL's Eastern Conference Final... The last time the Hitmen were held scoreless (Nov. 22, 2014 in a 4-0 loss at Red Deer), they went on to win seven of their next nine games.
TRENDS: The Hitmen have opened the scoring in six of their nine games this season... Calgary has also scored at least one power play goal in six of their nine games and have outshot their opponents in five of their nine games.
LIVIN' THE PRO LIFE: Of the 27 players on the Hitmen roster, two remain with their respected NHL organizations: over-age defenceman Keegan Kanzig (Stockton Heat) and forward Jake Virtanen (Vancouver Canucks). Virtanen made his NHL debut on Tuesday, Oct. 13, when the Canucks visited the Los Angeles Kings. He also logged just over eight minutes on Friday night against St. Louis while Kanzig has yet to dress for the Heat two games into their season.
JERSEY AUCTION: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club, in partnership with Canada Diagnostic Centres, has proudly launched the seventh annual Hitmen Fight Cancer campaign in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Prairies/NWT Region (CBCF). The club initiative will raise funds for breast cancer research grants and community health projects including prevention and education, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care. In support of the cause, fans can now bid on select game-worn and game-issued pink-themed jerseys from Hitmen alumni players by visiting ElevateAuctions.com/HitmenFightCancer. The online auction closes at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 30 with proceeds directed to the CBCF.
DYNAMIC DUO: The Hitmen have two of the top four scoring defencemen in the WHL in Travis Sanheim and Jake Bean. Sanheim's 12 points (3g, 9a) is third while Bean (5g, 6a) is fourth with 11 points. Sanheim was a ninth round pick of the Hitmen, 177 overall, in the 2011 Bantam Draft while Bean was a protected list addition out of training camp two seasons ago.
PUCK STOPPER: Hitmen goaltender Brendan Burke leads the WHL with a .72 goals against average and .971 save percentage. The 20-year-old was acquired at the 2015 WHL Trade Deadline from the Portland Winterhawks.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play is 14th in the WHL at 21.2% while their penalty kill is sixth overall at 81.6%. Calgary is also tied with Regina for second in shorthanded goals scored with two.
PROSPECT WATCH: Four Hitmen prospects will play in the 2015 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup. Tristen Nielsen has been named to Team Alberta; Jake Davidson is on Team Saskatchewan while Noah Geekie and Layne Toder are both members of Team Manitoba. All four were selected by Calgary in the 2015 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. The Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup will feature the highest-rated players in the under-16 age category from the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The tournament, the first step in Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence for players, will be held in Calgary from October 28 to November 1 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park.
HITMEN ALUMNI: Three former Hitmen are all on the same team together in the ECHL. Connor Rankin, Greg Chase and Chase Schaber were all named to the Norfolk Admirals opening night roster this week. Chase has recorded one goal in two games played. Meanwhile former Hitmen centre Adam Tambellini scored his first professional goal this week, netting the OT winner for the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday night.
NHL IMPACT: There are currently 12 Hitmen grads on NHL rosters: Karl Alzner (Washington), Johnny Boychuk (NYI), Ryan Getzlaf (Anaheim), Martin Jones (San Jose), Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg), Paul Postma (Winnipeg), Victor Rask (Carolina), Jeff Schultz (Los Angeles), Michael Stone (Phoenix), Brad Stuart (Colorado), Jake Virtanen (Vancouver) and Ryan White (Philadelphia). On Friday, Jones set a new Sharks franchise record for the longest shutout streak at 234:33 breaking the previous mark of 178:55 set by Alex Stalock.
NHL ATTENTION: Hitmen defenceman Jake Bean and forward Beck Malenstyn both made the National Hockey League's players to watch list for September in advance of the 2016 NHL Draft. The list, compiled by NHL Central Scouting Service, groups all the prospects by league giving each player an individual rating. Bean, one of 40 players from the Western Hockey League on the list, received a "B" ranking which indicates a 2nd/3rd round candidate. Malenstyn received a "C" ranking, indicating a 4th/5th/6th round candidate.
2 FOR $20: October is the month for Thanksgiving and the Hitmen would like to say thanks to their fans with a special 2 for $20 promotion valid for today's game and the Oct. 29 contest versus Spokane. This ticket offer, which includes all convenience fees, is available exclusively at HitmenHockey.com.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defenceman Micheal Zipp after the game at the Booster Club table located on the concourse by section 212.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 18, 2015
- Hitmen Powerplay Rips Regina 5-1 - Calgary Hitmen
- Calgary Powers past Pats 5-1 - Regina Pats
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 18 vs Regina - Calgary Hitmen
- Blazers Beat Chiefs 6-1 In Spokane - Kamloops Blazers
- Lotz of Love - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels End Road Trip with 6-4 Win in Vancouver - Red Deer Rebels
- Tri-City Drops Portland 4-2 - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Conquer Royals - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Royals Doubled up by Thunderbirds - Victoria Royals
- Rockets Earn the Split with 6-2 Win in PG - Kelowna Rockets
- Chiefs Sluggish in Fifth Straight Loss - Spokane Chiefs
- Wheat Kings Blow By Blades - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Fall to Rebels 6-4 - Vancouver Giants
- Slow Starts Becoming 'Chronic' for Oil Kings - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Kelowna wins 6-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Hawks Fall 4-2 in Tri-Cities Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers blank Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Down Blades - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Austin Glover tallies game-winning goal with 13.6 seconds left in regulation - Prince Albert Raiders
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