Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 1 vs. Victoria
January 1, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (16-16-3-1, 36 pts.) vs. VICTORIA ROYALS (18-14-1-0, 37 pts.)
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - 1:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen ring in the New Year today with a 1:00 p.m. matinee game against the Victoria Royals. It's Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation featuring the Airdrie Rotary Club's puck toss in support of several local organizations.
Today is also a double header at the Scotiabank Saddledome with every ticket purchased good for admission to the 4:30 p.m. final of the Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament presented by Circle K. Immediately following the Hitmen game, and before the Mac's Final, fans will be treated to a concert from Canada's best-selling kid's music group, The MINI POP KIDS.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- Jake Kryski (5g, 3a) is on a six-game point streak.
- Mark Kastelic (4g) has scored in three consecutive games.
- Egor Zamula (5g, 11a) and James Malm (3g, 10a) both have points in eight of their last nine games.
NOTEWORTHY
LAST GAME RECAP: The Hitmen are coming off Sunday's 4-0 shutout victory against the Vancouver Giants. James Malm recorded four assists against his former team to lead Calgary's offence. Riley Stotts netted a pair of goals in the win with Jake Kryski and Mark Kastelic adding singles. Egor Zamula chipped in a pair of assists while goalie Jack McNaughton was named the first star, making 25 saves for his second shutout of the season and first on home ice.
VS. VICTORIA: Today is the first and only regular season game between the Hitmen and Royals. Victoria won both meetings last season at Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena by a combined score of 11-4. Today marks the Royals first visit to Calgary since Jan. 20, 2017 when they defeated the Hitmen by a score of 7-2. Calgary has lost eight straight to Victoria. Their last victory was Feb. 5, 2014 when Calgary erased a 5-1 second period road deficit to win 7-6 in overtime. Pavel Padakin led the way with two goals and an assist including the game winner 1:26 into the extra frame.
2017-18 SERIES RECAP
Jan. 27/18 at VIC: VIC 4 CGY 1...The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Jan. 28/18 at VIC: VIC 7 CGY 3...Seven different Royals tallied goals.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CGY 55 VIC 62 Power Plays: CGY 1-12 (8.33%) VIC 4-11 (36.4%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 16-11-2-1.
RECENT RUN: Calgary has picked up 22 of a possible 32 points in their last 16 games posting a record of 10-4-1-1. Special teams have been a major driver with the power play a combined 17-50 (34.0%) while the penalty kill is 51-57 (89.5%).
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is tied for fifth in the WHL in goals with 26 while his 13 power play markers share the league lead. Egor Zamula is in a two-way tie for fifth in defencemen scoring with 33 points.
ROSTER MOVE: On Monday, the Hitmen added 16-year-old goaltender Ethan Hein to the roster. The product of Saskatoon, SK has been playing this season in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League with the Swift Current Legionnaires. In 14 games he has a 2.75 goals against average and .900 save percentage. The Hitmen acquired Hein last season in a multi-player trade with the Swift Current Broncos. The November, 27, 2018 deal saw Calgary obtain Conner Chaulk, Dom Schmiemann, Riley Stotts and the rights to Josh Prokop along with 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.
FAST FACT: Following today's game against the Royals, the Hitmen will only play one of their remaining 31 games against a team from outside the Eastern Conference. That happens on Friday, Jan. 25 when the Prince George Cougars visit the 'Dome.
FAMILIAR FACE: The Royals lineup includes former Hitmen defenceman Jameson Murray. Murray played parts of two seasons in Calgary appearing in 63 games before he was traded to the Everett Silvertips on January 10, 2018 in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet forward Ryder Korczak after today's game. He will be signing autographs at the Hitmen Booster Club table located behind section 212. The entire team will be signing on Jan. 5.
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 9-7-2-0 on home ice while Victoria is 6-8-1-0 on the road.
DID YOU KNOW?: Hitmen defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko helped Team Belarus win silver at the 2019 IIHF World U20 Championship in Germany. Belarus finished the Division I Group A tournament with a 2-0 round-robin loss to Latvia on Dec. 15 but still claimed second spot. This was the third trip to the World Juniors for Yeryomenko. He also won gold in 2017.
CANADA WINTER GAMES: Three Hitmen prospects have been named to play in the 2019 Canada Winter Games. Forward Sean Tschigerl will suit up for Team Alberta with defenceman Tyson Galloway on Team British Columbia and defenceman Rory Neill on Manitoba. The tournament will be held in Red Deer from Feb. 16-22.
CORRAL SERIES: The Hitmen will play a trio of games this season at the historic Stampede Corral. Tickets start at $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $69 (plus applicable Ticketmaster fees and taxes). "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports, will see Calgary host the Brandon Wheat Kings on Friday, Feb. 1, the Regina Pats on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and the Prince Albert Raiders on Friday, Feb. 8. All are 7:00 p.m. starts in the vintage building that first opened on Dec. 15, 1950 and was the original home of the Calgary Flames from 1980-83. Each game will be dedicated to a former elite team who once called the Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Wranglers and Cowboys.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (2-4 weeks, lower body), Tye Carriere (4-6 weeks, upper body).
IN THE COMMUNITY: This holiday season the Hitmen are partnering with the Calgary Zoo for ZOOLIGHTS. Hitmen players will visit the Zoo's outdoor rink on four occasions for public skating. Cael Zimmerman, Hunter Campbell, Carson Focht, Josh Prokop, Luke Coleman and Jake Kryski along with mascot Farley the Fox have all dropped by so far. The final visit, weather permitting, is Thursday, Jan. 3 when Mark Kastelic and Dakota Krebs will pop in from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Fans can take advantage of a special Hitmen/ZOOLIGHTS Family Pack. For $99.95 plus GST receive four Hitmen ticket vouchers and four ZOOLIGHTS tickets (2 Adults, 2 Child). Full details available at hitmenhockey.com.
ALUMNUS REPORT: Adam Tambellini, who played two seasons with the Hitmen from 2013-15, is in the AHL with the Belleville Senators. The 24-year-old forward has 18 points (9g, 9a) in 35 games. In 102 career games with the Hitmen, Tambellini notched 125 points.
HITMEN YEAR END BUNDLE: The Hitmen are offering fans a Boxing Week special. For $29.99 plus GST you receive a Hitmen single game voucher redeemable for any remaining regular season game in Scotiabank Saddledome plus a ticket for the "One Ticket, One Tree" game on Friday, Mar. 8 against Edmonton. Some exclusions do apply. Every ticket for the "One Ticket, One Tree" game plants a tree in Alberta. Go to hitmenhockey.com/offers to purchase yours today.
UPCOMING GAMES
All times in MT. Schedule subject to change.
DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 4 vs. Red Deer 4:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 5 vs. Medicine Hat 1:30 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Jan. 9 at Moose Jaw 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 11 at Saskatoon 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Jan. 12 at Prince Albert 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include:
- Today vs. VIC is Airdrie Day presented by Southland Transportation
- RE/MAX Chuck-A-Puck on Jan. 4 vs. RD
- Wizarding Day on Jan. 5 vs. MH
- Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Jan. 20 vs. RD
- CBE Night on Jan. 25 vs. PG
- Dodge Skate with the Hitmen on Jan. 27 vs. KTN
- The Corral Series - Presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports on Feb.1 vs. BDN, Feb. 6 vs. REG and Feb. 8 vs. PA.
- Family Game and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Feb. 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 and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 3 vs. KTN
- One Ticket, One Tree on Mar. 8 vs. EDM
- Fan Appreciation and Sunday Funday presented by Ricky's All Day Grill on Mar. 17 vs. EDM
CAREER MILESTONE WATCH
- Kaden Elder needs two points for 100.
- James Malm played career game 200 and surpassed 100 WHL assists on Sunday against Vancouver.
- Riley Stotts played career game 150 on Dec. 28 while Jack McNaughton passed 500 saves that same night.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 1, 2019
- Pats Stopped by Raiders to Open 2019 - Regina Pats
- T-Birds Acquire Keltie Jeri-Leon, Michael Horon and Draft Pick from Hurricanes - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hurricanes Acquire Hughes from Thunderbirds - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Blades Defeat Broncos in New Years Day Matinee - Swift Current Broncos
- Blades Open 2019 with a Bang - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Fall 3-1 in Edmonton to Kick off 2019 - Vancouver Giants
- Raiders Open 2019 With A Win In Regina - Prince Albert Raiders
- Hitmen Power past Royals, 6-3 - Calgary Hitmen
- Royals Tripped up by Hitmen - Victoria Royals
- No Time Like the Present for the Rebels to Get Back in Gear - Red Deer Rebels
- Silvertips Acquire 27-Goal Scorer and Left Wing Zack Andrusiak from the Seattle Thunderbirds - Everett Silvertips
- T-Birds Acquire Sean Richards, Prospect Forward, and 3 Draft Picks from Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- T-Birds Sign Goalie Roddy Ross - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Preview: Blades Host Broncos in New Year's Matinee - Saskatoon Blades
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 1 vs. Victoria - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Kick off 2019 at Home to Prince Albert New Years Day - Regina Pats
- Hawks Ring in 2019 with a Win - Portland Winterhawks
- Ams Ring in New Year with Dominate 6-1 Win over Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Winterhawks Down T-Birds in Annual New Year's Eve Game - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Jesse Makaj Named December's Player of the Month Presented by Jewels on Ninth - Kootenay Ice
- Penny Coyle Named December's Community Member of the Month Presented by Spring Honda - Kootenay Ice
- Royals Ring in New Year with OT Victory over ICE - Kootenay Ice
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