Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, September 30 vs. Red Deer Rebels
September 30, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (0-3-0-0, 0 pts.) vs. RED DEER REBELS (2-2-0-0, 4 pts.)
Sunday, September 30, 2018 - 4:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen host the Red Deer Rebels this afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome in the annual Shrine Challenge presented by the Al Azhar Shriners Society. Game time is 4:00 p.m. Calgary is coming off last night's 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Papa John's Pizza Home Opener. The Oil Kings were powered by a special team's attack that scored twice with the man advantage, once shorthanded and was a perfect six for six on the penalty kill. Carter Souch (2g, 1a) and Quinn Benjafield (1g, 2a) both tallied three points each helping Edmonton improve to 5-0 on the young season. Airdrie product Jake Neighbours, with his first career WHL goal, Jacson Alexander and Trey Fix-Wolansky also scored for the Oil Kings. Jake Kryski, with his second two-goal game of the season, and Mark Kastelic replied for the Hitmen. Calgary, which trailed 4-0 after 40 minutes, outshot Edmonton 21-4 in the third period and 44-32 overall.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Mark Kastelic (1g, 1a) has recorded a point in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY
VS. RED DEER: Today is the second of eight regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Rebels. Red Deer took the opener on Friday night with a 4-3 win at the ENMAX Centrium. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, Oct. 23 in Red Deer. Over the last five years the Hitmen are 14-10-1-3 against the Rebels including a 9-4-0-1 mark at the 'Dome.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP
Sept. 28/18 at RD: RD 4 CGY 3...Brandon Hagel (1g, 2a) led the Rebels scoring attack.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 33 RD 28 Power Plays: CGY 0-3 (0%) RD 1-4 (25%)
DID YOU KNOW?: Calgary has outshot their opponents in all three games this season...The Hitmen have scored three goals in every game...Today is Game 2 of a six-game home stand for Calgary...Jake Kryski has a team-leading 12 shots on goal. His pair of two-goal games this season is already one more than he recorded in the 2017-18 season. Kryski's career-high is four multi-goal games in one campaign, set in 2016-17....Calgary has outshot the opposition by a combined 52-18 in the third period...The Hitmen have been outscored by a combined 6-2 in first periods.
WELCOME BACK: Hitmen defenceman Dakota Krebs was handed a three-game WHL imposed suspension as a result of a cross checking Major and Game Misconduct received in the final pre-season game on September 15. The 19-year-old has now served all three games and is eligible to return to the lineup today.
ROSTER MOVES: On Thursday 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. The addition of Elder, rounds out Calgary's overage group giving the Hitmen a league maximum of three with Luke Coleman and Jake Kryski. On Wednesday 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. The November 25, 2018 deal saw Calgary obtain Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann, Riley Stotts and the rights to Prokop along with goaltending prospect Ethan Hein and a second-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft (Zac Funk) in exchange for graduating forwards Matteo Gennaro, Beck Malenstyn and a 2018 fifth-round bantam pick. This trade unites Josh with his younger brother Luke who is in his first full WHL season.
DIVISIONAL DIET: Calgary starts the season with four straight games against Central Division opponents. Today is Game 4. Following this stretch, seven of their next eight games will be against teams from the East Division.
WHL DEBUT: Tye Carriere finished his first career WHL regular season game with two shots on goal in his hometown of Red Deer, AB last night against the Rebels. Josh Prokop also played in a Western Hockey League game for the first time last night and recorded four shots on goal. Riley Fiddler-Schultz played his first career WHL regular season game last Saturday against the ICE. The 16-year-old from Edmonton, AB finished the contest with four shots on goal. Only Jack McNaughton has yet to make his WHL debut.
LET'S GO CAMPING: Four Hitmen roster players headed to NHL camps this month: Carson Focht (Boston), Riley Stotts (Toronto), Vladislav Yeryomenko (Nashville) and Egor Zamula (Philadelphia). On September 20, Zamula signed a three-year entry level contact with the Flyers after attending camp on an amateur tryout.
LEADERSHIP GROUP: The Hitmen have named Mark Kastelic the 26th captain in franchise history. Luke Coleman and Dakota Krebs will serve as full-time alternate captains while Jake Kryski and Riley Stotts will share the third 'A'.
OFF SEASON CHANGES: On July 17, the Hitmen introduced Steve Hamilton as the 10th head coach in franchise history. He replaces Dallas Ferguson who resigned on June 26 for family reasons. On August 7, Calgary acquired goaltender Carl Stankowski and a conditional fourth-round WHL Bantam Pick from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for the rights to 17-year-old U.S. prospect Mike Koster, an eighth-round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in either 2019 or 2020. Also during the off-season, Hitmen defenceman Drea Esposito announced his retirement to use his WHL Scholarship. He is attending the University of Manitoba. On August 20 the Hitmen named Nathan Hollinger Athletic Therapist to replace Kyle Vouriot. Vouriot has joined the AHL's Manitoba Moose as Assistant Athletic Therapist & Assistant Strength and Conditioning Trainer.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defenceman Dom Schmiemann after today's game. Schmiemann will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212.
AUCTION ALERT: The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club is excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. Select game-worn, game-issued and authentic jerseys from the 2017-18 Western Hockey League season are now available for bid. Bidding will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 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.
HITMEN GO GREEN: On September 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 March 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.
TICKET SPECIALS: The 2018-19 Hitmen Hockey Pass is on sale and includes 34 game tickets to be used anytime, in any combination. Pass holders also receive a $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. 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
Oct. 5 vs. Saskatoon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 8 vs. Prince Albert 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 12 vs. Lethbridge 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 14 vs. Regina 2:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Oct. 16 at Prince Albert 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster, with tickets for The Brick Teddy Bear Toss available starting Oct. 9 at 10:00 a.m.. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- SUPER Sunday Funday on Oct. 14 vs. REG
- Roughnecks Theme on Oct. 26 vs. LET
- Hometown Heroes 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
- Family Game on Fe. 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
- Luke Coleman needs one point for 100.
- Mark Kastelic is seven points shy of 100. Kastelic played career game 100 last night against the Oil Kings.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko is two assists away from 50.
- Tristen Nielsen needs seven points for 50
- Carson Focht is nine points shy of 50.
Western Hockey League Stories from September 30, 2018
- Rebels' Late Rally Versus Hitmen Results in Third Straight Win - Red Deer Rebels
- Hitmen Can't Hold Leads, Fall in OT - Calgary Hitmen
- Pair of First Period Goals hold up for Moose Jaw in 2-1 Pats Loss - Regina Pats
- Undefeated Rivals Meet for Sunday Showdown - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Sunday, September 30 vs. Red Deer Rebels - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Double up Hurricanes - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Preview: Pats in Search of First Win Sunday against Moose - Regina Pats
- ICE Drop 6-3 Decision to Chiefs - Kootenay Ice
- Sutter Continues Big Day, Lifts Silvertips to Win - Everett Silvertips
- Spokane Tops Kootenay 6-3 in Home Opener - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars Become Kelowna's First Victim of 2018 - Prince George Cougars
- Blades Improve to 3-0 After 10-Round Shootout Thriller - Saskatoon Blades
- Porter Gets Rockets into Win Column - Kelowna Rockets
- Royals Double up Blazers to Sweep Weekend Series - Victoria Royals
- Americans Fall to Silvertips 2-3 for First Loss of the Season - Tri-City Americans
- Culling & Horning Score in 5-2 Loss to Rebels - Swift Current Broncos
- Rebels Score Three Third-Period Goals En Route to Win over Broncos - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Lose Heartbreaker in a Shootout 4-3 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Power Play Powers Portland in Home Opener - Portland Winterhawks
- First Period Dooms Hitmen - Calgary Hitmen
- Raiders Storm Back For Overtime Win - Prince Albert Raiders
- Portland Gets Past T-Birds - Seattle Thunderbirds
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