Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, December 30 vs Lethbridge
Published on December 30, 2015 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Calgary Hitmen News Release
CALGARY HITMEN (24-13-1-1, 50 pts.) vs LETHBRIDGE HURRICANES (26-11-0-0, 52 pts.)
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 - 7:00 p.m. MT - Scotiabank Saddledome
TODAY'S GAME
The Calgary Hitmen open a home-and-home set with the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The Hitmen, winners of two in a row, are coming off Monday's 3-2 home ice victory over Kootenay. Trailing 2-1 heading to third period, Jake Bean scored the tying goal and then set up Jakob Stukel for the game winner. Tyler Mrkonjic also scored for the Hitmen who outshot the ICE 33-22. Cody Porter made 20 saves to record the win. Calgary was 1-3 on the powerplay. Kootenay went 1-2. Calgary, at 50 points, is tied for second in the WHL's Central Division with the Red Deer Rebels, two points back of the division and Eastern Conference leading Lethbridge Hurricanes.
HITMEN BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Sportsnet 960-TheFan
Webcast: WHL Live at whl.neulion.com
STREAKS
- Travis Sanheim (2g, 7a) is riding a six-game point streak.
- Jake Bean (2g, 4a) is on a five-game point streak.
- Jordy Stallard (1g, 6a) is on a four-game point streak and has points (5g, 8a) in eight of his last nine games.
- Taylor Sanheim (2g, 1a) has points in three consecutive games.
- Jakob Stukel (2g) has scored in back-to-back games and in 10 (14g) of his last 15 games.
- Tyler Mrkonjic (1g,1a) and Radel Fazleev (1g, 3a) have points in back-to-back games.
- Cody Porter has climbed into the WHL's Top 10 in goals against average sporting a 2.87 GAA to rank ninth in the league.
NOTEWORTHY
VS LETHBRIDGE: Tonight is the second of six regular season meetings between the two teams. Lethbridge leads the season series 1-0. Mark Kastelic (1g, 1a) and Bryce Platt (2a) top the Hitmen with two points each against the Hurricanes. Tyler Wong (2a), Egor Babenko (1g, 1a), Kord Pankewicz (2a), Justin Gutierrez (1g, 1a) and Andrew Nielsen (2a) all have two points each against the Hitmen. Over the last five seasons, Calgary is 18-5-1-1 against the Hurricanes including a 10-2 record at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
2015-16 REGULAR SEASON SERIES RECAP
Dec. 2/15 at LET: LET 6 CAL 4...Tied 4-4 after 40 mins, the "Canes scored twice in the third period.
INSIDE THE SERIES
Shots on Goal: CAL 36 LET 30 Power Plays: CAL 0-5 (0%) LET 2-5 (20%)
LEADERS OF THE PACK: Not only does tonight's game pit the top two teams in the WHL's Eastern Conference standings against each another, but it's also a meeting of two of the three teams in the league. Kelowna leads the overall standings with 55 points followed by Lethbridge at 52 and Calgary at 50. Calgary and Lethbridge are the two hottest teams in the WHL right now with both clubs posting eight wins in their last 10 games.
DIVISIONAL DIET: Today's game against the Hurricanes is the sixth of seven straight contests for Calgary against teams from the Central Division. The Hitmen have a record of 8-5-0-1 against teams from their own division this season.
INSIDE THE STREAK: Calgary has picked up 31 of a possible 38 points, going 15-3-1-0 in their last 19 games. They have outscored their opponents by a combined 77-47 while outshooting them 628-485.
HOME SWEET "DOME: The Hitmen, who are tied with Kelowna for the WHL lead in road games played at 22, are in the midst of a stretch that sees them play eight of their next 11 games at home.
TEETER TOTTER: Calgary has been through a series off three different runs this season. They started the 2015-16 schedule 5-1-0-1 before going 4-9-0-0 in their next 13 games. Since then, they've posted a record of 15-3-1-0.
WORLD JUNIORS: Two members of the Hitmen are playing at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. Travis Sanheim is a member of Team Canada while Radel Fazleev is on Team Russia. Through three games Fazleev has two points with a goal and an assist. Sanheim and Fazleev are the 18th and 19th Hitmen to play in the prestigious tournament. The Vancouver Canucks have also loaned former Hitmen forward Jake Virtanen to Team Canada.
FAMILIAR FACE: Lethbridge Hurricanes head coach Brent Kisio makes his first return to the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight after spending eight seasons with the Hitmen. He joined the franchise in August 2007 as video coach and assistant coach after four successful years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he played for the Mavericks (NCAA) and graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology. Following the 2007-08 season, Kisio moved exclusively into the role of assistant coach. In October 2012, he was appointed associate coach and prior to Calgary's 20th anniversary season, he added the role of assistant general manager to his duties. During his tenure, Kisio helped guide the Hitmen to four Central Division titles and their second Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions in 2010.
HOUCK'S HANDIWORK: Jackson Houck returned to the Hitmen lineup on Sunday against the Kootenay ICE after missing 13 games with an injury. The 20-year-old from North Vancouver, BC has 213 career WHL points including 15 points (4g, 11a) in 11 games since arriving in a late October trade from Vancouver.
DYNAMIC DUO: Calgary has two of the top five scoring defencemen in the WHL in Travis Sanheim and Jake Bean. Bean (14g, 21a) has 35 points to sit tied for third among defenceman while Sanheim's (8g, 23a) 31 points rank tied for fifth. Bean's career-high 14 goals top all blueliners while his six power play markers are tied for second among rearguards. Sanheim's 23 assists rank tied for sixth.
STUKEL'S STATS: Since joining the Hitmen as part of a trade with the Vancouver Giants on October 27th, Jakob Stukel has been a point-a-game player. In 25 games in Calgary, Stukel has 25 points (19g, 6a). The 18-year-old from Surrey, BC had recorded 24 career points in his first 67 WHL games before arriving in the Stampede City.
MACS TOURNAMENT: Six Hitmen prospects are participating in the 38th annual Mac's AAA Midget World Invitational Hockey Tournament in Calgary; Markus Boguslavsky, RW - Calgary Flames, Acquired: Fourth round, 68th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, Jake Davidson, Goaltender - Prince Albert Mintos, Acquired: Fourth round, 77th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Parker Smyth, Forward - Red Deer Optimist Chiefs, Acquired: Protected list addition in November 2015, Ben Solomon, Defenceman - Regina Pat Canadians, Acquired: Protected list addition in September 2015, Philip Couture, Goaltender - SSAC Boston Pizza Athletics, Acquired: 10th round, 217th overall, 2014 WHL Bantam, Justyn Gurney, LW - West Valley Hawks, Acquired: Sixth round, 117th overall, 2015 WHL Bantam Draft Draft
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS: Meet rookie defenceman Keegan Kanzig after the game at the Booster Club table located on the concourse by section 212.
HOLIDAY CHEER: The Calgary Hitmen are offering a special ticket package during the holiday season. Fans can purchase tickets to two holiday games for $25. There are two remaining games to pick from which include; Dec. 30 vs. LET and Jan. 3 vs. BDN. For full details, visit HitmenHockey.com.
Western Hockey League Stories from December 30, 2015
- Broncos Honour the Past and Show Promising Future - Swift Current Broncos
- Pats Topped at Prince Albert in OT - Regina Pats
- Preview: Broncos at Blades - December 30th - Saskatoon Blades
- D Luke Zazula to Make WHL Debut Tonight - Kamloops Blazers
- Tigers Can't Find Offense in 5-2 Loss - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rockets Host Everett on Hat Trick Wednesday - Kelowna Rockets
- Calgary Hitmen Game Preview - Wednesday, December 30 vs Lethbridge - Calgary Hitmen
- Big Third Period Leads Americans Past Winterhawks - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Grind out Win against Chiefs - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Win Wild One - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hawks Fall 5-1 in Tri-Cities Tuesday - Portland Winterhawks
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