Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 29 at Regina
January 29, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (23-19-3-1, 50 pts.) at REGINA PATS (13-33-1-2, 29 pts.)
Tuesday - 7:00 p.m. MT - Brandt Centre
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a two-game Saskatchewan road trip tonight in Regina against the Pats. The Hitmen head into action on a two-game winning streak, following back-to-back 4-1 victories over Prince George on Friday and Kootenay on Sunday. Tye Carriere led the Hitmen against the ICE with a goal and an assist. Kaden Elder, Vladislav Yeryomenko and Hunter Campbell, on his birthday, also netted goals for the home side that jumped out to a 4-0 second period lead. Calgary is four points ahead of the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final Eastern Conference Wildcard spot. The Wheat Kings, who visit Edmonton tonight, have a game in hand.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
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STREAKS
- James Malm (1g, 3a) is riding a four-game point streak.
- Dakota Krebs (3a) and Cael Zimmerman (1g, 1a) both have points in back-to-back games.
- Hunter Campbell (2g, 2a) has points in four of his last five games.
- Jack McNaughton is 2-0 in his last two starts with a 1.00 goals against average and a .965 save percentage.
- Luke Coleman (3g, 1a) has scored in three of his last five games.
NOTEWORTHY VS. REGINA: Tonight is the second of four regular season meetings between the Hitmen and Pats. Regina took the opener in Alberta collecting a 4-3 overtime win in mid-October. Kaden Elder (1g, 1a), Riley Stotts (1g, 1a) and Mark Kastelic (2a) lead Hitmen in the season series with two points each. Cole Dubinsky (1a) is the only Pat still on the Regina roster with a point against Calgary. The Hitmen are 3-3 in their last six visits to the Brandt Centre. The two teams will meet again in eight days on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at the Stampede Corral when the Hitmen will wear Calgary Cowboys jerseys.
2018-19 SERIES RECAP Oct. 14/18 at CGY: REG 4 CGY 3 OT...Nick Henry scored the winner just 14 seconds into the extra session.
INSIDE THE SERIES Shots on Goal: CGY 32 REG 22 Power Plays: CGY 2-6 (33.3%) REG 2-6 (33.3%)
BOUNCING BACK: Since starting the season 0-5-1-0, the Hitmen have gone 23-14-2-1.
FAST FACTS: Calgary is 7-5-1-0 against teams from the East Division...The Hitmen have drawn the fewest road power play chances in the league with 67 in 22 games. On the flip side, Edmonton leads the WHL going to the extra attacker 105 times in 25 games...Calgary is the fifth highest scoring team in the league averaging 3.59 goals per game...The Hitmen are 13-0-2-1 when leading after the first period.
WHL TOP 15: Mark Kastelic is in a four-way tie for sixth in the WHL in goals with 30 while his 16 power play markers lead the league. Egor Zamula is seventh in defencemen scoring with 39 points. Dakota Krebs is eighth in plus/minus among defenceman at +21.
CAREER YEARS: With still 32.4 percent of the regular seasons schedule remaining, six Hitmen players have set new career highs in point totals. Their previous high is in brackets: Mark Kastelic 48pts (45), Kaden Elder 35pts (32), Egor Zamula 39pts (18), Dakota Krebs 18pts (16), Jackson van de Leest 14pts (5) and Hunter Campbell 13pts (11).
CORRAL SERIES LUNCHEON: On Thursday, the Hitmen will host "The Corral Series Luncheon" sponsored by Sportsnet 960-The Fan. The event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Scotiabank Saddledome Chrysler Club will feature a pair of Hot Stove Panels. One will reunite the greatest junior hockey line in Calgary history, the early 70's Centennials trio of Danny Gare, Jerry Holland and Mike Rogers. The second panel of Calgary hockey legends will include Jim "Bearcat Murray, Dana Murzyn and Kelly Kisio. Kisio and Murzyn, both former Wranglers, had 13 and 14-year careers, respectively, in the NHL each having stints with the Calgary Flames while Murray was the Hall of Fame equipment manager for the Calgary Centennials, Cowboys, Wranglers and Flames. Tickets for the luncheon are $60 each (plus applicable fees and taxes) and include the following: - Buffet Lunch - Special Corral Series gift - Additional guests to help celebrate hockey in the Stampede Corral A table of eight tickets is also available for $400 (plus applicable fees and taxes) with full details available online at http://hitmenhockey.com/corral-series-luncheon In February; the Hitmen will play a trio of regular season games at the historic Stampede Corral in "The Corral Series" presented by Adrenalin Source for Sports. As a tribute to the city's hockey history, the Hitmen are dedicating each game on Feb. 1, 6 and 8 to former local teams who once called the Stampede Corral home by wearing commemorative jerseys of the Calgary Centennials, Wranglers and Cowboys. Individual game tickets start as low as $29.25 for adults and $21.75 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Also available is the three-game pack for $74.25 for adults and $59.25 for kids (plus applicable fees and taxes). Other ticket offers are the group package for as low as $22.50 for adults and $17.50 for kids (plus GST) and the family pack including two adult and two kids tickets starting at $80 (plus GST).
HOME AND AWAY COMPARISON: The Hitmen are 9-11-1-1 on the road this season while Regina is 7-17 at home.
HITMEN MONTH-BY-MONTH: September (0-3-1-0), October (4-6-1-0), November (6-5-0-1), December (6-2-1-0), January (7-3-0-0).
NHL ATTENTION: NHL Central Scouting has named two Hitmen players and one prospect among the top skaters available for the 2019 NHL Draft. Defenceman Jackson van de Leest along with forwards Mark Kastelic and Quinn Olson are all ranked among North American skaters. The 17-year-old van de Leest is among the ice time leaders on the Hitmen blueline. He makes the list at 145. Olson is ranked 154 with his rights acquired by the Hitmen in a Jan. 10, 2019 trade from the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old forward is currently playing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Okotoks Oilers where he is second in team scoring with 53 points (19g, 34a) in 42 games. Kastelic, the 19-year-old Hitmen captain, leads the team in scoring with 47 points and is ranked at 196.
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.
MAYFAIR DIAGNOSTICS INJURY REPORT: Carl Stankowski (week-to-week, lower body), Jake Kryski (indefinite, upper body).
HITMEN ALUMNUS: Nick Schneider, who played last season with the Hitmen, has split this season between the AHL's Stockton Heat and ECHL's Kansas City Mavericks. The 21-year-old Calgary Flames prospect is 6-3 with a 2.45 goals against average and .922 save percentage with the Heat while posting a 4-6 record along with a 3.89 goals against average and .867 save percentage with the Mavericks.
PROSPECT WATCH: Hale Schoneck, Calgary's 11th-round pick, 227st overall, in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft is in the Alberta Midget Hockey League with the Calgary Buffaloes. The 16-year-old defenceman has four assists in 27 games.
UPCOMING GAMES All times in MT. Schedule subject to change. DATE
OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST
Jan. 30 at Swift Current 6:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 1 vs. Brandon 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet.ca/960 (Alt Stream)
Feb. 2 at Red Deer 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 6 vs. Regina 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
Feb. 8 vs. Prince Albert 7:00 p.m. Sportsnet 960-The Fan
PROMO CALENDAR
Upcoming home game highlights include: - 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
- Jack McNaughton needs 80 saves to reach 1,000.
- Kaden Elder three assists away from 50 and five games shy of 300.
- Egor Zamula needs four assists for 50 while Carson Focht is five assists away from 50.
- Riley Stotts is six points short of 100.
Western Hockey League Stories from January 29, 2019
- Kastelic and Elder Lead Hitmen to Win - Calgary Hitmen
- Hitmen Too Much for Pats - Regina Pats
- Chiefs Sign Post Falls Native Bear Hughes to WHL Agreement - Spokane Chiefs
- Rockets Look to Build on Vancouver Victory - Kelowna Rockets
- Silvertips to Bring Four Players for Interactive Hockey Exhibit for Families and Kids at Imagine Children's Museum - Everett Silvertips
- Silvertips' Dustin Wolf named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week - WHL
- Giants Sign Forward Justin Lies to Standard WHL Player Agreement - Vancouver Giants
- WHL Announces Relocation of Kootenay ICE Franchise to Winnipeg - WHL
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Tuesday, January 29 at Regina - Calgary Hitmen
- Game Day Preview: Pats Return Home to Host Calgary Tuesday Night - Regina Pats
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