Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, February 27 vs. Swift Current
February 27, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (19-34-5-2, 45 pts.) vs. SWIFT CURRENT BRONCOS (44-14-4-1, 93 pts.)
Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 11:00 a.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen complete a seven-game home stand this morning as they welcome the Swift Current Broncos to the Scotiabank Saddledome. It's the TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game with over 14,000 Calgary and area students in attendance to learn about the importance of acceptance and bullying prevention from two guest speakers, concourse displays and in-game activities. Mackenzie Murphy, mental health and anti-bullying advocate, will speak in the first intermission while Tad Milmine, a constable with Calgary Police Service and founder of 'Bullying Ends Here', will address the crowd in the second intermission. The game, in its second year, is sold out. Calgary is coming off Sunday's 6-3 loss to Brandon. Goaltender Logan Thompson made 45 saves in a first star performance while Ty Lewis netted a pair of goals for the Wheat Kings with Cole Reinhardt, Schael Higson, Luka Burzan and Ben McCartney adding singles. Conner Chaulk, Jakob Stukel and Jake Kryski replied for the Hitmen. Kryski's goal cut the deficit to 4-3 with just under two minutes remaining before the Wheat Kings added a pair of empty net markers. The Hitmen outshot Brandon 48-39.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jakob Stukel (4g, 4a) is riding a four-game goal scoring streak while Jake Kryski (4g, 4a) has goals in three consecutive games.
- Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 3a) is on a three-game point streak.
- Luke Coleman (1g, 1a) and Mark Kastelic (2a) both have points in two of their last three games.
- Cael Zimmerman (2a) and Egor Zamula (3a) both saw their two-game point streaks snapped on Sunday.
NOTEWORTHY
VS SWIFT CURRENT: Today is the third of four regular season meetings between the two clubs. Calgary is 1-0-0-1 against the Broncos. Jake Kryski (1g, 3a) leads all Hitmen will four points. Conner Chaulk (2g), Mark Kastelic (1g, 1a) and Luke Coleman (2a) are all next with two points each. Four Broncos all have a single point against Calgary: Glenn Gawdin (1g), Sahvan Khaira (1g), Aleksi Heponiemi (1a) and Colby Sissons (1a). Calgary is 7-0 in their last seven home games against Swift Current. The two teams will wrap up their season series on Wednesday, Mar. 7 in Swift Current.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Nov. 18/17 at SC: SC 2 CGY 1 Shootout...Calgary forced OT with 6:17 remaining.
Dec. 8/17 at CGY: CGY 6 SC 1... Jake Kryski led Hitmen with three assists
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 85 SC 41 Power Plays: CGY 4-13 (30.8%) SC 0-5 (0%)
HOME COOKING: Today is the finale of a season-high seven-game home stand for the Hitmen. So far Calgary is 3-3 posting wins over Medicine Hat, Red Deer and Edmonton.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Jakob Stukel (4g, 4a) and Jake Kryski (4g, 4a) lead all Hitmen on this home stand with eight points in six games. Luke Coleman (2g, 4a) is next with six points. Conner Chaulk (3g, 2a) has five while Carson Focht (3g, 1a), Riley Stotts (1g, 3a) and Vladislav Yeryomenko (1g, 3a) all have four. Mark Kastelic (3a), Tristen Nielsen (2g, 1a), Egor Zamula (3a) and Cael Zimmerman (3a) have three points each. Dakota Krebs (2g) and Dom Schmiemann (2a) have picked up two points each while Layne Toder (1a) and Nick Schneider (1a) both have one.
FAMILIAR FACES: The Broncos roster includes three former Hitmen in Andrew Fyten, Matteo Gennaro and Beck Malenstyn while the Calgary roster has three former Broncos in Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann and Riley Stotts.
DID YOU KNOW?: The Hitmen have outshot their opponents in five straight games recording 26 or more shots in every contest...Luke Coleman is the only Hitmen skater to play all 60 games this season.
GO TIME: Today is the first of five games in six days for Calgary.
NHL WATCH: NHL Central Scouting has named four Hitmen among the top players available for the 2018 NHL Draft. Vladislav Yeryomenko, Riley Stotts, Egor Zamula and Carson Focht are all on the midterm rankings among North American skaters. Yeryomenko is number 79, Stotts 88, Zamula 100 and Focht 200. The 2018 NHL Draft is June 22-23 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
THE OLYMPIC FIVE: Two former Calgary Hitmen forwards won medals in men's hockey at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Brooks Macek struck silver for Germany as they lost in overtime to the Olympic Athletes from Russia in the gold medal game. Brandon Kozun and Team Canada won bronze after beating the Czech Republic 6-4.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: The Hitmen Booster Club autograph table is closed today. It reopens following Saturday's game when Luke Coleman will be behind section 212 on the concourse.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: Voting is underway for the Calgary Hitmen Foundation Community Restoration Program $50,000 grant. Fans can cast a ballot for one of three finalists: Eugene Coste School Playground Redevelopment in Haysboro, Indus Accessible Playground and Parkdale Community Outdoor Rink. The online vote continues until March 2 on HitmenHockey.com. The community project receiving the most votes will be awarded the grant.
ALUMNI WATCH: Cody Sylvester is playing pro hockey in Germany with EC Bad Nauheim. The 25-year-old centre has 59 points (26g, 33a) in 50 games. Sylvester spent five seasons with the Hitmen from 2008-2013 recording 229 points (97g, 132a) in 315 games.
PROSPECT WATCH: Devan Klassen is playing Midget AAA with the Grande Prairie Storm. In 29 games Klassen, who was a protected list addition of the Hitmen in October of 2016, has tallied 15 points (5g, 10a). The 16-year-old also appeared in nine games with the Hitmen earlier this season.
PROMO CALENDAR
Hitmen single game tickets are available at Ticketmaster and the 'Dome box office. Upcoming home game highlights include:
- TODAY vs. SC - TELUS BE BRAVE Anti-Bullying Game
- Game Sponsor - Ashley HomeStore vs. REG on Mar. 3
- Multicultural Day presented by Cornerstone on Mar. 4 vs. RD
- Fan Appreciation Day and Player Awards presented by Vision Travel on Mar. 18
CAREER MILESTONES
- Jake Kryski needs one assist for 100 after reaching 150 points Feb. 21 against Red Deer.
- Nick Schneider is 49 saves shy of 5000.
- Jakob Stukel is four goals shy of 100 while Mark Kastelic is three assists away from 50. Stukel played career game 250 on Feb. 18 against Saskatoon.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2018
- Raiders Keep On Rolling With Win Over Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Broncos Take Control in Third, Beat Hitmen - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades Team up with Nutrien for Shaker Night - Saskatoon Blades
- Rebels Newcomer Borysiuk Already Showing Plenty of Promise - Red Deer Rebels
- Tigers Thwart Oil Kings 5-2 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Broncos Catch Calgary - Calgary Hitmen
- Winterhawks Game Day Preview: Portland at Tri-City - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Clinch 2018 WHL Playoff Berth - Spokane Chiefs
- 2018 Kamloops Blazers Hockey School Open for Registration - Kamloops Blazers
- RE/MAX Presents: WHL Suits up with Don Cherry to Promote Organ Donation - WHL
- Raiders Host Wheat Kings Tuesday - Brandon Wheat Kings
- ICE Recall '01-Born Defenceman Nolan Orzeck - Kootenay Ice
- Game 64 at Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, February 27 vs. Swift Current - Calgary Hitmen
- Giants Blank the Blazers 2-0 - Vancouver Giants
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