Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, September 29 vs Medicine Hat Tigers
September 29, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (2-0-1-0, 5 pts.) vs MEDICINE HAT TIGERS (3-1-0-0, 6 pts.)
Sunday, September 29, 2019 - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen finish a three game weekend tonight as they face-off against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Game time is 4:00 p.m. at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It's Super Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill featuring a pre-game kid's festival in the Chrysler Club from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. with inflatables, a magician, games, face painters, giveaways and a post-game family skate that is FREE with a game ticket. Calgary is coming off their second straight victory as Riley Stotts scored a natural hat-trick to propel the Hitmen past the Red Deer Rebels 5-1 on Saturday night at Westerner Park Centrium. Egor Zamula and Layne Toder also tallied markers for the Hitmen who outshot Red Deer 33-16. Dawson Barteaux provided the lone goal for the Rebels. Red Deer goaltender Byron Fancy made 28 saves, with Hitmen goalie Jack McNaughton recording 15 stops. On the special team's front, the Hitmen went 2-3 on the power play and the Rebels 1-7.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
________________________________
STREAKS
- Carson Focht (3g, 2a), Riley Stotts (3g, 2a), Orca Wiesblatt (3a) and Egor Zamula (2g, 2a) are all riding three-game point streaks.
[cid:image003.png@01D56F9D.5AD450B0]
NOTEWORTHY
VS. MEDICINE HAT: Tonight is the first of six regular season meetings between the two clubs. The Hitmen won five of their six matches last year, outscoring the Tigers by a combined 29-22. Mark Kastelic (6g, 4a) and Egor Zamula (2g, 8a) both scored 10 points to lead Calgary against Medicine Hat. Carson Focht (5g, 4a) and James Malm (3g, 6g) were next with nine. James Hamblin (1g, 8a) was Red Deer's top performer with nine points while Ryan Jevne (3g, 4a) had seven. Calgary is 7-2 in the last nine contests they hosted Medicine Hat.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Nov. 2/18 in CGY: CGY 7 MH 5...Mark Kastelic (2g, 1a) and Jake Kryski (1g, 2a) led Calgary with three points each.
Nov. 4/18 at MH: MH 5 CGY 4 ...Tigers built period leads of 3-1 and 5-3.
Jan. 5/19 in CGY: CGY 4 MH 3...Egor Zamula led Calgary with a pair of assists.
Feb. 15/19 in CGY: CGY 3 MH 1...Calgary was 1-2 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill.
Feb. 16/19 at MH: CGY 5 MH 3 ...Mark Kastelic netted his second hat-trick of the season for Calgary.
Mar. 6/19 at MH: CGY 6 MH 5 OT...Vladislav Yeryomenko netted the overtime winner 3:41 into sudden death.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 223 MH 198 Power Plays: CGY 8-15 (53.3%) MH 7-22 (31.8%)
STREAKS: Carson Focht (3g, 2a), Riley Stotts (3g, 2a), Orca Wiesblatt (3a) and Egor Zamula (2g, 2a) are all riding three-game point streaks.
PRE-SEASON RECAP: Calgary went 2-2 during their four-game exhibition schedule. Rookie Adam Kydd led the team in scoring with three points (1g, 2a) in four games. Six other Hitmen players tallied two points during pre-season action including Riley Fiddler-Schultz (2g), Rory Neill (1g, 1a), Josh Prokop (2g), Grayden Siepmann (2g), Jackson van de Leest (1g, 1a) and Orca Wiesblatt (2a).
WHL DEBUT: Two Hitmen who made the opening night roster have yet to play a regular season game in the WHL: Samuel Krajc and Evan Toth.
LET'S GO CAMPING: Seven Hitmen roster players headed to NHL camps this month: Carson Focht and Jett Woo (Vancouver), Mark Kastelic (Ottawa), James Malm and Jackson van de Leest (Calgary), Riley Stotts (Toronto), Egor Zamula (Philadelphia). Only Kastelic remains with Ottawa.
OFF-SEASON TRANSACTIONS: At the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft on May 2, the Hitmen acquired defenceman Jett Woo from the Moose Jaw Warriors in exchange for import defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko, forward Ryder Korczak, the 11th overall selection at the draft (Denton Mateychuk), and a second-round pick in 2021. At the 2019 CHL Import Draft on June 27, Calgary made a pair of selections taking forwards Jonas Peterek 37th overall and Samuel Krajc 97th.
ROSTER MOVES: On Sept. 17, the Hitmen reassigned three players sending 16-year-old defenceman Tyson Galloway to the Merritt Centennials (BCJHL), 17 year-old goaltender Ethan Hein to the Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) and 16 year-old defenceman Rory Neill to the Winnipeg Wild (MMHL).
FAMILIAR FACES: The Hitmen 2019-20 roster features 17 returning players from last season.
REGULAR SEASON CAREER MILESTONE WATCH: James Malm needs one point to reach 200. Dakota Krebs is three games away from 250. Carson Focht is five goals shy of 50. Mark Kastelic is one goal shy of moving into a tie with Brett Sonne for 13th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 89. Kastelic is also three points away from tying Sonne for 18th place on the all-time points list with 170. Riley Stotts recorded his 50th career goal with a hat-trick on Sept. 28 against Red Deer.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Cael Zimmerman (indefinite, lower body).
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: All season long the Hitmen, in partnership with Adrenaline Source for Sports, will be honouring an alumnus at each home game. Tonight's alumnus, Ian Schultz, joined the franchise in 2005 when he was selected by Calgary in the second round, 33rd overall. He played parts of four seasons with the Hitmen from 2006-07 to 2009-10 serving as co-captain with Michael Stone in his final campaign. During his career in Calgary, the right winger recorded 127 points (55g, 72a) in 196 games and won the Hitmen Humanitarian Award on two occasions (2009 and 2010). In 2008, Schultz was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the third round, 87th overall.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Josh Prokop after today's game. Prokop will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
HOW THE HITMEN WERE BUILT (27):
WHL Bantam Draft (12): Campbell, Fiddler-Schultz, Funk*, Kastelic, Peters, L. Prokop, Tschigerl*, Toder, Toth*, van de Leest, Viggars, Zimmerman
Listed (5); Carriere, Klassen, Kydd*, McNaughton, Wiesblatt
Trade (6): Focht, Krebs, Malm, J. Prokop, Stankowski, Stotts, Woo
CHL Import Draft (2): Krajc*, Peterek*
Import Waivers (1): Zamula
HITMEN VS: (BDN 0-0), (EDM 1-0), (EVT 0-0), (KAM 0-0), (KEL 0-0), (LET 0-0), (MH 0-0), (MJ 0-0), (POR 0-0), (PA 0-0), (PG 0-0), (RD 1-0), (REG 0-0), (SAS 0-0), (SEA 0-0), (SPO 0-0), (SC 0-1), (TC 0-0), (VAN 0-0), (VIC 0-0), (WPG 0-0).
AUCTION ALERT: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. More than 80 game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from seasons passed are now available for bid in a historical jersey auction. Bidding will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. MST. Be part of celebrating the team's heritage while supporting the Calgary Hitmen Foundation as a portion of the auction proceeds will be directed to education, grassroots sports and youth wellness programs in our community. Full details are available at elevateauctions.com/HitmenHistoricalAuction.
HITMEN PLEDGE: On Friday, the Hitmen in partnership with ENMAX announced 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX'. As part of the 25th anniversary season of Hitmen Hockey, this charitable initiative hopes to raise 25,000 hours of community service towards Calgary and surrounding area. Fans and members of the community are asked to take the pledge by contributing 25 volunteer hours to a charitable cause in the hopes of receiving $25,000 to gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity of their choice.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2019-20 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale now and includes 33 game tickets plus one ticket voucher to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a special 25th anniversary jersey, $50 Scotiabank Saddledome gift card and a complimentary ticket to a select Flames, Roughnecks or Stampeders game. Passes start at less than $7 per ticket for kids and under $15 for adults.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Sun., Oct. 6 vs. POR 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sat., Oct. 12 @ EDM 7:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Mon., Oct. 14 vs. SAS 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Fri., Oct. 18 vs. MJ 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Oct. 20 vs. MH 2:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations, with seats for The Teddy Bear Toss available starting Tues. Oct. 15 at 10:00 a.m. to allow Hitmen Hockey Pass Holders and Flex Pack Holders the first opportunity to exchange their tickets. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Oct. 6 vs. POR
- AirBand Together for a Wish on Oct. 14 vs. SAS
- Diwali Celebration & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Oct. 20 vs. MH
- Wizarding Day on Oct. 28 vs. SEA
- Tim Hortons Minor Hockey Day & Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Nov. 3 vs. EDM
- Teddy Bear Toss on Dec. 1 vs. RD
- Carols for Christmas on Dec. 6 vs. EDM
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 8 vs. EVT
- Sunday Funday, presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Dec. 15 vs. LET
- Soccer Day on Dec. 30 vs. EDM
MILESTONE WATCH
- James Malm needs one point to reach 200.
- Dakota Krebs is three games away from 250.
- Carson Focht is five goals shy of 50.
- Mark Kastelic is one goal shy of moving into a tie with Brett Sonne for 13th on the clubs all-time goal scoring list with 89. Kastelic is also three points away from tying Sonne for 18th place on the all-time points list with 170.
- Riley Stotts recorded his 50th career goal with a hat-trick on Sept. 28 against Red Deer.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 29, 2019
- Giants Wrap up Weekend with a 4-0 Shutout Victory over Kelowna - Vancouver Giants
- Penalty Problems Prove Insurmountable as Oil Kings Fall to Hurricanes - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Rockets blanked by Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Tigers Drop 2-0 Decision to Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- ICE Finish off Saskatchewan Road Trip with 5-2 Victory over Regina - Winnipeg Ice
- Stankowski Backstops Hitmen to Shutout Win - Calgary Hitmen
- Pats Swamped by ICE in Third - Regina Pats
- Broncos Routed in Medicine Hat - Swift Current Broncos
- Game 5 at Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, September 29 vs Medicine Hat Tigers - Calgary Hitmen
- ICE Conclude Saskatchewan Road Trip in the Queen City - Winnipeg Ice
- Game Day Preview: Pats Set to Host the Winnipeg Ice Sunday - Regina Pats
- Cougars Earn Point in Shootout Loss - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Shutout Chiefs 3-0 - Tri-City Americans
- Broncos Routed in Medicine Hat - Swift Current Broncos
- Kelowna Beats up on Silvertips, 5-1 - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets launch past Silvertips - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Battle Past Cougars in Shootout - Victoria Royals
- Vancouver Giants Fall 6-2 Saturday Night in Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- Chiefs Fall in Home Opener, 3-0 - Spokane Chiefs
- Rebels Too Generous with Turnovers in Loss to Visiting Hitmen - Red Deer Rebels
- Masella's Overtime Goal Downs ICE - Prince Albert Raiders
- Tigers Rout Broncos 10-1 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Late Heroics Lift Warriors to Win over Wheat Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- ICE Fall 3-2 in OT to Defending WHL Champions - Winnipeg Ice
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.
