Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Thursday, February 27 vs. Winnipeg
February 27, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (33-19-4-1, 71 pts.) vs. WINNIPEG ICE (34-22-1-0, 69 pts.)
Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 11:00 a.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a three-game homestand this morning as they welcome the Winnipeg ICE to Scotiabank Saddledome for an 11:00 a.m. start. It's the fourth annual TELUS BE BRAVE #ENDBullying game. This educational event will see over 12,000 Calgary and area students in attendance to learn about acceptance and bullying prevention from three guest speakers, concourse displays and in-game activities. Randy Chevrier, City of Calgary firefighter, three-time Grey Cup Champion and Dare to Care ambassador, will explain the difference between conflict and bullying during the pre-game program. Calgary Stampeders Alumnus, two-time Grey Cup Champion and TELUS Wise Ambassador for the Stamp of a Champ program Rob Cote will lead the #EndBullying 'Viking Clap' prior to puck drop. Kelcey Moore, 2020 Calgary Stampede Queen, will speak in the first intermission while Brigette Lacquette (pronounced La-Quet), the first Indigenous hockey player to be named to Canada's National Women's Team and 2018 Olympic silver medalist, will address the crowd in the second intermission. All speakers are presented by A1 Chesney Service Experts. BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a 60 minute pre-game show.
Webcast: WHL Live at whllive.com
STREAKS
- Nine Hitmen take point streaks into today's game.
- Mark Kastelic (9g, 5a) and Jett Woo (1g, 8a) are both on seven-game streaks.
- Riley Stotts (1g, 3a) has points in four consecutive games.
- Luke Prokop (3g, 1a), Jackson van de Leest (4a), Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 2a), Kyle Olson (2g, 1a), Cael Zimmerman (1g, 2a) and Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 1a) all have points in back-to-back games.
NOTEWORTHY
WHERE THEY STAND: Calgary, at 71 points, holds the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference sitting six points up on Saskatoon. The Hitmen also trail Medicine Hat by two points for third place in the Central Division. Both teams are idle until Friday when the Blades host Prince Albert and the Tigers visit Regina. Winnipeg is third in the East Division with 69 points, just one point behind second place Brandon.
VS. WINNIPEG: Today is the fourth and final regular season meeting between the two Eastern Conference rivals. Calgary leads the season series 2-1 but both teams have scored eight goals. Riley Stotts (2g, 1a), Riley Fiddler-Schultz (1g, 2a) and Mark Kastelic (1g, 2a) all have three points each against the ICE this season. Peyton Krebs (2g, 3a) is the top-performer for Winnipeg with five points while Michal Teply (2g, 2a) and Isaac Johnson (1g, 3a) are next with four points each.
2019-20 SERIES RECAP
Jan. 18/20 at WPG: WPG 5 CGY 2...The ICE built a 5-0 second period lead.
Jan. 19/20 at WPG: CGY 3 WPG 2...Carson Focht led the Hitmen with 1g, 1a.
Jan. 29/20 at CGY: CGY 3 WPG 2...Mark Kastelic paced the Hitmen with 1g, 1a.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 78 WPG 77 Power Plays: CGY 1-6 (16.7%) WPG 5-15 (33.3%)
LAST GAME RECAP: Calgary is coming off Saturday's 6-4 win in Kamloops. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest led the way with three assists while Luke Prokop, Cael Zimmerman and Orca Wiesblatt all notched a goal and an assist. Riley Stotts, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Kyle Olson rounded out the scoring for the visitors. The Hitmen built leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 5-2 but were outshot 50-22. Rookie goaltender Brayden Peters made 46 saves to record the win. The Blazers received markers from four different players including a goal and an assist from Conner Zary.
ALUMNUS OF THE GAME: This 25th anniversary season, the Hitmen in partnership with Adrenalin Source for Sports, are honouring an alumnus at each home game. Today's alumnus, Melissa Blades is the former Assistant Manager of Business Operations. After hearing of Acceptance Day hosted by the Vancouver Giants, she founded the TELUS BE BRAVE game here in Calgary in 2017. The event has since become an annual tradition.
ROAD TRIP REWIND: Calgary went 4-1 on their BC road trip, outscoring the opposition 24-19. Mark Kastelic (3g, 4a), Orca Wiesblatt (2g, 5a) and Jett Woo (7a) led the way with seven points each while Kyle Olson (4g, 2a) and Carson Focht (3g, 3a) both recorded six. On the plus/minus front, Wiesblatt and Jackson van de Leest topped the team at +5. On a side note, Hitmen defencemen as a group combined for 22 points (3g, 19a).
INSIDE THE ROAD TRIP
Shots on Goal: CGY 167 OPPONENTS 163 Power Plays: CGY 4-13 (30.8%) OPPONENTS 6-22 (27.3%)
PLAYOFF BOUND: Saturday in Kamloops, the Hitmen clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season and for the eighth time in nine years. Overall this will mark Calgary's 21st post-season appearance in their 25 year club history. As for who they will face in the opening round, it is currently anyone of six teams in; Brandon, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon or Winnipeg.
WHAT'S LEFT: Counting today, of Calgary's 11 remaining regular season games, six are at home and five on the road.
FAST FACTS: The Hitmen are 11-4 in their last 15 games...Today begins a stretch of seven games in 10 days for the Hitmen...Calgary is 14-5-1-0 against the East Division... Calgary has outshot their opponents 41 times this season, which equates to 71.9 percent through 57 games... Jett Woo (4g, 18a) leads the Hitmen in power play points with 22. Mark Kastelic is second in the WHL in face-off wins with 751 and is tied for seventh in goals with 33.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: Calgary is 17-9-1-1 at home, grabbing points in 14 of their last 19 games while posting a 12-5-1-1 record at the 'Dome. Winnipeg is 14-13-1-0 on the road having won two of their last three away from Wayne Fleming Arena.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Josh Prokop (lower body, 3 weeks), Andrew Viggars (upper body, indefinite), Egor Zamula (upper body, 3-to-4 months). Total man-games lost: 140.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (3-0-1-0), October (5-3-0-0), November (6-4-1-1), December (3-4-2-0), January (9-5-0-0), February (7-3-0-0).
THE POWER OF THREE: The Hitmen are 30-7-2-0 when holding the opposition to three goals or less. Conversely, Calgary is 3-12-2-1 when giving up four or more goals.
HITMEN PLEDGE: The countdown is on to the end of 'The Hitmen Pledge powered by ENMAX' where one lucky participant will win $25,000 for a charity of their choice. This community initiative, happening during the 25th anniversary season of Hitmen hockey, aims to raise 25,000 hours of service for Calgary and surrounding area with over 11,000 volunteer hours recorded thus far. For every 25 hours donated, volunteers receive one entry to the March 22nd $25,000 draw to then gift to a registered Southern Alberta charity. All volunteer hours donated between the September 27, 2019 launch and pledge submission deadline of March 15, 2020 are eligible to be entered. Full details can be found at https://hitmenhockey.com/pledge.
IN THE COMMUNITY: On Tuesday, Hitmen players Blake Allan, Mark Kastelic, Dakota Krebs and Cael Zimmerman all attended Haultain Memorial School on Queensland Drive in southeast Calgary. They spoke to Grade 5 & 6 students about anti-bullying, played floor hockey and then signed autographs. Those same students are attending today's game.
FOREVER A HITMEN: The Hitmen will honour Kelly Kisio for the outstanding contributions he has made to the organization as an executive and coach on Sunday, March 1, when a 'Forever A Hitmen' banner for Kisio will be raised and remain on permanent display at Scotiabank Saddledome. The pre-game ceremony ahead of the Hitmen and Hurricanes game at 4:00 p.m. will enshrine Kisio as the third inductee in the 'Forever A Hitmen' program. He'll join Ryan Getzlaf who was recognized on January 18, 2015 and Andrew Ladd who was honoured on March 8, 2017.
AUCTION ALERT: In their 25th season in the WHL, the Calgary Hitmen are excited to offer fans an opportunity to own a piece of franchise history. Authentic game-worn and game-issued 25th anniversary jerseys are now available for bid at elevateauctions.com/25thAnniversary. This set of jerseys, worn in 11 games from September 27, 2019 to January 12, 2020, will be the only anniversary set auctioned as the current roster players will receive their own jersey worn in games from January 25, 2020 to March 22, 2020. Bidding closes on Monday, March 2 at 8:00 p.m. MT.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times MT. Schedule subject to change.
Date Opponent Time Broadcast
Fri., Feb. 28 vs. BDN 7:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Sun., Mar. 1 vs. LET 4:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Tues., Mar. 3 at. PA 6:00 PM Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Wed., Mar. 4 at. SAS 6:00 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Fri., Mar. 6 at. MH 7:30 PM Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TELUS BE BRAVE #EndBullying Game on Feb. 27 vs. WPG.
- One Ticket, One Tree on Feb. 28 vs. BDN. For each game day and group ticket sold to Friday's game, the Hitmen will plant a tree for reforestation projects in the province.
- 'Forever A Hitmen' induction of Kelly Kisio on Mar. 1 vs. LET.
- Multicultural Night on Mar. 7 vs. SPO
- WHL Suits Up to Promote Organ Donation presented by RE/MAX on Mar. 15 vs. RD.
- Fan Appreciation presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 22 vs. SC.
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Cael Zimmerman is one game shy of 150.
- Mark Kastelic needs one goal to move past Borys Protsenko and into sole possession of third place on the clubs all-time goal scoring list. Both players have 121. Kastelic's 228 points sit one behind Protsenko and Cody Sylvester who share seventh place on the clubs all-time points list.
- Dakota Krebs played career game 300 last Friday against the Giants.
- Last Wednesday in Victoria, Jack McNaughton moved past Cody Porter and into ninth place on the clubs all-time saves list. He now has 1,764 to sit 44 saves behind Mike Snider for eighth spot.
- Connor Gabruch skated in career game 100 in Victoria.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2020
- Rebels Veterans Insist Remaining Games Are Vital to Development of Team - Red Deer Rebels
- Hitmen to Host 2nd Annual One Ticket, One Tree - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Defeat ICE in TELUS BE BRAVE #EndBullying Game - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Stop ICE - Winnipeg Ice
- Thunderbirds Community Sports Foundation Has Awarded over $1 Million to Local Sports Teams, Schools, and Associations - Seattle Thunderbirds
- ICE and Hitmen Conclude Season Series - Winnipeg Ice
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Thursday, February 27 vs. Winnipeg - Calgary Hitmen
- Christiansen Leads Offensive Barrage in 8-1 Victory - Everett Silvertips
- Americans Fall Flat in 8-1 Loss to Silvertips - Tri-City Americans
- Cougars Relinquish Lead - Prince George Cougars
- Rockets come from behind to take down Cougars - Kelowna Rockets
- Giants Clinch a Berth in the 2020 WHL Playoffs - Vancouver Giants
- Broncos Drop Lopsided Game to Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
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.
