Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 28 vs. Saskatoon
October 28, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (4-8-2-0, 10 pts.) vs. SASKATOON BLADES (8-5-2-0, 18 pts.)
Sunday, October 28, 2018 - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen host the Saskatoon Blades this afternoon for Hometown Heroes and Sunday Funday. Game time is 4:00 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome. As part of the celebrations, the Hitmen will salute the Calgary Police Service, Calgary Fire Department, EMS, Canadian Armed Forces, RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, Registered Nurses, Doctors and Health Care staff, all vital members of the community. Sunday Funday activities include face painters, concourse activities, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Sunday Funday features a specially priced $9.99 ticket for kids 12 and under and a $14.99 ticket for adults (plus applicable fees and taxes). The first 3,000 fans in the building will also receive a WHL Buff courtesy of Wawanesa.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
ATTACHMENTS
Media Kit
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STREAKS
- Jake Kryski (1g, 4a) is on a season-high four-game point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (9g, 8a) has points in seven of his last eight games,
- Egor Zamula (1g, 3a) saw his three-game point streak end Friday against Lethbridge. Vladislav Yeryomenko's (2a) two-game run was also halted against the 'Canes.
NOTEWORTHY
LAST GAME RECAP: Zach Cox scored with 6:34 remaining to snap a 6-6 tie lifting the Lethbridge Hurricanes to a 7-6 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Friday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The two teams have now combined for 24 goals in two games this season following Calgary's 6-5 win over the 'Canes on Oct. 12. Keltie Jeri-Leon led the visitors with a pair of goals while Logan Barlage, Calen Addison, Jordy Bellerive and Jaden Joseph also scored for Lethbridge. Mark Kastelic paced the Hitmen attack recording two goals and two assists. Kaden Elder and Ryder Korczak also netted a pair of goals for Calgary with Korczak's markers his first two goals in the WHL. Tied 2-2 after the first period, Lethbridge led 5-4 after 40 minutes.
VS. SASKATOON: Today is the third of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Blades. Bother teams have won once with the road team 2-0. Josh Prokop (2g, 1a) leads the Hitmen with three points against the Blades while Kaden Elder (1g, 1a) and Carson Focht (1g, 1a) are next with two points each. Dawson Davison (1g, 3a) is the top performer for Saskatoon with four points. Kirby Dach (1g, 2a) is next with three. The two teams will wrap their season series on Friday, Jan. 11 in Saskatoon. Over the last five seasons Calgary is 9-4-1-0 against Saskatoon including a 4-3 mark at the 'Dome.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Oct. 5/18 at CGY: SAS 3 CGY 0... Dorrin Luding made 42 saves to record the shutout.
Oct. 17/18 at SAS: CGY 5 SAS 4 OT... Josh Prokop scored his second goal of the night 2:31 into overtime.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 83 SAS 70 Power Plays: CGY 0-9 (0%) SAS 2-7 (28.6%)
IMPROVED PLAY: Calgary is 4-3-1-0 in their last eight games.
WHL HONOURS: Hitmen captain Mark Kastelic has been named the WHL On the Run Player of the Week for the week ending Oct 21. Kastelic recorded eight points (5g, 3a) and a plus-two rating in four games during a road trip through the East Division, highlighted by a pair of multi-goal performances. Originally selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the Hitmen in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, the 19-year-old tops the Hitmen with 17 points (10g, 7a) in 13 games.
NHL WATCH: 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.
WORLD STAGE: Luke Prokop has been selected to play for Hockey Canada at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The eight-team tournament will take place from Nov. 3-10 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), Tristen Nielsen (2016), Carl Stankowski (2016) and Riley Stotts (2016) who have also played in the international event. Focht and Nielsen won gold with Canada White while van de Leest helped Canada Red capture silver. Prokop will skate for Canada White.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet goaltender Carl Stankowski after today's game. Stankowski will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
PROSPECT WATCH: Zac Funk, Calgary's second-round pick, 43rd overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft is in the BC Major Midget League with the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds. The 15-year-old forward has nine points (6g, 3a) in nine games,
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 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 IN THE NHL: Nine graduates of the Calgary Hitmen are in the National Hockey League this season. They include: Ryan Getzlaf (ANA), Michael Stone (CGY), Victor Rask (CAR), Karl Alzner (MTL), Andrew Ladd (NYI), Johnny Boychuk (NYI), Travis Sanheim (PHI), Martin Jones (SJS), and Jake Virtanen (VAN).
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 0-0), (MJ 1-0), (POR 0-0), (PA 0-2), (PG 0-0), (RD 0-2-1-0), (REG 0-0-1-0), (SAS 1-1), (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!
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Nov. 2 vs. Medicine Hat 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 3 vs. Red Deer 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 4 at Medicine Hat 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 9 at Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Nov. 11
vs. Kootenay
4:00 p.m.
Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
- Hometown Heroes and Sunday Funday on Oct. 28 vs. SAS
- Diwali Celebration on Nov. 3 vs. RD
- 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
- Carson Focht needs two points for 50.
- Dakota Krebs is six games away from 200.
- Luke Coleman needs four goals for 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2018
- No Dice for Portland on Sunday - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Earn a 3-2 Comeback Shootout Victory Sunday against Brandon - Vancouver Giants
- Broncos Take the Loss on the Road - Swift Current Broncos
- Rebels Outlast Ice in a Wide-Open WHL Affair - Red Deer Rebels
- Blades Edge Hitmen 5-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats Crush Swift Current 7-1 - Regina Pats
- Preview: Hitmen Host Blades in Matinee Match - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, October 28 vs. Saskatoon - Calgary Hitmen
- ICE Finish Three-Game Homestand against Rebels - Kootenay Ice
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick off Five Game Home Stand against Swift Current Sunday - Regina Pats
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland vs. Kamloops - Game #14 - Portland Winterhawks
- Shorthanded Goals the Difference as Broncos Lose to Tips - Swift Current Broncos
- Dewar's Return Carries Silvertips to Victory - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Make Comeback, Beat Chiefs 5-3 - Tri-City Americans
- Giants Fall to Thunderbirds Saturday at Home - Vancouver Giants
- Tigers Outlasted by Warriors 4-3 in a Shootout - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Royals Best Wheat Kings - Victoria Royals
- Hughes' 41 Saves Decks Giants - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Sluggish Third Period Spells Doom for Spokane - Spokane Chiefs
- Raiders Make It Eight Straight With Win Over Pats - Prince Albert Raiders
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