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WHL Calgary Hitmen

Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Thursday, October 29 vs Spokane

October 29, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release


CALGARY HITMEN (7-6-0-1, 15 pts.) vs SPOKANE CHIEFS (4-7-1-1, 10 pts.)

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. - Scotiabank Saddledome

TONIGHT'S GAME

The Calgary Hitmen open a two-game homestand tonight when they welcome the Spokane Chiefs to the Scotiabank Saddledome. It's also FAN CELEBRATION where $10,000 in prizes will be given away including Hitmen season tickets and signed Hitmen jerseys and sticks along with Flames, Stampeders and Roughnecks tickets. Calgary is returning from a four-game B.C. road trip which ended Saturday in Kelowna with a 3-0 loss to the Rockets. Kole Lind, Dillon Dube and Cole Linaker, into an empty net, provided the Kelowna goals with Tyson Baillie adding a pair of assists. The Hitmen sit third in the WHL's Central Division at 15 points, five points back of the Red Deer Rebels and Lethbridge Hurricanes both tied for the lead. Spokane is fourth in the US Division with 10 points.

HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION

Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com SN960 pre-game show begins at 6:00 p.m.

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STREAKS

- Radel Fazleev (2g, 4a) has points in three of his last five games.

- Carsen Twarynski (3a) has points in two of his last four games.

NOTEWORTHY

VS. SPOKANE: Tonight is the first and only regular season meeting between the two teams. Last season Calgary overcame a 3-1 third period deficit to beat the Chiefs 4-3 on February 20, 2015 at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Colby Harmsworth scored the game winner for the Hitmen who got a 26-save performance from Brendan Burke to record the win. Adam Tambellini added a pair of assists. Over the last five years, Calgary is 2-1-0-1 against the Chiefs including a 1-0-0-1 record when playing at the 'Dome.

TRADE WINDS: On Tuesday, the Hitmen announced a five-player deal with the Vancouver Giants. Calgary acquired 20-year-old right winger Jackson Houck, 18-year-old goaltender Cody Porter, 18-year-old left winger Jakob Stukel and a conditional third-round selection in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 19-year-old forward Chase Lang and 19-year-old defenceman Ben Thomas. Later that day, Calgary dealt 18-year-old forward Terrell Draude to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for a 2016 fifth-round bantam draft pick.

ROSTER MOVES: With the addition of Jackson Houck, the Hitmen released over-age forward Elliott Peterson. Peterson, a 2010 bantam draft pick, played 166 career games in Calgary, recording 76 points (27g, 49a) and 98 penalty minutes. Rookie goaltender Lasse Petersen has been reassigned to a yet to be decided team.

CANADA RUSSIA SERIES: Two Hitmen have been named to the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series. Defenceman Travis Sanheim will suit up for Team WHL while centre Radel Fazleev will be on the opposing bench with Team Russia for the Western Hockey League portion of the tournament that begins with Game 1 in Kelowna, B.C. on Monday, Nov. 9 and will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 10 with Game 2 in Kamloops, B.C. The OHL will host Games 3 and 4 while the QMJHL will wrap up the series as hosts for Games 5 and 6. Forward Jake Virtanen, currently with the Vancouver Canucks, will also be added to the Team WHL roster if he returns to the Hitmen prior to the start of the series.

VARIETY: Tonight is Game 15 of Calgary's 72-game regular season schedule. It comes against their 10th different opponent.

BURKE'S BLOCKADE: Hitmen goaltender Brendan Burke leads the WHL with a 1.22 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. The 20-year-old had his season-high shutout streak snapped at 171:40 on Oct. 23 in Kamloops against the Blazers. It was the second longest of his career. He was acquired at the 2015 WHL Trade Deadline from the Portland Winterhawks.

PLAYING WITH THE LEAD: Calgary is a perfect 5-0 this season when leading after the first period and unbeaten at 7-0 when leading after 40 minutes.

PRO POINT: Jake Virtanen recorded his first career NHL point on Tuesday, picking up an assist in the Vancouver Canucks' 5-1 victory over the visiting Montreal Canadiens. Virtanen, who appeared in his first NHL game on Oct. 13, has played six games with the Canucks.

PROSPECT WATCH: The 2015 Western Canada Challenge Cup opened yesterday afternoon at the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park. The tournament, concluding Nov. 1, features four Hitmen prospects: Jake Davidson (Team Saskatchewan), Noah Geekie (Team Manitoba), Tristen Nielsen (Team Alberta) and Layne Toder (Team Manitoba). Davidson, in a relief appearance, stopped all 11 shots he faced as Saskatchewan fell 4-3 to Manitoba.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Calgary's power play, in a 0-15 drought, is 11th in the WHL at 21.6%. The Hitmen have killed 14 of their last 17 shorthanded situations. Overall, the penalty kill is sixth at 81.8%.

POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet defenceman Colby Harmsworth after the game at the Booster Club table located on the concourse by section 212.

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). To support 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 tomorrow, Oct. 30 at 9:00 p.m. In the previous six years, the Calgary Hitmen with the support of their partners, players, staff and fans have raised over $87,460 through the club's Hitmen Fight Cancer initiatives.

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Western Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2015


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